zenit

Recipes 

well 2 days ago i made my first ever batch (just a simple hefeweizen from extract with white labs hefeweizen yeast). This morning i saw first bubbles in the air lock.

Now i am worried about the whole thing exploding. How likely that i will have a mess on my hands when i will come home?

Also for hefeweizen is secondary fermentation necessary? Or should i just bottle it straight from the primary? The instructions in the kit i got are very unclear about that.

Tankard

Recipes 

Hefe's ferment aggressively. Are you using an airlock or a blowoff tube? If you're using a regular airlock, you may get some krausen in there and worst case scenario, it may blow off. If it does, it may create a mess, but the layer of CO2 over the beer will keep the oxygen away. Look into getting a blowoff tube for your next hefe batch.

You don't need to secondary hefeweizens. Racking to secondary usually means a clearer beer, which is unnecessary with hefeweizens since they are cloudy anyway. Just leave it in your primary for 2 weeks, bottle, and allow to condition for 2 weeks.

JVD_X

Recipes 

You might! Next time use a 1" diameter "blow off" hose instead of the airlock for the primary fermentation. Put the other end in a bowl of sanitizer solution.

Racking off to a secondary fermentation vessel is never necessary, just strongly suggested. I would rack off the settlement once it is clear that the fermentation is slowing down... like 2-3 days or so; you don't need to wait for the head to fall back into the beer (in fact it is suggested you do not wait). Be careful not to splash it around.

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- JVD_X

Zymurgrafi

Recipes 

Assuming it is a 5 gallon batch... What size is your fermenter? As posted above airlock or blowoff?

Personally speaking no secondary clearing vessel is necessary for ales at least. Leave it about 3 weeks and bottle or keg. If you have you are worried about it blowing, even in a 6-6.5 gallon ferementer (which could happen with a hef) Stuff a piece of 4' 1.25 OD tubing in there. the other end in a bcket of sanitizer and worry no more. When the kraeusen settles down return the stopper and airlock.

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sláinte!

Bristle Bros. Brewing

Liquidicem

Recipes 

I wouldn't worry about a secondary for a Hefe, especially your first brew. Just let it sit for 2-3 weeks then bottle.

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Squirrel House Brewing

zenit

Recipes 

well so far there was no blowover incidents. The fermentation is going at a very tame and consistent pace.

As far as i understand the secondary fermentation is for making beer more clear, which is not the case in hefeweizens. Why do some recipes call for secondary then?