Brewing first ipa...

[MoshinJoshN]

I am fermenting my ipa right now and I plan on racking it to a second fermenter and dry hopping it there. How long should I allow for the beer to ferment in the primary ( bucket) before racking to secondary (glass carboy)?

 

[ChadChaney]

I think it depends on the recipe, but I am a big fan of at least 2 weeks in primary for the yeast to do all its work. I have an IPA going right now, at 14 days in primary, going to add the dry hops tomorrow and let sit another seven days and the bottle. Never going to take it out of the primary, dry hop in bags and using carbonation tablets in the bottles. Did this with my Double/Imperial IPA and it was killer.

 

[beerman0001]

At least 2 weeks. Make sure to check the sg to make sure it is done before you rack it over.

 

[unionrdr]

Yeah,always get a stable FG before racking/additions.

 

[HomebrewMTB]

Or you could press the easy button and dry hop in primary.

 

[enkamania]

I do three weeks fermenting, then dry hop

 

[Mikey_Dawg]

I never had a beer that wasnt done fermenting within a week, then I dry hop in Primary and leave it for another week before I go straight to keg.. so 14 days, then keg.

I personally love my IPAs very fresh to enjoy the hops as they will fade over time. Last IPA I kegged a few weeks ago went from brew to glass in about 20 days and was/is excellent (I keg so can get carbed up fast with force carb process).

I suppose there could be benefits for letting it condition longer but I havent a reason to do so in my years of brewing. JMO.

 

[Jtd6628]

I primary everything for 3 weeks minimum then dry hop all my IPAs for 7 days in 2ndry let something dry hop for 19 days once and it looked really scary but still bottled waiting to see how it taste this is a pic of the long dry hopping

Sent from my iPad2 using HB Talk

 

[Flomaster]

Or you could press the easy button and dry hop in primary.

that's what i'll be doing with my ipa I am brewing this weekend

-=Jason=-

 

[duckmanco]

I vote you don't transfer at all and just dry hop in the primary. Works great with no additional work, oxidation, or risk of infection. My .02

 

[BigTerp]

I vote you don't transfer at all and just dry hop in the primary. Works great with no additional work, oxidation, or risk of infection. My .02

I like to do this as well. I do dry hop in a secondary, but only if I want to wash the yeast. Helps to keep the nasty hop gunk out of my washed yeast.