Adding Cocoa Nibs in Primary vice Secondary?

[tooblue02]

I have my stout which has been in the primary for about 2 weeks now and I need to add the chocolate nibs to it but I was hoping I could avoid going to the secondary and just do it in the primary for a week and then bottle? Any suggestions? Also, I was curious if going to a secondary has more risk of low carbonation after bottling since it is clearer which means less yeasties for the CO2 making. Thanks for the help!

 

[cluckk]

Even adding it in post-fermentation there is no need to rack to secondary. Just throw it in and let it sit the week then check it.

 

[tooblue02]

Thats what I was thinking! Would you throw them in a mesh bag so they don't drop into the yeast cake?

 

[tooblue02]

Bump for some help... Gravity was at 1.028 today (13 days post brewing, OG was 1.056) debating on going to secondary...

 

[lorne17]

I too am very interested in this. I want to get the Northern brewer chocolate milk stout and didn't know if I can use my primary fermenter for 3-4 weeks and add the cacao nibs in 2 weeks prior to bottling.

With the equipment I have, I have 3 options:

1. Put my beer into my 5 gallon glass carboy (I know I know, I shouldn't even be using that for my primary, but I do use a 5 gal carboy for my primary with no secondary on hand, it makes great beer!) for primary, then add the cacao nibs 2 weeks prior to bottling. If so, do I add that to yeast cake or use mesh bag?
2. I go buy a secondary 6.5 carboy so I can actually do this as the recipe calls for.
3. I do my primary fermenting in 6.5 gallon racking bucket, then put in 5 gallon glass carboy for secondary and follow recipe from there. Keep in mind my racking bucket has a spigot and I'm nervous bacteria might be able to get into it.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!
Lorne

 

[Math0]

I see a lot of brewers using only a primary without the need to transfer to secondary. These are used mostly for conditioning high gravity beers. Also it will be exposed to oxygen for a bit it must be transfered slowly to a glass carboy. Glass is less permeable to oxygen and it is difficult to minimise the head space in a plastic bucket. If you feel like you need to transfer to secondary for conditioning, its up to you.


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