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Brewing Topics => Brewing Discussion => Topic started by: SleepySamSlim on August 31, 2009, 09:36:34 PM

Title: Just wondering - conditioning time
Post by: SleepySamSlim on August 31, 2009, 09:36:34 PM

Why some brews might only need 3 - 4 weeks to taste great (nice and smooth) while others can require 6 - 8 weeks of bottle conditioning. I'm doing extract and grains - I'm splitting the malt and doing late additions.

Not a major issue just curious - any science to this ?

Title: Re: Just wondering - conditioning time
Post by: MaltLicker on September 04, 2009, 07:32:19 PM

Alcohol/gravity and the style help drive that difference.  I've bottled wits/wheats after 10 days primary only. 

More alcohol, and different types of alcohol takes longer to smooth and mellow.  A more complicated grain bill takes longer to meld into one complex blend.  So a barleywine or Dark Strong would take longer than a blonde or amber.