How long in secondary?

[drayman86]

OK, so the beer is really starting to pile up (some problem, eh?)

Pretty soon I'll have all four taps on the keggerator occupied, with my Great White North lager lagering away and a couple of more in the secondaries.

Question: What's the greatest length of time to leave a brew in secondary? No worries with the lager, but what about ales, stouts, and porters? Will the hop flavors dissipate? Can more time in the secondary make for a better brew (with the exception of maybe a Hefe?) My sanitation is always very stringent so no problems with bugs.

Thanks!

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

I much prefer the effects of bulk aging and regularly secondary for over a month. I think the finished be is generally more complex and all around better/clearer with this technique. I have left ales in secondary for up to 3 months with great result. Just make sure your air-lock doesn't dry up. With a long secondary, even chill have with precipitate out, as well as other off flavors. Good luck, an over large beer stockpile is a real tragedy!

 

[Brewing Clamper]

I've kept med-gravity ales in secondary for months and IMHO they tasted much better than the ones that only got 3-6weeks. I wouldn't worry. If you really have a problem with backstock, feel free to ship some of that beer to me for proper storage/disposal.

 

[JoePolvino]

I much prefer the effects of bulk aging and regularly secondary for over a month. I think the finished be is generally more complex and all around better/clearer with this technique. I have left ales in secondary for up to 3 months with great result. Just make sure your air-lock doesn't dry up. With a long secondary, even chill have with precipitate out, as well as other off flavors. Good luck, an over large beer stockpile is a real tragedy!

For most ales, I skip secondary and go for longer primary fermentation. My primary usually goes for about a month. The benefit is lower risk of contamination and lower risk of introducing oxygen during the transfer. Then I simply siphon to a keg.

 

[drayman86]

I If you really have a problem with backstock, feel free to ship some of that beer to me for proper storage/disposal.

Actually, I've been passing it out to upper management at work; this seems like a solid career move. :rockin: