sudsmonkey
Well-Known Member
I recently brewed an English bitter . At the time, I read a discussion about the differences between single stage and two stage fermentation. I had to try it out for myself. I ran a four gallon batch through primary for a week and put it in the secondary for a week. At the same time, I let two gallons sit in the ( very small) primary for the two week period. I bottled and labled the bottles as 1 step and 2 step. The single stage, after two or three weeks in the bottle, tastes kind of unfinished, but has the lovliest head you ever saw. The two stage tastes better, cleaner, and has less sediment, but doesn't hold a head for long. I primed at the same rates, and bottled on the same day. Should I have cut the secondary time on the two stage? I'm happy with both of them. They came out as different as two children from the same family. I can't choose between them. I like the foam, but the clarity of the two stage makes me proud. Anybody else got a similar experience?