1-2-3

[kriso77]

I brewed my first batch with a beer kit that came with a liquid malt extract. The instructions that came with the kit say to switch to the secondary fermenter after 3 days. This seems to go against the 1-2-3 method of letting it sit in the primary fermentor for a week. Will the time needed in the primary be affected if it is a liquid or dry extract?

 

[bradsul]

The 1-2-3 method is more of a guideline than a rule, but 3 days is way too short. There is no difference between dry and liquid extract once it is dissolved. Stick with the 1-2-3 method and you really can't go wrong.

Though if you don't have one, get a hydrometer. At day 7 in primary check the gravity, then check it again two days later. If it is the same go ahead and rack to secondary - otherwise wait another couple days and check again. Ultimately racking time is up to the yeast, if they aren't finished with primary fermentation don't rack.

 

[Orfy]

Nope......

Ignore the instructions.....I would say they are crap.
Go with the majority of the advice you you get on here. I would bet half the time the people writing the instruction on kits have never brewed.

There's lots of experienced brewers on here and you find although you get varied advice, there is enough that you can find a balance opinion.

 

[Iordz]

The best indicator will be your hydrometer. Take a reading after the bubbles slow down or stop, and see whether it's close to finishing gravity. When the beer is close then you can transfer. Be careful when transferring because the beer might be around finishing gravity but the yeast may not have consumed the diacetyl, which is usual considered a flaw. This is why I let my beer sit for 2 weeks, undisturbed, and then I take a reading. I like two weeks because it gives the yeast plenty of time to finish their job and even get rid of the by-products that are not so desirable. You have to determine when the beer is ready for the secondary, or bottling, through the use of a hydrometer and your taste buds.