Is Secondary Fermentation worth it?

[Berniep]

Thanks to those who have been gracious enough to provide me with further insight. I apologize to the few that feel that maybe this topic has been beat to death on HBT. I am brand new to home brewing and to this site and have been asking a lot of questions over the past couple of weeks. I am not yet up to speed on the etiquette and protocols expected for asking questions on this site. Most responses to my threads have been helpful and very encouraging, but I have sensed with a few that there is some underlying irritation towards some of the NOOB questions. I am quickly realizing that I need to relax and enjoy the process and stop obsessing about every little step along the way. I think my biggest downfall was reading John Palmers book (the old version) cover to cover before starting this process. I should have just listened to the guy at my HBS who said that "brewing should be fun and easy, not intimidating and stressful like Palmer presents it as being". For those that have helped me along the way so far, thanks for everything! For those who seem to get a little irritated with some of our questions, I understand. Having spent time on this site over the past couple of weeks, I realize that most topics, obstacles, and questions that I have about home brewing have most likely been tackled numerous times and I just need to take the time to explore the threads. Thanks again!

I have to say that I was a little overwhelmed after reading Palmers book also.
But after doing a few extract batches I found it was a lot simpler than I first thought. I am starting to think about aquiring equipment to go all grain now.
As for secondary I haven't yet and my beers clear well if I give them enough time in the keg, that can be pretty hard if you don't have another beer ready to drink. I think I had my first batch half gone before it was even fully carbed.

 

[Hoppopotomus]

Thanks for the response. I'm just one of those guys that has to learn as much as I possibly can before diving into something. There are so many different trains of thought out there on home brewing that at times it can be confusing. I have quickly realized that I need to just chill out, have fun, and enjoy....not obsess over everything. The guy at the HBS thinks that everything should go to a secondary to rest and settle out, but then again, he sells all Brewer's Best brew kits, extract kits, equipment and BB recommends it, so maybe that is why.

I too have been exploring the realm of all grain, but need to get more extract brewing sessions in to work out the kinks on brew day. I'm bottling my first batch (IPA) this weekend and was planning to rack my second batch (ABA) over to the secondary, but now am reconsidering it. I have to say that my first batch went very well and was a good learning experience on time management for brew day. My second batch went smooth as silk, as far as the process goes. I have yet to consume my first HB, so I'm hoping the beer is something that I can be proud of. I will not consider moving to all grain until I have had consistent success with extract brewing.

 

[smizak]

"brewing should be fun and easy, not intimidating and stressful like Palmer presents it as being"

Huh. I've never thought or have heard of anyone referring to How to Brew that way. Reading it actually inspired me to brew because I thought he made it look easy. Sure, he goes into some techy detail in the all-grain part, but he gives warning and I thought the extract beer section was super concise and not intimidating at all.


Weighing in on secondary:

To each his own, it works both ways. Personally, I find that cold-crashing my fermenter after a week works just as well at removing sediment as a month-long primary or two-week secondary. I choose less work, less time, less oxidation risk, less sanitation risk and bottle from primary after crashing the yeast.

 

[jackers252]

Thanks for the response. I'm just one of those guys that has to learn as much as I possibly can before diving into something. There are so many different trains of thought out there on home brewing that at times it can be confusing. I have quickly realized that I need to just chill out, have fun, and enjoy....not obsess over everything. The guy at the HBS thinks that everything should go to a secondary to rest and settle out, but then again, he sells all Brewer's Best brew kits, extract kits, equipment and BB recommends it, so maybe that is why.

I too have been exploring the realm of all grain, but need to get more extract brewing sessions in to work out the kinks on brew day. I'm bottling my first batch (IPA) this weekend and was planning to rack my second batch (ABA) over to the secondary, but now am reconsidering it. I have to say that my first batch went very well and was a good learning experience on time management for brew day. My second batch went smooth as silk, as far as the process goes. I have yet to consume my first HB, so I'm hoping the beer is something that I can be proud of. I will not consider moving to all grain until I have had consistent success with extract brewing.

Don't fear the all-grain!

 

[jackers252]

Huh. I've never thought or have heard of anyone referring to How to Brew that way. Reading it actually inspired me to brew because I thought he made it look easy. Sure, he goes into some techy detail in the all-grain part, but he gives warning and I thought the extract beer section was super concise and not intimidating at all.


Weighing in on secondary:

To each his own, it works both ways. Personally, I find that cold-crashing my fermenter after a week works just as well at removing sediment as a month-long primary or two-week secondary. I choose less work, less time, less oxidation risk, less sanitation risk and bottle from primary after crashing the yeast.

Very interesting approach. I'd like to play around with shorter primary only batches to see if it makes a difference. I run a 6 tap setup so I am never really in a hurry for a new batch and I prefer to give the little yeasties time to do their thing. But I think I will try some side by side trials to really find out. Great input.

 

[Drinks3point2]

The whole point of this website seems to be for increasing and sharing knowledge. It's unfortunate that some users get frustrated in the Beginners Beer Brewing Forum. Thankfully not everyone of the experienced folks are easily annoyed by those of us with less experience. Thanks beeropotomus for asking the question. I'm with you on wanting as much knowledge as possible and everyone of these types of threads helps.

 

[smizak]

Very interesting approach. I'd like to play around with shorter primary only batches to see if it makes a difference. I run a 6 tap setup so I am never really in a hurry for a new batch and I prefer to give the little yeasties time to do their thing. But I think I will try some side by side trials to really find out. Great input.

Please do and let us know. I know a lot of users here employ the three-week or month long primary thing, but I don't like to wait if I don't have to. If the beer looks done, I take a hydro reading, then take another two days later. If it's the same, beer's done fermenting, yeast have had two days to clean up, crash @ 40F for two days and bottle. Just bottled a 1.064 brown ale after 9 days, tastes amazing, little more than a scant dusting of yeast in the bottom of the bottles. Even Mike "Tasty" McDole has brewed lagers grain to glass in two weeks, some of which have placed in the final round of NHC!

 

[jackers252]

Please do and let us know. I know a lot of users here employ the three-week or month long primary thing, but I don't like to wait if I don't have to. If the beer looks done, I take a hydro reading, then take another two days later. If it's the same, beer's done fermenting, yeast have had two days to clean up, crash @ 40F for two days and bottle. Just bottled a 1.064 brown ale after 9 days, tastes amazing, little more than a scant dusting of yeast in the bottom of the bottles. Even Mike "Tasty" McDole has brewed lagers grain to glass in two weeks, some of which have placed in the final round of NHC!

Do you use gelatin when you cold crash?

 

[smizak]

Do you use gelatin when you cold crash?

No, not always, but I have some and have toyed with the idea. I've had so little yeast in the bottles that you don't have to worry about it, it stays stuck to the bottom mostly and doesn't pour in. Just like Sierra Nevada bottles. So I haven't felt the need for most beers.

I gelatin out the yeast on my big belgians and pitch some fresh Safbrew T-58 in the bottling buckets for carbonation. I've had a strong dubbel take almost six weeks to carb, too long for me. Tired, alcohol-stressed yeast. With the re-pitching method, my last Tripel carbed in a week @ 9.5% ABV.

 

[MooDaddy]

Beeropotomus,

I'm with you 100% - getting prepared to do my first brew and really excited about it. Still, although I agree the process should first and foremost be fun, I personally like to have some knowledge of what I'm getting into before diving in, and this forum has been very helpful along those lines.

Granted, the vets may tire of the same old tired "newbie" questions, but they were there once, and while I understand their interest to move on to bigger and more exciting brewing discussions, the service they provide in recounting their own learning experiences and resultant acquired expertise can really be invaluable to folks like us who are long on enthusiasm but short on brewing wisdom.

Hopefully, somewhere down the road when I'm working on my 100th brew, I'll be able to lend a hand to someone pondering the nuances of wort thermometers or whether or not to sanitize bottle caps or whatever.

Kinda looking forward to that actually.

 

[mlyday]

3-4 weeks in primary, 1 week in secondary with gelatin. Never had a bad beer yet. Crystal clear. Its pretty clear after 4 weeks in primary, but the secondary and the gelatin get that last little bit.

 

[paraordnance]

3-4 weeks in primary, 1 week in secondary with gelatin. Never had a bad beer yet. Crystal clear. Its pretty clear after 4 weeks in primary, but the secondary and the gelatin get that last little bit.

Agree, but I only secondary if re-using/washing yeast, usually after 1 month primary just add gelatin right there, then it goes in freezer @ 32F for couple days. Results never dissapoint

 

[whitebirdfeathers]

Thanks to those who have been gracious enough to provide me with further insight. I apologize to the few that feel that maybe this topic has been beat to death on HBT. I am brand new to home brewing and to this site and have been asking a lot of questions over the past couple of weeks. I am not yet up to speed on the etiquette and protocols expected for asking questions on this site. Most responses to my threads have been helpful and very encouraging, but I have sensed with a few that there is some underlying irritation towards some of the NOOB questions. I am quickly realizing that I need to relax and enjoy the process and stop obsessing about every little step along the way. I think my biggest downfall was reading John Palmers book (the old version) cover to cover before starting this process. I should have just listened to the guy at my HBS who said that "brewing should be fun and easy, not intimidating and stressful like Palmer presents it as being". For those that have helped me along the way so far, thanks for everything! For those who seem to get a little irritated with some of our questions, I understand. Having spent time on this site over the past couple of weeks, I realize that most topics, obstacles, and questions that I have about home brewing have most likely been tackled numerous times and I just need to take the time to explore the threads. Thanks again!

You posted your question in the Beginners Beer Brewing Forum. That means you can ask what you like without people getting frustrated at what seems like a tired subject or basic information. I'm new at this too and have learned to just relax and have fun with it. As they say, RDWHAHB!

 

[Hockeyhunter99]

- I'm bored. yep. I know I'm not the only one that sometimes racks to secondary because he likes to stay busy with his beer.

This is probably the only reason i still use a secondary. i like to stay active with the beer. i brewed two weeks ago and raking a pale ale to the carboy from the bucket. then brewing a second batch to put into my brew bucket.

bottle day with see another brew and rack to secondary.

personal preference for the most part. "that's how i was taught!" kind of thing.