I'd like to get a batch fermenting before I go on vacation but it would have to sit in the primary for 17 days. Is there any risk to flavor or anything else by leaving it so long? I'm wondering if the warmer summer weather means it shouldn't sit around on the yeast that long.
There's no harm in that at all. I left my last two beers in primary from nearly three weeks and they were by far the best ones I have made.
Some have forgotten all about using a secondary anyway and going from primary to bottles/keg.
17 days will do nothing but good for your brew.
__________________
Primary 1: Guardrail Pale Ale
Primary 2: Lake Vacation Wit
Primary 3: Air
Secondary:All my secondaries are currently primaries
Bottled/Conditioning: Riesling
Keg 1: Old Yeast
Keg 2: Old Yeast
Bottled & Drinking: Commercial Stuff
On Deck: Nada
__________________ Malkore
Primary: English Mild
On tap: Pale Ale, Lancelot's Wheat, English Brown Ale, Steam Beer, HoovNuts IPA
Bottled: MOAM, Braggot, Raspberry Melomel, Merlot, Apfelwein, Pyment, Sweet mead, Cabernet
Gal in 2009: 27, Gal in 2010: 34, Gal in 2011: 13, Gal in 2012: 10
I have one in the primary that has been there since June. I have been caught up in a house move and all my gear is still in storage. I have been worried about it, but just pulled a sample and it tastes fine.
Leaving beer in the primary for an extended period of time only increases your RISK of autolysis and off-flavours, it doesn't guarantee it. And if you pitched an adequate quantity of well-aerated, healthy yeast, there is very little risk involved.
I laugh at your 17 days. I've been on a roll lately leaving beer in primaries for long stretches.
Last weekend I bottled a batch (Belgian Triple) that was 1 week shy of 3 months.
Today I racked one (Ommegang clone) that had been in primary for 7 weeks.
I have one more to rack (an ESB) that's been in primary for 8 weeks.
So far all the beers have been really good. I do not recommend this method but when life gets in the way of brewing, you sometimes have to go with the flow.
__________________
Batch 1 Brewing The American Revolution would never have happened with gun control.
or when you dont want to spend a few hundred dollars on more carboys. just keep that trash in the primary until you have the right stuff to do it properly. no use worying. its beer. its forgiving.
__________________
You finally made it home! Draped in the flag that you fell for. And so it goes, the ashes of the wake!
17 Days in Primary?
I've been on a roll lately leaving beer in primaries for long stretches. 
Linear Mode
