Refrigerate

Okay, it's been two weeks! It's almost time to sample that beer!

Two days (yes, two days) before you plan to enjoy your first bottle, place it in the fridge. Remember:

• It takes time for carbon dioxide to dissolve into solution.
• Carbon dioxide dissolves more readily in cold liquids than in warm ones.

Refrigerating your bottles before you open them lets carbon dioxide dissolve into your beer. If you don't give them enough time in the cold, then your first beer may deliver a pleasant hiss when you crack it open, followed by a disappointingly flat drinking experience. That's because most of the gas will be in the head space.

So refrigerate your bottles for two days, and then come back to them.