Aging an Imperial IPA fermenter vs. bottle

[StophJS]

I was just looking for some different opinions about how I should handle my imperial ipa which is currently in primary. It's been in there for one weeks as of now. It was essentially done fermenting (I believe) by day 4, but I have yet to take a hydrometer reading for FG. My tentative plan is to let the beer sit in primary for another two weeks, and then to bottle it up and let it sit for an additional two weeks before I really start crackin' em open. Mostly what I'm wondering is whether there is some benefit to leaving it in primary longer as opposed to bottling it after three weeks. My logic is that once it's in the bottle and it's been a couple weeks, I can start enjoying some IIPA, but odds are I'll still have some left a few more weeks down the road so the beer will still get progressively better even when I can drink it if I feel like it. (Was that coherent enough to qualify as a non-run on sentence? Hmm..)

In addition to that, I'm wondering whether it even makes sense for me to try to take an FG reading prior to bottling day when I know that beer is going to be sitting in there for a couple more weeks anyway. I am curious to take a reading but of course I risk contamination if I do so, and I don't have a Thief or any other convenient way to draw a sample. I also thought if I open 'er up for a reading that might be a chance for me to get all the gunk off around the top of the bucket. There's tons of it left over from all the foam that was initially on top of the wort in the fermenter, but I figure it isn't a big concern anyway since the siphon process to the bottling bucket bypasses all that. Sorry to throw so many questions out there and expect free help. I do appreciate the help and hearing different opinions on these matters.

[salad 419]

Don't age an Imperial IPA.

You'll have a sweet mess. I enjoy Hoppy Beers Fresh.

[Beezy]

Yeah drink them sunabitches as quick as possible. I have had a mess of old IPAs in bottle. Disgusting.

[Ron]

Get yourself a turkey baster from the dollar store to use as your wine theif.

[Steve Urquell]

Dont worry about the gunk- leave it alone. You need to take a hydro reading to make sure fermentation has finished. If it hasn't, and it finishes in the bottles, they explode.

For the hydro reading--Sanitize a ladle and dip out enough beer for the hydro sample. I've done it that way many times.

[Beezy]

I use the baster. Like 2 bucks and you can get them anywhere.

[Lamppa]

I use 50ml syringes. Wife gets some now and then and I keep them for beer stuff. I use the little ones (like 3ml) for precision oiling and etc.

[StophJS]

Thanks for the input guys. Just finally worked up the balls to open 'er up and take a gravity reading. I took a reading of 1.012 at 72 degrees which I think means it's about 1.025. The recipe quotes a final gravity range of 1.017-1.02. Not ideal but I suppose I'm not too far off. I'm pretty positive that fermentation is done but there were still those cottage cheese looking yeast colonies or whatever on top of the beer that I wasn't able to fully avoid, and I think the beer is still altogether quite unsettled anyway. There's some hop gunk and stuff on top still as well.

EDIT: Had to take a sip of the sample too of course since I was tossing it after :P Seems to be coming along quite nicely. No taste of tannins that I can put my finger on, which I was concerned about since I let the steeping temp run wild. Had some scorching on the bottom of the pot too but no sign of off flavors from that either.

[Lamppa]

1.012 @ 72.......temp corrected is 1.013, not sure where you got 1.025

[StophJS]

1.012 @ 72.......temp corrected is 1.013, not sure where you got 1.025

Ahh now I see my mistake. I was ignoring a zero. Hmm so my gravity is actually a little low...

[wildwest450]

Not really, it's right where it needs to be. I prefer hop bombs to be a little on the dry side.

[Lamppa]

I like my hop bombs with a touch of crystal for sweetness. when I hop the piss out of them with HIGH AA hops i get a slight hop astringency that I dont get from the lower AA hops. It is percieved by untrained paletes as a semi-dri feeling. I balance it with sweet and shaaaaaazam.

[salad 419]

Ahh now I see my mistake. I was ignoring a zero. Hmm so my gravity is actually a little low...

Nope, US-05 is a highly attenuative strain. (Remember I said 1.012 - 1.016)

[StophJS]

Nope, US-05 is a highly attenuative strain. (Remember I said 1.012 - 1.016)

Oh that's right, I do remember now.

[marzen41]

i have to disagree with the consensus aging a IIPA will do you right, yes your beer is fermented out aging will help to bring the flavors together, the higher ac
alcohol needs time tomix with themalt imo letting it sit for a few weeks then dry hopping will improve thiis brew.
sorry drunk but i would do this

[GamesterX]

Get yourself a turkey baster from the dollar store to use as your wine theif.

Ive been thinking this but keep forgetting to get one, Im putting it on the wife grocery list right now!!! Thanks Ron.

[StophJS]

i have to disagree with the consensus aging a IIPA will do you right, yes your beer is fermented out aging will help to bring the flavors together, the higher ac
alcohol needs time tomix with themalt imo letting it sit for a few weeks then dry hopping will improve thiis brew.
sorry drunk but i would do this

Haha thanks for the input. Yeah I figure in any case, with the US-05 at the higher end of the temp range it's going to take 3 weeks of sitting to settle out anyway. I'm shooting for bottling at 3 weeks and then I'm probably start drinking it slowly shortly thereafter.

[Beezy]

i have to disagree with the consensus aging a IIPA will do you right, yes your beer is fermented out aging will help to bring the flavors together, the higher ac
alcohol needs time tomix with themalt imo letting it sit for a few weeks then dry hopping will improve thiis brew.
sorry drunk but i would do this

You might be right but then it probably depends on how Imperial it is. I didn't read that I don't think. I just did an IPA that reached 8%. I guess that could be considered imperial or more of a double really. I took a taste at like 5 days and I don't think it needs aging. I can barely detect the alc. If it was any bigger than that then probably yeah I would leave it go longer.

[Lamppa]

There is no 'double' IPA in the BJCP. Only english, american and imperial IPA. IIPA is 1.070-1.090 OG.

[Beezy]

There is no 'double' IPA in the BJCP. Only english, american and imperial IPA. IIPA is 1.070-1.090 OG.

Maybe not but that doesn't mean it doesn't exists. The BJCP didn't name all the beers after all. My beer is slightly too big for a regular IPA and too small to be imperial even though technically it fits the requirements. I call it a double.

[oldwoman]

I would argue that 'Imperial' is the dumbest possible tag to stick on 'IPA,' but to each their own

Imperial implies origins from some empire, so to me has always sounded really stupid applied to an IPA. It only makes sense applied to a RIS

Begin naming convention flame war

[Lamppa]

I have read the exact argument (above) several times. My opinion is not stated, only a fact.
My point is that if its not in the BJCP is doesn't and can not exist.
Am I being sarcastic or not? That's for you to decide.

[Lamppa]

Beez- american IPA is 1.056 - 1.075 and IIPA is 1.070-1.090. There is no space for your beer to be in the middle since the styles overlap. Its one or the other. If you want to call IIPA a double you can do that, but there is no gap.

[oldwoman]

Style nazi!

; )

[Lamppa]

No beer for you!!!

*snatches bag of 6'er from your hands*

[Beezy]

Beez- american IPA is 1.056 - 1.075 and IIPA is 1.070-1.090. There is no space for your beer to be in the middle since the styles overlap. Its one or the other. If you want to call IIPA a double you can do that, but there is no gap.

Well you tell that to all the breweries that sell DIPAs. I know what the BJCP says. I have their app on my phone. I reserve the right to think for myself. FWIW I will just call it IPA when sharing it with people.

[Lamppa]

well fuck you then if you challenge the all mighty BJCP.

[Beezy]

I know I will be struck down with the might of the 'Merican beer gods. (if you don't here from me for 24 hours avenge me!)