I started this fine weekend transferring my Belgian Tripel to the secondary, so I can free up primary for another brew day I plan on doing next week. While transferring I left the Star San foam in the carboy, and I am guessing since the foam/bubbles float on top of the beer it does not bind and oxidize the beer. However, while siphoning I wasn't paying attention and my siphon sucked up some air (maybe an inch or two in the siphon) and before I could do anything it went through siphon and into the carboy. Then it happened again when i got down to the trub, but it was even less air than the first time. With my first beer comes growing pains, and obviously i see why a lot of people don't bother with a secondary but I didn't want to tie up my primary for the next month or so while my 5g carboy just sits there.
Questions are:
1. The star san foam won't oxidize my beer if i don't wait for the foam to dry before transferring to my secondary
2. Will the air sucked in the siphon definitely oxidize my beer? Is it a crap shoot? or is it too little of an amount to have a great impact on my beer?
Side Note: First 3 weeks of fermenting seemed to go pretty good. Fermented for first week around 68-70, ambient around 62, second week was in a swamp cooler with an aquarium heater around 68, and finally this week i ran into some problems with the aquarium heater so it was 68 most of the week but up around 70-72 the past 2 days. Probably do another 3 weeks plus in the carboy. I have not taken any FG readings, should I do this now?
Questions are:
1. The star san foam won't oxidize my beer if i don't wait for the foam to dry before transferring to my secondary
2. Will the air sucked in the siphon definitely oxidize my beer? Is it a crap shoot? or is it too little of an amount to have a great impact on my beer?
Side Note: First 3 weeks of fermenting seemed to go pretty good. Fermented for first week around 68-70, ambient around 62, second week was in a swamp cooler with an aquarium heater around 68, and finally this week i ran into some problems with the aquarium heater so it was 68 most of the week but up around 70-72 the past 2 days. Probably do another 3 weeks plus in the carboy. I have not taken any FG readings, should I do this now?