Oatmeal Stout help

[vesestilldrumming]

I brewed and oatmeal stout a week ago. I left it in primary fermentation for five days and just transferred into secondary which I plan to leave for three weeks. I did not take a gravity reading to see if fermentation was complete or almost complete so I am asking if anyone knows if this beer should still be ok? Fermentation was very active only for two days, that is why I started the secondary ferm. Bubbling went from vigorous to one bubble every 30-45 seconds on that 5th day. Should this beer still be ok?

 

[Slainte-brew]

I would say most likely, it might have been a little early. If you are moving it you should take a reading. Why did you move it? A stout would be fine to leave on primary, unless you are adding oak, cherries, etc.
You may have another small fermentation start up if you moved it early. But there really shouldn't be an issue.

 

[WileECoyote]

Always use a hydrometer to know where your beer is, That being said, 10 to 14 days in primary would be what I would use as a base line if I didn't own a hydrometer, then transfer, (using bucket, carboy or keg) then 1 to 3+ months secondary depending on the stout, then bottle or keg and age, length of time is once again depending on the recipe/Ingredients.

To answer your question if the beer should be ok, most likely yes, let it age/condition, its a stout!

Cheers

 

[RIC0]

shoulda left it in the primary for 3 weeks.

 

[vesestilldrumming]

Thanks yall

 

[inhousebrew]

It's hard to wait but it pays off in the end. Get a hydrometer and use it. The two to three weeks in the primary is also not always necessary but never hurts so it's a good rule of thumb to go by.

The secondary fermentation isn't really a secondary fermentation. Fermentation should be done before transferring. The secondary vessel is really for aging, clearing and adding anything else that you might add (hops, coffee, cocoa nibs, oak, ect) and isn't always necessary and most people don't even do it anymore.

 

[vesestilldrumming]

Awesome advice thank you. I did add vanilla bean to the brew in secondary that is the main reason i transferred.