The two weeks of bottle conditioning is over today, and looking through the glass with a light, I don’t see any of the sugar pellet remaining. The instructions say to crack one open and see if there is carbonation, but I did the one gallon starter kit, and only got 7 bottles out of it. So, I’m reluctant to possibly waste one testing like that. Should I wait longer to be sure, or since the sugar is gone, does that mean it should be ready?
If you have stored them at 70F or above, they will be ready so you could put one in the fridge. You will be rewarded if you can wait a total of 4 weeks after bottling with a much better beer. The flavors tend to marry well at the age of 3-4 weeks. After only two weeks, they will taste like individual flavors kind of like new meatloaf versus leftover meatloaf.
They were in the basement, so they were probably a bit under 70F. I think I’ll wait as you say, sounds like it’ll be a much better outcome, thanks!
The faster you finish this batch the sooner you need to brew your next. 
I admire your restraint. I couldn’t do it. I would reason with myself that I have to drink one because 7 doesn’t fit in a six pack carrier.
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With my first batch, I shook it gently and compared what happened inside the bottle to a comparable style from the store. The results seemed to match, so I figured it was carbed enough. I was correct. It may get better flavor with time, and perhaps a more perfect carb, but my 1st 5 gallon batch was gone in one evening (at a neighbor’s cookout) after 2 weeks in the bottle.
I’ll crack open the 1st few of batch 2 tonight after 2 weeks in the bottle, but this batch will go more slowly, and will keep at least a six set off to the side to try 6 weeks or so from now to see how it ages.
Patience is a strong suit of mine. But…I have never tasted my own beer. Maybe I won’t be able to be patient after this batch
How will you know if its better in six weeks if you don’t taste one now? Just wondering.
This is correct, but even if it tastes really good now, be sure to save at least one for six weeks. Then you might say, why didn’t I wait.
If at six weeks it tastes really, really great, you will probably develop more patience. Brew at least once a week.
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