Witbier secondary fermentarion?

[314alias]

How long should I let my witbier secondary ferment. It has been fermenting for about 3 weeks and the bubbles in the airlock have almost slowed to a stop... Is there a time between bubbles I should shoot for or take a gravity reading?

Also it started out a more golden color but has come to almost a dark brown/burgundy? Is this normal?

 

[Jayman931]

I am new so you don't neccesarily want to take my advice..I just read and research alot and this is just what I am going to do...everyone says "3 weeks"...but that is just a average I suppose. I would wait for the bubbles to stop...wait about 5 days...then take a reading...the next day take a reading...if the two are the same then go to Secondary....

 

[314alias]

Well it has been in secondary for about 3 weeks and I am wondering when to bottle it.? I dont want my bottles to explode yah know.

 

[unionrdr]

Never use the airlock as a fermentation gauge. It's just a one way pressure release valve. I use the hydrometer starting at 2 weeks to see where it's at gravity wise. Then 3 days or so later,take another reading. If it's the same,give it 3-5 days to clean up & settle out more.
You don't want wheat beers sitting any longer than they have too. Then bottle it,& check it out at 2 weeks. Wheat beers are one of the fastest to finish,& should be drunk young.

 

[dnslater]

I just made a Witbier. 3 weeks in the primary at 68 degrees and it was very well carbed after two weeks in the bottle at 75+ degrees. No need to secondary. Witbiers are supposed to be cloudy, and it will already be plenty clear from 3 weeks primary.

As others have said, use your hydrometer, not your airlock to gauge completion. It is probably plenty done. Airlock activity is probably just from temperature changes or something.

 

[Snotpoodle]

Witbiers dont need secondary, they are best when they are young.

Take a hydro reading, (consistent for 3 days) then bottle.

Give it a week or more to carb up, enjoy.

 

[WhiskeyR]

Agree with Snotpoodle. Wits can be really fast. I'm only on my third one, but my second one was done fermenting after 8 days. Kegged it, drank it a week later and it came out awesome.