Is secondary fermentation really necessary?

[chadkarol]

I have a Christmas ale I brewed last weekend that I was planning to put into a secondary today but just ran out of time. I was planning to secondary for two weeks and then bottle. What if I just decide to leave in the primary for three weeks instead? I have a little baby girl, and finding time for all my brews are becoming difficult.

 

[squash1978]

Short answer: nope!

 

[NervousDad]

3 weeks in the primary would be ideal, no need to use a secondary.

 

[GMP428]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f36/secondary-fermentation-rack-not-rack-155255/

 

[madkap_78]

Three weeks is ok. I never secondary a beer anymore unless Im adding a dry hop or cocoa nibs or something, and that's only if I plan on reusing the yeast, otherwise I just throw those in the primary too.