christmas beer...

[JamesC]

I'm heading west for the next 3 months, and have a beer kit on hand that I would like to have ready for xmas. I will be leaving on sunday, and coming back for a weekend mid October, and not back permanently until december 20th or so... The beer is an old peculiar kit. Here's my question:

Do I brew it asap, and do a prolonged secondary (transfer on saturday, then bottle mid october,) brew it saturday, and just do a single stage fermentation, then bottle it during the visit, or do I not brew it at all?

[Chris Craig]

You'll want at least 10 days in the primary.  A longer secondary would be best.  I think considering your circumstances, I'd brew it Saturday, and rack it mid-October. Bottle when you get back in December.

[Jake]

+1 to what Chris said

[JamesC]

Excellent, thanks!