2 stage fermentation - one carboy...

[AZDoughBoy]

The itch has returned and there is only one cure... BREW! I have been away from brewing for almost 2 years. I'm prepping my notes and equipment for this weekend. I’m trying to figure the best version for my Primary and Secondary fermentation. Should I do the primary in my plastic bucket and secondary in glass carboy… or vice versa?

 

[duboman]

Depending on what you are planning on brewing you may only require a primary and it can be either the bucket or carboy assuming both are 6.5 gallons.

Secondary vessels are really only used now for racking on fruit or oaking or bulk long term conditioning. Most people today prefer to do longer primary, like 2-4 weeks for clearing and conditioning beer and even dry hopping once fermentation has completed.

 

[Golddiggie]

I second forgetting about racking to the second vessel unless you plan on some extended aging time. I've dry hopped in primary with solid results (although I now dry hop in serving keg, but that's another thread).

If you're thinking of brewing again before the batch is actually done, then do your beer a favor and get another primary/fermenter to use. The less amount of times you rack a brew the better off you (and the brew) will be. There's a bazillion threads already about this, so that's all I'm going to say. There's links to 5 in the "similar threads" list at the bottom of the page.

 

[tre9er]

Depending on what you are planning on brewing you may only require a primary and it can be either the bucket or carboy assuming both are 6.5 gallons.

Secondary vessels are really only used now for racking on fruit or oaking or bulk long term conditioning. Most people today prefer to do longer primary, like 2-4 weeks for clearing and conditioning beer and even dry hopping once fermentation has completed.

This. Secondaries are a rare thing unless you want to do the things mentioned above. I'd bet that 95% of your beers could just primary.