My first brew!!!!

ThaBrewFather06 said:

I have a red ale that I brewed last Monday, 7 days ago. Is it too soon to move beer to my secondary fermenter and if I do transfer should I add anything to it? Is it better for me to just leave it in the primary another week then transfer and bottle? When I put my priming sugar in how should I do it? Do I dissolve it in water? Then do I stir it in with a spoon or just shake it up? Sorry about all the questions I'm a newb and need help.
Thanks

Click to expand...

histo320 said:

There is lots of advice on racking to secondary. Personally the only time I think you need to rack to secondary is if you are adding flavorings. It will help clarify the beer if you do chose to move to secondary.

7 Days is definitely not long enough for a beer to ferment. I use the 21-21 rule. Ferment for 21 days, bottle, then let age for 21 days.

For bottling, a bad rule of thumb is 3/4 cup of priming sugar in 1 pint (2 cups) of water, boil for a few minutes (I do 5 minutes), let solution cool to temp of beer, pour in bottling bucket, rack beer in a circular motion.

I hope this helps.

Click to expand...

EPS said:

If its a 5 gallon batch take about a cup of water and boil it with 5oz of priming sugar (corn sugar/Dextrose) if thats whats your using for priming. Then what i do is add it to the bottling bucket then rack the beer from primary straight to bottling bucket. Stir gently with siphon and bottle. I usually just keep mine in primary for 3-4 weeks then bottle. Theres really no need for secondary unless your dry hopping or adding fruit etc.. I feel like secondary adds risk for infection and oxygen. Whatever u do make sure you boil water with your priming sugar before adding it. And make sure anything that comes in contact with your beer is sanitized thats most important. Sanitize your bottles, caps everything. And heres a good site that will tell you how much priming sugar 2 add TastyBrew.com

Click to expand...