Good or lucky, plus Hefeweizen question

My buddy and I just brewed our second all-grain batch on our new rack system, a Hefeweizen. Target OG was 1.048. We hit it dead-nuts on after the sparge, and bumped it to about 1.050-52 after the 60 minute boil. Good or just lucky? I'll stick with good; we planned and researched and followed the Ray Daniels calculations from Designing Great Beers. :rockin:

Anyway, the Hef recipe we followed didn't have a fermentation schedule with it. How much time in primary and secondary do you folks like with a Hef? We're both going to keg the beer.

Thanks!

5-7 days should be more than enough time in the primary.

A HW doesn't need a secondary so that step is up to you.

If your gravity has dropped about 75% then it's done.

Thanks, HB 99.

Any suggestions on how to draw a sample from the primary in a sanitary manner to check gravity?

Spend the $ and get a wine thief. It really makes it easy.

Thanks FlyGuy. I'll drop by my local HBS to check availability. They're pretty inexpensive from what I've seen on-line.

I second the thief.

Make sure you get a hydrometer test tube also.

I say thief also, but if you have an auto siphon that will work as a thief also, if you take out the inner racking cane. Great job on hitting your marks!

Cheers