Racking back into Primary as the Secondary

[Haputanlas]

As the title suggests, I ran into an issue and ended up without a Secondary Fermenter for my current beer.

I decided to just use my primary again and racked to a pot, cleaned out the primary (and sanitized) and then I re-racked back into the primary for my secondary fermentation.

I know the oxidation implications, but I just wanted to know if others have done this and what the outcome was.

 

[bja]

Was the secondary really neccessary?

 

[Haputanlas]

Yes, it is for dry hopping and Oak Aging.

I'm using a Mr. Beer Fermenter (Cheesy, but seems to work well).

 

[CreekBrewery]

I've had to do this a few times and haven't had an issue. You have more risk of infection but as long as you clean and sanitize properly there won't be a problem. I wouldn't worry about oxidation too much. I've accidentally splashed a bit more than I wanted to and haven't noticed any oxidation problems. I try to remember what Rev says... RDWHAHB

 

[spriolo]

If you use your primary as your secondary then you can't brew another batch while this one ages!!! this would make me nervous and anxious. (( just kidding ))

 

[Haputanlas]

Well, I have the 7 gallon primary bucket and 5 gallon secondary carboy that are still available. This is for my experimental batch that is only 2 gallons.

I use my Mr. Beer fermenter for this and will only mean that I can't brew small batches until I get some 1 or 3 gallon carboys.

 

[winvarin]

Well, I have the 7 gallon primary bucket and 5 gallon secondary carboy that are still available. This is for my experimental batch that is only 2 gallons.

I use my Mr. Beer fermenter for this and will only mean that I can't brew small batches until I get some 1 or 3 gallon carboys.

What about using CO2 (assuming you keg). Could you have shot 20 sec or so of CO2 into one of your larger carboys and racked into that as your secondary. If you don't do a lot of sloshing around while you transport it to your aging area, is there a problem with putting a smaller volume of beer in a larger carboy for secondary as long as you rack into a substantial amount of CO2?

At a minimum, you wouldn't have any more oxidation risk than you would going into a temporary container, then back into your primary/secondary.

 

[Haputanlas]

What about using CO2 (assuming you keg). Could you have shot 20 sec or so of CO2 into one of your larger carboys and racked into that as your secondary. If you don't do a lot of sloshing around while you transport it to your aging area, is there a problem with putting a smaller volume of beer in a larger carboy for secondary as long as you rack into a substantial amount of CO2?

At a minimum, you wouldn't have any more oxidation risk than you would going into a temporary container, then back into your primary/secondary.

Unfortunately, I don't have a kegging system yet. That was my first thought. Thanks