My first brew was a witbier. Should I rack to secondary?

[Pixalated]

I brewed for the first time 1 week ago. Looking back over the recipe, i see a recommendation to transfer to beer to secondary after the fermentation slows down. I still get some bubbles (one about every 30 seconds), and there's about 1 inch of krausen on the carboy.

Since it's my first brew, i am tempted to just let it sit in the primary for another week and then bottle it. I figure the less I do with it, the smaller the chance of me screwing something up.

So, how much benefit will I get form transferring to a secondary?

 

[Hammy71]

Leave it in the primary for 2 more weeks at least. A secondary isn't gonna help you too much since it's a Wit. Wits are supposed to be cloudy so the 'clearing' benefits of a secondary really aren't necessary. Never trust the bubbles of an airlock. Take some hydrometer readings and when they are the same for a couple of days, that's when your beer is done. I know it's hard since it's your first, but patience is a wonderful thing when it comes to making beer. Cheers!!

 

[Pixalated]

Isn't the krausen suppose to fall back into the wort? I haven't taken a gravity reading yet, since I figure the fermentation is still going, and there's no reason for me to open up the carboy and risk contamination.

 

[maxamuus]

I am with Hammy don't bother with a secondary. I love wheat beers and they are intended to be cloudy so no need for a secondary.

 

[Shinglejohn]

Isn't the krausen suppose to fall back into the wort? I haven't taken a gravity reading yet, since I figure the fermentation is still going, and there's no reason for me to open up the carboy and risk contamination.

The only way to know that fermentation is done is by taking gravity readings. The airlock will blip well after fermentation is done from dissolved co2 in the beer.

only use sanitized equipment and you will not contaminate anything!

 

[Verio]

I thought the same thing on my first brew... which was also a Witbier. Please don't rack it to a secondary. I left it in Primary until most of the krausen fell, and then just bottled it. It turned out excellent.

 

[Pixalated]

Well, I've been hoping to bottle next Sunday, but I guess I won't rush it. I'll take a gravity reading at the end of the week and see if my fermentation is done.

 

[Shinglejohn]

Take two gravity readings with a day in between, if your gravity hasnt moved, then your done.

 

[Pixalated]

Alright, that's what I'll do. Thanks.