harriw
Member
My first cider is happily bubbling away in my 6 Gal. glass carboy at the moment, and I'm scheming on what my next steps will be once it dies down. My kit also included a 6.5-7 Gal. Bottling Bucket (with gasketed lid and hole for air lock, etc.).
So, my question is: when the primary is done, should I rack into the bottling bucket and leave it there for the 2 months or so worth of secondary? My concerns are: 1.) the bucket is larger, meaning more air space, and more opportunity for oxidization. 2.) When I go to bottle, I'll already be IN my bottling bucket, which is good... except that I'll have 2 months worth of Lees at the bottom still. Is the spicket tap generally high enough off the bottom that I don't have to worry about all the lees going into my bottles?
I guess my other option is to Rack into bottling bucket, clean out primary carboy, rack back into the carboy and leave it for 2 months in secondary. Then when I'm ready to bottle, rack back into the bottling bucket again. Are those additional rackings going to eliminate enough yeast that I can't bottle carb though?
Thanks for bearing with me!
-Bill
So, my question is: when the primary is done, should I rack into the bottling bucket and leave it there for the 2 months or so worth of secondary? My concerns are: 1.) the bucket is larger, meaning more air space, and more opportunity for oxidization. 2.) When I go to bottle, I'll already be IN my bottling bucket, which is good... except that I'll have 2 months worth of Lees at the bottom still. Is the spicket tap generally high enough off the bottom that I don't have to worry about all the lees going into my bottles?
I guess my other option is to Rack into bottling bucket, clean out primary carboy, rack back into the carboy and leave it for 2 months in secondary. Then when I'm ready to bottle, rack back into the bottling bucket again. Are those additional rackings going to eliminate enough yeast that I can't bottle carb though?
Thanks for bearing with me!
-Bill