The need for a secondary?

[MrBulldogg]

I've been reading a lot on this board how people move beer from the primary to the secondary before bottling, but I haven't been able to figure out the benefit of this extra hassle. Admittedly, I'm a beginner just starting out with simple kits, but the book I have, the kit instructions and the Zymurgy introductory issue all only talk about bottling right after the initial fermentation (about a week after the boil). Is the secondary merely an issue when brewing specific types of beer?

 

[El Pistolero]

Here's a good read by Ray Daniels on secondary fermentation. You can decide for yourself whether it's worth it or not, but personally I think it makes better beer.

 

[budbo]

Secondary is not required, but having just popped my first batch switching from 1 to 2 weeks in the secondary, I can 1st hand tell you it makes a noticably cleaner tasting clearer looking brew.

 

[SteveM]

My "house beer" goes from two weeks in the primary right to bottle, and it comes out clear and tasty. But some beers do better in a secondary, and if you are fussy about clarity, they will help.

 

[Beer Snob]

Here's a good read by Ray Daniels on secondary fermentation. You can decide for yourself whether it's worth it or not, but personally I think it makes better beer.

I secondary that secondary If you read throughout the forum you will come across many who notice a lot of yeast in the bottles. After it is said and done it is usually seen that they did not rack to a secondary. Not always, but a secondary certainly has its advantages... one being to make your beer a bit more clear.

 

[MrBulldogg]

Ahh... Ok, that explains things. Thanks. Sounds like I'll have to prepare some arguments for my wife on why it's really, really necessary to buy a glass carboy for my next batch. BTW what's the proper way to pronounce it -- like car and boy together or quick "car" and more emphasis on the "b"?

 

[Lou]

Ahh... Ok, that explains things. Thanks. Sounds like I'll have to prepare some arguments for my wife on why it's really, really necessary to buy a glass carboy for my next batch. BTW what's the proper way to pronounce it -- like car and boy together or quick "car" and more emphasis on the "b"?

CAR-boy
good luck with SWMBO