how long does it take to brew beer

Brewing beer typically takes between 2 1/2 to 8 weeks from start to finished, ready-to-drink beer. The most common timeline is around 3 to 4 weeks. The process includes brewing (about 4 to 8 hours), primary fermentation (about 1 to 2 weeks for ales, and 4 to 8 weeks for lagers), and carbonation/conditioning (which can take from 30 minutes with forced CO2 methods up to 2 weeks or more with natural bottle conditioning). Overall, ales tend to be ready in about 2 to 4 weeks, while lagers take longer, sometimes up to several months depending on the methods used and beer style.