Cold Crashing a Newcastle Brown

[grunt69]

I am brewing my first beer and have had a Newcastle Brown in the fermenter about 10 days. I then racked it into a secondary for 7 days and am filtering it into a carboy.
The intent is to cold crash it in my fridge at 40 degrees for about 10 days and then bottle it.
One thread says to use an airlock and the other says to tightly bottle the carboy. Which should it be?

 

[Yooper]

What do you mean "filtering it into a carboy"? Do you have a co2 or pump for a filter set up? Otherwise, make sure you don't strain it through anything as that will create potential for oxidation and ruin the beer.

If you use an airlock, dropping the temperature of a carboy could cause the liquid in the airlock to be sucked back into the carboy, so many people just use sanitized foil until the temperature drops and then replace the bung and airlock.

 

[BigFloyd]

+1 on Yooper's questions plus this one - why are you transferring your ale around so darn much? Every time you move it once it has fermented, you're increasing the risk of oxidation and/or infection. What are you seeking to gain?

For a Newcastle Brown clone (which I've done), I'd primary it a couple weeks, make sure it's done via hydro readings, cold crash 4-5 days (while still in the primary) and rack it over to a keg or bottling bucket.