contamination???

[AUMonkeyBoy]

I know there was a recent thread on this, but I need y'alls opinions on my beer. the first picture is from when I opened the primary fermenter. The second picture is from 2.5 hours later after transferring it into the carboy.

 

[MalFet]

Krausen and bubbles, nothin' more. The main question is: why are you transferring to secondary before the krausen drops?

 

[Mongrel]

The main question is: why are you transferring to secondary before the krausen drops?

Yeah, that's what I was wondering.

 

[AUMonkeyBoy]

It was 1 week primary and 2 week secondary. I've never had another do this. I've always followed the directions and apparently it worked out. Tell me more.

 

[Mongrel]

Every fermentation is different, so listen to the beer instead of the directions. Take hydrometer readings to make sure it is done instead of the old 1-2-3 rules. A lot of people here will just tell you to leave it in primary for 3 weeks and forget secondary. I've done both, and if I wasn't going to take readings, I'd feel better with the 3 week primary.

 

[jtkratzer]

It was 1 week primary and 2 week secondary. I've never had another do this. I've always followed the directions and apparently it worked out. Tell me more.

Most kits want you to "secondary" and by that, they usually don't mean more fermentation. They mean clearing. That gets your primary open for another batch to sell you. But if you're going to secondary, you shouldn't be racking until most or all of primary fermentation is complete. Some exceptions are fruit and other fermentable additions.

Style of beer and personal preference plays a role in primary length. I've done 10 days - 2 months.

 

[AUMonkeyBoy]

I appreciate the help, I'd never had thought about it if this didn't happen. However, I guess it was a matter of time. I guess I'm committed now. I do the secondary mainly for clarity. Non brewers get weirder out by sentiment. If you have another way, I'd like to hear.

 

[chumpsteak]

3 weeks in primary then move primary to fridge to cold crash for a week and put in some gelatin to help clear. That's what I do and get good clear beer.

 

[MalFet]

I'm not anti-secondary, and use one about half of the time. But, you shouldn't need to be using a secondary for clarification purposes. If you are getting excessively sludgy beers, make sure you aren't stirring up the yeast/trub cake at racking time.