Since I forgot to strain my brew while adding it to the fermenting carboy, will this effect the outcome of the fermentation and taste? I will be straining it when I add the brew to the secondary fermenting bucket. Any help is appreciated. Thanks. Wes
Straining the slug
- Thread starter wesw801
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I don't strain my wort going into the fermenter, and for over 300 batches it's worked well!
You also don't strain if you're going to a secondary. You will be siphoning ("racking") quietly to avoid any splashing or oxidation, with the tip of the siphon at the very bottom of the receiving vessel to avoid any changes of oxygen pick up.
I don't use a clearing vessel ("secondary") very often, and it's not needed, but when I do I found that just careful siphoning from the fermenter avoids any trub being transferred.
The heavier particles like proteins, hops debris, and even spent yeast will all fall to the bottom of the fermenter. If given a chance to sit for at least a few days after fermentation ends, this will form a pretty compact trub layer and you just siphon from above that into the bottling bucket or a clearing carboy if using one. If you ARE using a clearing vessel, it should be a carboy and not a bucket. A bucket has a very wide headspace, inappropriate for a clearing vessel.
It sounds like it's a bit backwards. The bucket is for primary, for fermentation, and the carboy is a clearing vessel.
You also don't strain if you're going to a secondary. You will be siphoning ("racking") quietly to avoid any splashing or oxidation, with the tip of the siphon at the very bottom of the receiving vessel to avoid any changes of oxygen pick up.
I don't use a clearing vessel ("secondary") very often, and it's not needed, but when I do I found that just careful siphoning from the fermenter avoids any trub being transferred.
The heavier particles like proteins, hops debris, and even spent yeast will all fall to the bottom of the fermenter. If given a chance to sit for at least a few days after fermentation ends, this will form a pretty compact trub layer and you just siphon from above that into the bottling bucket or a clearing carboy if using one. If you ARE using a clearing vessel, it should be a carboy and not a bucket. A bucket has a very wide headspace, inappropriate for a clearing vessel.
It sounds like it's a bit backwards. The bucket is for primary, for fermentation, and the carboy is a clearing vessel.
Stauffbier
Well-Known Member
I don't brew with slugs, but I would definitely strain them out if I did!
On a serious note, you don't need to strain your wort. All of the trub, sludge, and slugs will settle after fermentation is complete.
On a serious note, you don't need to strain your wort. All of the trub, sludge, and slugs will settle after fermentation is complete.
inhousebrew
Well-Known Member
yeah, most stuff should drop to the bottom of the primary. Do Not strain into the secondary. Because everything will sink to the bottom of the primary you won't get much even if you do and you will definitely oxidize your beer. So unless you like beer that tastes like cardboard I wouldn't do it.
Stauffbier said:
Haha! That's funny. I meant to type sludge, but thank you very much for the advise. I was nervous because the guy that taught the class I went to last Sunday strained the wort as he poured it into the fermenting carboy. I won't be straining the sludge to the secondary just using auto syphon. Thanks again for the reply
