Just wondering - conditioning time

[SleepySamSlim]

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 ?

 

[MaltLicker]

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.