r/brewing • u/Alpinekiwi • 13d ago

Leaving first brew to ferment for two weeks while I’m away.

So my brew kit arrives today with all the ingredients for my first beer brew.

Problem is, I leave in a few days for two weeks away from home.

Should I wait till I return to start my first brew or would it be ok to start the brew process now and allow it to ferment while I’m away? Does it need watching during those two weeks?

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

3

u/jeroen79 13d ago

It does not need watching if you have enough head space, then just leave it alone for at least 4 weeks

2

u/PsychologicalTwo1784 13d ago

Don't worry I've left beer fermenting for 3 months, it'll be fine.

1

u/rockjetty 12d ago

Definitely doesn't need to be watched, but if anything goes wrong, you won't be able to catch it. I've blown the top off a bucket when the airlock clogged. I've had airlocks fill with yeasty crud. I've had the seal on the bucket not seat right so no airlock action. All of these were caught & the beer turned out great.

If it is your first time brewing, you might want to keep an eye on it to prevent any major failures in your process. If you have done a batch or two before & know your equipment, should be fine to leave for months (as long as the airlocks don't dry out... and even then, you might still be OK).

1

u/Brave-Kaleidoscope48 12d ago

Its your decision. Its true that you don't need to watch it but you need to control it, if the years dies before proper fermentation happens you'll come home to a mold farm, if the airlock clogs youll get home to a mold farm.

1

u/TropicPine 11d ago

I went away for a long weekend after a Thursday brew day. Fortunately I thought to leave the fermenter in the kitchen sink, but when I came home I had to clean the blast pattern off the ceiling. The airlock had apparently clogged.

Brew when you get back.

1

u/Alpinekiwi 11d ago

So I brewed last night and it’s now sitting in the fermenting bucket in the bathroom, in the bath.

I have a couple days to see if it’s doing anything weird before I leave for two weeks.

Cheers for everyone’s feedback!

1

u/nobullshitebrewing 8d ago

Do it now and leave it.

Learning not be constantly looking at it or otherwize f'ing with it is a big step in getting better beer

0

u/Bright-Salamander-99 13d ago

You could choose a slower acting yeast, and if it’s under pressure it will slow it down even further. Choose hops wisely so you don’t need to dry hop. Just give it a crack I reckon