Flat as the proverbial

[matt.]

Newbie here, back brewing after 10+.
Decided to start off with a kit
Brew dogs Brews Premium Bitter.
Everything clean. Started 30 Jan OG 1036
Fermented down to 1012 and left a couple of days in a second FV with airlock.
Sediment left behind in first vessel.
Bottled 10 Feb into dark glass bottles and capped.
Each bottle primed with 2 sugar tablets.
Bottling stick used.
All bottles then placed in cold/cool loft.
( Is this my mistake? Should I have kept them for a few days in a warm room to kick off secondary fermentation? )

I've tried 5 bottles at 1 per day since 21 Feb. All flat or minimal head bubbles. Head certainly doesn't stay.
Beer looks clear, no sediment. Taste: malty and hoppy. Not an off flavor at all.
The bottle gets drunk but I was expecting a head.
Bring bottles into a warm room to revive second fermentation?
Suggestions appreciated folks.
Pretty sure it's not dirty bottles or equipment.

 

[The Baron]

You've already answered the question yes they need to be put somewhere like room temp for at least a week if not two for the yeast to eat the sugar you have put in the bottles to carbonate the beer

 

[jof]

You went direct to a cold location.
We normally say:
2 weeks in fermenter
2 weeks in the warm to carbonate
2 weeks in the cold to clear and condition.

Bring them back to a warm place for a couple of weeks to carbonate, then try again

 

[Deadhead]

Bring them to a warm space and leave for 10-14 days. Try again and see if that helps!

 

[jof]

See, we all replied at once

 

[Clarence]

What are sugar tablets?
What's the temperature in your loft?

I've just had a look at the weather forecast for Aberdeen and it ranges between 0 and 8C. Ale yeasts don't work at that temperature. A lager yeast would be OK, but it would need more than a fortnight. 15 to 18 would be a good cellaring temperature. Sounds as if your beer was pretty clear when you bottled it, which is good, but it means you're going to need 6 or more weeks for it to come into condition, possibly longer. Bring it into the warm and don't look at it again for a month.

Good description of your process, above, and everything looks spot on.

 

[matt.]

Many thanks folks. Good advice. I'll report back in 2 weeks.
Cheers.