Concern about Secondary Tansfer

[carter840]

So I have read a couple of other threads similar to this, but figured I would write my own rather than hijack one. I have an English Amber Ale (WL Burton Ale Yest) that has been in primary for the last 20 days. I have a one piece air lock on there that seems to have all but stopped bubbling. Maybe every 15 minutes it will burp, but nothing too active. It was very active at the start and it was good I had a blow off tube the first few days.

Anyway my concern is that I was going to transfer to secondary to dryhop, free up my fermentor, and allow some time to clear (smaller vessel can fit in my fridge to cold crash). The issue is that I am scared that the yeast is so inactive that transferring to a secondary would risk oxidizing the beer. I think I have a good number or reasons to transfer to secondary, but certainly don't want to ruin my beer. What are your thoughts on this? Maybe the transfer and addition of oxygen will help wake up the yeast?

Thanks

 

[unionrdr]

At 20 days in,it's likely done. But use a hydrometer 2 days apart to know for sure. An airlock is just a one way pressure release valve. Not a fermentation guage. It can sit there & off gass dissolved co2,making the occasional burp. Test it & see if it's finished fermenting.

 

[dcp27]

just be careful with your transfer and there should be minimal oxygen added. the yeast should be inactive any time you transfer anyway, so nothing out of the ordinary. RDWHAHB

 

[Mugsfull]

I think I have a good number or reasons to transfer to secondary, but certainly don't want to ruin my beer. What are your thoughts on this? Maybe the transfer and addition of oxygen will help wake up the yeast?

Thanks

I've dry hopped in primary with no problems. But you certainly can transfer to another vessel if you want to. I transfer from a plastic bucket to a glass carboy if I'm going to store for awhile or bulk age. I do this for high gravity beers and for lagering. Plastic can oxidize over a period of months, so I prefer glass for storage.

I had an infection in my transfer hosing for a few batches. It happened when I transferred to secondary. I killed it by soaking all my equipment in a bleach solution of 1 tsp/gal water.

Transferring in itself will not oxidize the beer or change it's quality. If you don't need to do it. Skip it.

If you want to, go ahead, sanitize well and you'll be fine.

 

[stratslinger]

You are planning to transfer with a siphon, right? As long as you have a gentle siphon going, it's not a huge risk for oxidation.

That said, if you don't need the primary for another brew right away, go ahead and dry hop in it, and save yourself the time cleaning, sanitizing, and racking. If you do need that primary, then go ahead and rack it, but make sure you siphon it slow and steady.

 

[Calichusetts]

Oxidation from transfering is really rare. I mean I don't know your method but I transfer with a siphon several times throughout the process and have yet to have oxidation of any type

 

[carter840]

Yes I will be using an auto siphon.

Do you think that this is something that I should do now or is it better to wait a few more days? I believe that primary is finished (pretty much entirely), but I am looking for the beer to clear up more-it is very cloudy. So basically I am planning on serving this on the 4th and with the time I have left I can either spend it sitting longer in primary, or carbonating in the keg longer. The time in secondary will be 7 days regardless. 5 at room temp and then I will cold crash the last 2. Basically its a question of longer primary of longer keg time (and less forced carb).

I'm very excited about this, it's my first recipe and I am hoping for the best, but also being realistic.

Thanks

 

[helibrewer]

Since you have a keg system, purge the carboy with CO2 before racking into it. Run the gas very slowly (low pressure). The carboy is purged when a lighter flame extinguishes when lowered into the neck. Gently rack and you're done. You can re-top with CO2 before stoppering the carboy.

 

[carter840]

Since you have a keg system, purge the carboy with CO2 before racking into it. Run the gas very slowly (low pressure). The carboy is purged when a lighter flame extinguishes when lowered into the neck. Gently rack and you're done. You can re-top with CO2 before stoppering the carboy.

Seems like a great idea except I don't have my CO2 tank yet. I guess I will pick it up on Thursday and then rack.