How long is too long?

[popscube]

My Marzen has been in the fermenter now for a week (seven days) and the airlock is still going strong (lots of bubbles). Should I give it another couple of days or just go ahead and put it in the secondary now? I don't want it sitting on the trub too long. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks so much

popscube

 

[bob1852]

you'd be fine letting it sit for at least two weeks in the primary...even longer if you wanted.

I would personally give it at least a week once the bubbling stops, you wanna give the yeasties some time to clean up after themselves.

 

[KYB]

Too long in primary would be 6+ months. I primary mine 3-4 weeks typically. No secondary.

 

[defenestrate]

Too long in primary would be 6+ months. I primary mine 3-4 weeks typically. No secondary.

+1... you shouldnt transfer with out taking a gravity reading anyway. you cant judge fermentation by bubbles.

 

[Zen_Brew]

Oh, I've seen those guys in some of those pron movies. 11" or 12" Is that real? I think it's just camera angles. That's definitely too long. Unfortunately I've never had women label me too long......

Wait, this is the sexual confession forum, right?

 

[Jud]

Hydrometer reading

 

[fishnfever]

Too long in primary would be 6+ months. I primary mine 3-4 weeks typically. No secondary.

+1

Rdwhahb

 

[rico567]

I concur with the advice given here. Just leave it in the primary for at least 2-3 weeks. Then take a hydrometer reading. The hydrometer appears to be one of those "love-hate" items of equipment in this pastime, largely because so many folks break so many hydrometers. However, there's no substitute for taking an FG reading; only way to know for sure your beer's done.

If you don't get along well with glass hydrometers, there appears to be a plastic one that's made in the UK. Don't know how hard it would be to get over here.

 

[corvax13]

I agree - my stout was in the primary for 6 weeks, no problems whatsoever. Taste tested before bottling, and its going very well.

In your hydrometer thy shall trust!

 

[Scooby_Brew]

My Marzen has been in the fermenter now for a week (seven days) and the airlock is still going strong (lots of bubbles). Should I give it another couple of days or just go ahead and put it in the secondary now? I don't want it sitting on the trub too long. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks so much

popscube

Well, if it's a real Marzen you're brewing, then you are using lager yeast, which means you gonna need 2-3 weeks in a primary (50-60F), and 2+ weeks in secondary (40-50F).
http://www.howtobrew.com/section1/chapter10-1.html
It is possible, that you bought a "fake" Marzen kit, which probably came with an Ale yeast, instead of a Lager yeast. In this case the fermentation should be done by now, but obviously if it's still bubbling, then I would leave it alone.

 

[shortyjacobs]

Too long in primary would be 6+ months. I primary mine 3-4 weeks typically. No secondary.

ditto

10char