URGENT advice needed - I don't know what I'm doing...

[Pint_of_Bitter]

Okay I am fermenting my 3rd AG brew (an Irish Stout) and it's been in the fermenter for 18 days and is only down to 1.014 and he airlock is still blowing occassionally...here's the dilemma...

I'm on the plane tomorrow to the UK and won't be back for 3 weeks, what do I do?

1. Bottle tonight and risk exploding bottles if fermentation hasn't finished?
2. Just leave it until I am back?
3. Rack it into a another fermented and leave until I'm back?
4. Other?

I need advice ASAP as still have to pack etc. Also it tasted so good from the small gravity sample I took that I don't what to stuff this up?

Thanks in advance for the advice...

[Pint_of_Bitter]

Thanks all for the replies - just about got ticks for all options. I 'm out of time to bottle now so am thinking of just leaving in the fermenter. I tapped a pint off last night so that has moved the level away from the trub line and I think the effort to rack into another fermenter will just increase the chance of infection. So to avoid having to make a decision I am doing nothing. Fingers crossed.

Wanted to tap a rigger for the plane but think the new terrorism laws will prevent this.

Cheers

[Stu McKinlay]

i've carried loads of beer (bottled) onto plances in the last couple of years. never had any questions... touch wood.

[James P]

You will probably not get it on the plane.... or at least domestically I have had duty free booze taken off my when transfering from international to domestic.

[Reviled]

Really James?? Thats a bit rough! I got a 6 pack onto the plane last time I flew back to AKL from welly, and I was even cheeky enough to drink a couple on the flight ;o) Beats paying for a crown or whatever aussie beers Pacific blue have lol

[Pint_of_Bitter]

Nah - international flights are a little tigher me thinks (threat of liquid explosives means you can't take any more than 100mls on) . Would be a waste to get my rigger to secuirty and then have to drop 2L before boarding. This beer needs to be drank slowly and savioured, not hit thru a beer bong (btw haven't done that since i was 15)

[Reviled]

I dunno jeremy, might make the flight alot less boring ;o)

And James - good on you for not embarassing the kids, my mum used to allways do sh*t like that when we were kids, going on about customer service and reducing store people to tears, all the while were standing there just wanting to get the hell out of there ;o) bahaha

[Mike Neilson]

Remember guys luke flew back with 5L of Epic strapped to him and I got in with 6L of Rogue from Aus!!

[Reviled]

This brings up a good point, Luke, how did you get your cask of Epic on the plane when youre not supposed to have more than 100mls of liquid??

Good to hear your brew turned out fine Jeremy!

[James P]

Yep, if I wasn't for having the kids with me I would have taken the bastards to task about it.

[Barry]

Put in your check in, then you'll be fine.

[Pint_of_Bitter]

Alright, finally got back and had a chance to bottle this brew...essentialy I just left in the fermenter, so it been there for approx 6 weeks. It seems to have held up its shape quite well. It is probably a little bitterer that I remember, actually it is a shed load more bitter and the fresh cascade aroma has reduced, but overall is not too bad.

Interesting the yeast/sediment had congeiled into solid unit and and was sitting just off the bottom. Ironically gravity was still at 1.014. We live and learn...