filtering and secondary

desiderata · Jul 28, 2006

When transferring the hot wort to the fermenting bucket, I tried to use a funnel w/filter to keep the hops from transferring. The filter got clogged, and I had to clean it out several times before giving up and just pouring the wort directly into the bucket. (when cleaning out the filter, I had to handle it, so I was afraid I would contaminate the wort, but so far nothing to worry about.)
Also, I transferred into a secondary (glass carboy) after six days of primary, by siphoning, and the beer seems pretty clear and free of the hops. After siphoning a second time in order to bottle, it should be even cleaner. So, when using a secondary, is it even beneficial to use a filter at any point? I got the filter from a home brew shop, so I was wondering, when and how does one use it? I would consider using the wirlpool method, but that seems like so much more work to have to siphon rather than pour. Thanks in advance.

david_42 · Jul 28, 2006

The only time I use a filter is to clear pale ales that won't settle. My Bent Rod Rye is headed for the filter. How you do it depends on the filtering system. Mine goes between two kegs and I use CO2 to push the ale. Some systems use a pump.

wup · Jul 28, 2006

desiderata said:
When transferring the hot wort to the fermenting bucket.

Just a quick note, from what I have read you should not transfer the hot wort, or you risk hot side aeration.

Wup

desiderata · Jul 28, 2006

wup said:
...from what I have read you should not transfer the hot wort, or you risk hot side aeration.

What I did was pour the hot wort, which was about two gallons, into the remaining three gallons of room temp water in the bucket. But this did not cool down very fast at all, so the hot side aeration may have still occured, as you say. I am going to try cooling the wort individually before adding it to the bucket next time. Thanks for the advice.

homebrewer_99 · Jul 28, 2006

I pour my 1-1.5 gal hot wort through a nylon net on top of my primary bucket that already has 2 gals of iced water in it. It cools it down within minutes.

I place 4 gal of filtered tap water (in gal jugs) in the freezer 4-5 hours prior to brewing.