Comments on: Skip the Secondary http://www.brew-dudes.com/skip-the-secondary/183 Resource for home brewers created by home brewers. Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:02:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Mike http://www.brew-dudes.com/skip-the-secondary/183#comment-38061 Mike Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:20:03 +0000 http://www.brew-dudes.com/skip-the-secondary/183#comment-38061 Stephen: Welcome to the hobby! I'd recommend letting the beer go at least 10 days in primary before moving it to the secondary. But yes your idea of using the 'secondary' carboy to free up the primary is an expert idea. As always regulating temperature is one of the best ways to get your beer to come out top notch. I'd focus on regulating the primary ferment before I'd worry about keeping the secondary cool. Just put the secondary in a basement, a cold closet or something like that and you'll be fine. BREW ON! Stephen: Welcome to the hobby!
I’d recommend letting the beer go at least 10 days in primary before moving it to the secondary. But yes your idea of using the ’secondary’ carboy to free up the primary is an expert idea. As always regulating temperature is one of the best ways to get your beer to come out top notch. I’d focus on regulating the primary ferment before I’d worry about keeping the secondary cool. Just put the secondary in a basement, a cold closet or something like that and you’ll be fine.
BREW ON!

]]> By: Stephen http://www.brew-dudes.com/skip-the-secondary/183#comment-37957 Stephen Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:11:15 +0000 http://www.brew-dudes.com/skip-the-secondary/183#comment-37957 I recently bought a kit that includes a secondary plastic carboy. My thinking was, if we brew our first beer and let fermentation take place ( around 7 days or so) then transfer to the secondary, it would free up the primary for another batch. Does anyone see much of a problem with that? I am new to brewing in 5 gallon containers( started with a smaller kit). Also, if we use the secondary should I keep it at a lower temp and if so how low? (BTW I am using an ale bases kit) for cooling the beer we would be trying to use a wine fridge so it would be easy to regulate the temp. Thanks I recently bought a kit that includes a secondary plastic carboy. My thinking was, if we brew our first beer and let fermentation take place ( around 7 days or so) then transfer to the secondary, it would free up the primary for another batch. Does anyone see much of a problem with that? I am new to brewing in 5 gallon containers( started with a smaller kit). Also, if we use the secondary should I keep it at a lower temp and if so how low? (BTW I am using an ale bases kit) for cooling the beer we would be trying to use a wine fridge so it would be easy to regulate the temp.
Thanks

]]> By: SourDoh http://www.brew-dudes.com/skip-the-secondary/183#comment-37548 SourDoh Fri, 26 Feb 2010 05:33:12 +0000 http://www.brew-dudes.com/skip-the-secondary/183#comment-37548 dvdfrnz, Dude, I hope you're careful to keep those clear bottles out of the sun; that's just asking for skunky beer. I once heard it said that at a commercial brewery, you can tell when the head of marketing has more pull than the brewmaster because they are using clear bottles. dvdfrnz,
Dude, I hope you’re careful to keep those clear bottles out of the sun; that’s just asking for skunky beer. I once heard it said that at a commercial brewery, you can tell when the head of marketing has more pull than the brewmaster because they are using clear bottles.

]]> By: dvdfrnz http://www.brew-dudes.com/skip-the-secondary/183#comment-33795 dvdfrnz Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:28:37 +0000 http://www.brew-dudes.com/skip-the-secondary/183#comment-33795 Half the pleasure of homebrewing is the visual aspect. I secondary because I like to visit my fermenting daily and look at the progress. It calms the nerves and relieves stress. I can't fathom fermenting in plastic buckets and straight to keg. I use clear glass carboys for first and second fermentations, and use clear bottles for bottling. Mesmerized by the visual. Half the pleasure of homebrewing is the visual aspect. I secondary because I like to visit my fermenting daily and look at the progress. It calms the nerves and relieves stress. I can’t fathom fermenting in plastic buckets and straight to keg. I use clear glass carboys for first and second fermentations, and use clear bottles for bottling. Mesmerized by the visual.

]]> By: Blow Off Tube | Brew Dudes http://www.brew-dudes.com/skip-the-secondary/183#comment-3429 Blow Off Tube | Brew Dudes Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:52:22 +0000 http://www.brew-dudes.com/skip-the-secondary/183#comment-3429 [...] excited to get a look at these beers when I transfer them to secondary in glass.   (Yes, Mr. Skip The Secondary is planning a secondary with these brews.)  Needless, to say I am excited about tasting these [...] […] excited to get a look at these beers when I transfer them to secondary in glass.   (Yes, Mr. Skip The Secondary is planning a secondary with these brews.)  Needless, to say I am excited about tasting these […]

]]> By: Time in Secondary | Brew Dudes http://www.brew-dudes.com/skip-the-secondary/183#comment-1359 Time in Secondary | Brew Dudes Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:08:53 +0000 http://www.brew-dudes.com/skip-the-secondary/183#comment-1359 [...] these other threads of ours regarding secondary (and primary) fermentation: Primary Fermentation Skip the Secondary Better Bottle Carboy  Spices in [...] […] these other threads of ours regarding secondary (and primary) fermentation: Primary Fermentation Skip the Secondary Better Bottle Carboy  Spices in […]

]]> By: BeerSmith http://www.brew-dudes.com/skip-the-secondary/183#comment-1042 BeerSmith Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:13:26 +0000 http://www.brew-dudes.com/skip-the-secondary/183#comment-1042 An interesting article! I usually go for a secondary, but a handful of times I've been overcome by events and ended up kegging directly from the primary. I have to say that I've never noticed a significant change in flavor. I think there are some cases where a secondary is still a good idea, but you put together a great article. An interesting article! I usually go for a secondary, but a handful of times I’ve been overcome by events and ended up kegging directly from the primary. I have to say that I’ve never noticed a significant change in flavor. I think there are some cases where a secondary is still a good idea, but you put together a great article.

]]> By: brewpoll.com http://www.brew-dudes.com/skip-the-secondary/183#comment-909 brewpoll.com Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:47:33 +0000 http://www.brew-dudes.com/skip-the-secondary/183#comment-909 <strong>Skip the Secondary?...</strong> An interesting article on the pros and cons of skipping a secondary fermentation when brewing beer. The brew dudes argue it is best to skip it!... Skip the Secondary?…

An interesting article on the pros and cons of skipping a secondary fermentation when brewing beer. The brew dudes argue it is best to skip it!…

]]> By: Mike http://www.brew-dudes.com/skip-the-secondary/183#comment-822 Mike Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:21:58 +0000 http://www.brew-dudes.com/skip-the-secondary/183#comment-822 <p>I think the answer to your question is in your post. I don't recommend transfering a beer to secondary if it isn't done. So a gravity reading of 1.019 may not be done fermenting. I'd recommend checking that gravity a couple times in primary on consecutive days, if the gravity is changing then its best to leave it in the primary until it stops changing. When using healthy yeast its not uncommon or unreasonable to leave beer in the primary for two weeks.<br /> A eacondary will indeed ferment if the beer goes in there not complete. Moving beer of the primary yeast cake too early can do more harm than leaving in on the cake for several weeks.<br /> Employing a secondary fermenter is useful to clear our some more yeast sediment. The spirit of my secondary post shows that 'if it works for you then do it' mentality. When using a good flocculating yeast I find that two weeks in primary is more than enough finish fermenting and clear the beer.<br /> Ideally secondary should occur when fermentation is COMPLETE and at a colder temperature than the primary ferment. This is essentially what I do with my kegging set up. Its just that most people don't consider that a secondary, even though its the same process that people who do use a seconday are doing.</p> I think the answer to your question is in your post. I don’t recommend transfering a beer to secondary if it isn’t done. So a gravity reading of 1.019 may not be done fermenting. I’d recommend checking that gravity a couple times in primary on consecutive days, if the gravity is changing then its best to leave it in the primary until it stops changing. When using healthy yeast its not uncommon or unreasonable to leave beer in the primary for two weeks.
A eacondary will indeed ferment if the beer goes in there not complete. Moving beer of the primary yeast cake too early can do more harm than leaving in on the cake for several weeks.
Employing a secondary fermenter is useful to clear our some more yeast sediment. The spirit of my secondary post shows that ‘if it works for you then do it’ mentality. When using a good flocculating yeast I find that two weeks in primary is more than enough finish fermenting and clear the beer.
Ideally secondary should occur when fermentation is COMPLETE and at a colder temperature than the primary ferment. This is essentially what I do with my kegging set up. Its just that most people don’t consider that a secondary, even though its the same process that people who do use a seconday are doing.

]]> By: Jason http://www.brew-dudes.com/skip-the-secondary/183#comment-805 Jason Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:47:56 +0000 http://www.brew-dudes.com/skip-the-secondary/183#comment-805 Just out of curiosity, if the recipe specifically calls for a secondary, i.e. your Marzen ale which I am brewing in secondary now, the secondary still does some good, right? When we pulled the beer from ye olde ale pail, the gravity was still at 1.019, and still tasted rather sweet, which would seem to indicate to me that it was still fermenting. Then again, this beer is only the second batch I've ever made and the first that used a secondary. Once we bottle it, and check the gravity again, it will be interesting to note if the gravity has gone down further, if so, then secondaries do indeed ferment. Just out of curiosity, if the recipe specifically calls for a secondary, i.e. your Marzen ale which I am brewing in secondary now, the secondary still does some good, right? When we pulled the beer from ye olde ale pail, the gravity was still at 1.019, and still tasted rather sweet, which would seem to indicate to me that it was still fermenting. Then again, this beer is only the second batch I’ve ever made and the first that used a secondary. Once we bottle it, and check the gravity again, it will be interesting to note if the gravity has gone down further, if so, then secondaries do indeed ferment.

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