Secondaries are for sucks! (eh?)

[BrewDey]

Isn't there an argument that: lack of secondary=more yeast in suspension=more potential for good bottle conditioning/carbonation?

I just bottled a sweet stout that had been in the primary for a month-it tasted pretty good at bottling (not very 'green' tasting, pretty smooth-just flat). I had wondered if enough yeast was left to carb it. Last night I saw some sediment in a bottle-so I know there's enough.

I used the same timeline (month primary->bottling) for a bigger IPA and it improved a ton once bottled-even though there was a decent amount of sediment. I guess for me one less step/chance for mishap is worth more sediment in the bottle.

 

[arturo7]

I'm still learning and experimenting. My first 3 batches were 3 weeks in primary mainly because I didn't have a secondary vessel. My 4th batch is in a secondary as will be my 5th. I'll probably use both methods as the experimentation continues.

 

[count barleywine]

I was a secondary-only guy for a while, and like many of you i will vary my seondary conditioning time. Oak chips, dry hops, etc... secondary. Otherwise, a typical brew can clear pretty nice in the primary, plus the bottles are like mini individual secondaries. I always fill one clear bottle from each batch, and the primary-onlies get just as clear after a month or so in bottles as the secondary ones. Whatever works for you they say, but this to me is a very interesting topic and love to hear everyone's opinions and techniques.

 

[Brewpastor]

CONICAL - no secondary

 

[zoebisch01]

Well, fwiw, I can't really vote because I do both. My rule of thumb, for normal gravity (45 to 55) I primary for between 10 to 14 days (depending on when I can get to it) and then bottle. Conditioning is recipe dependent. Wheats, 10 days, bottle, 2 weeks conditioning, drink. High gravity Ales, depends but almost always secondaried after the beer is attenuated sufficiently (and then the time in the secondary is recipe dependent). Additions get done in secondary usually. I have not found a need to secondary everything I make.

 

[brewt00l]

Isn't there an argument that: lack of secondary=more yeast in suspension=more potential for good bottle conditioning/carbonation?

Not that I am aware of.

 

[Zymurgrafi]

I voted Nader because my usual MO wasnt listed.
I typically end up doing a 10-20 for primary-secondary. Usually 10-14 days in primary then secondary until the wife/kid/chores allow me to find the time to bottle (typically 3 weeks)

Well, I know I didn't cover every possible method. Sorry lack of imagination on my part

I said I did the 123 but I guess really my method was much more akin to yours. I started stretching primary out to 10, then 14 days due to the same wife/kid/chores reason and that is what got me thinking, hmmm, why not stretch it out more. Then I was doing 21 days and it really did not seem necessary at that point to rack over to another carboy 'cause it was ready. And, low an behold my beers are tasting better.

Anyway, that's my theory and I'm stickin' to it...

until I come up with a new one

 

[DeathBrewer]

i voted "drink as it ferments" cuz i like to take samples and they are what guides me through the fermentation. i use a secondary if i think it suits the beer or if i'm not lazy...or if i need to free up my primary.

i don't agree with the 1-2-3 method because they DO NOT work for big beers

 

[uglygoat]

it depends...

lately, with the heat, the ales have been getting two to three weeks in primary, then bottle them.

big beers get put in a five gallon carboy, but in the cellar and i forget about them for a six month spell or so. i've not made any thing bigger than .055 since decemeber of last year. and still have two big big beers in the cellar since about december.

darker, or more complex beers get put in the secondary for a few weeks to a month before they get bottled.

 

[Rhoobarb]

Except for wits/weizens, I always secondary. Mainly b/c I'm at the point now where I only use one or two strains of yeast and I want to either free up that yeast cake to do another batch or harvest it for future use!

I dryhop all my IPAs & APAs and you really need a secondary to do that without screwing up your yeast for future batches. And my high gravity beers will sit for one month minimum and more often, anywhere from three to six months before bottling. I cant wait that long for a primary yeast cake!

 

[FireBrewer]

I voted long primary (2 weeks max). I also crash cool it to 39 degrees for a couple days before kegging.

Same here. Used to secondary in carboys, got tired of suck-back issues with airlocks. Now it goes straight to the keg. Do get some residual yeast at the bottom but not much and I don't have issues with clarity, as in the Kolsch here on the left:

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j269/FireBrewer/Brewing/DSC02218.jpg

:rockin:

For lagers, I lager in cornies.

 

[Hopleaf]

My Caramel Cream Ale Sans Cream I just bottled I only used a primary, 3 weeks and it's the clearest beer I've ever made.

 

[jcarson83]

3 weeks in primary. I quit using secondary after a few infections and don't see myself going back until I start lagering. I see no need and IMHO an improvement in taste.

 

[Willie3]

I let my brew clear in secondary for at least a month. I have no worries of infection because I am a nut about sanitation. Wether or not this improves taste/quality is another question. I do it because I like to do it, not because I beleive that the beer gets better. In fact I am so egotistical about my beer that any method used (as long as it is beer) will result in a much better product than any commercial brewery ever made!

- WW

 

[chainsawbrewing]

i voted for nader.
it really depends on too many things, what i do.

i've done 10 days in the primary, straight to keg, and drank 5 days later.

i've done two weeks in the primary, straight to keg.

i've done two weeks in primary, two weeks in secondary.

it just depends on what vessels i have available, what beer i'm making, how impatient i am, who the beer is for, if i'm bottling or kegging, etc.

 

[Bernie Brewer]

I voted for Nader, cuz It all depends on how busy I am. Sometimes I rack to secondary after a week, sometimes I let it go. I just kegged some Fat & Tired a few days ago that were in primary since early June. It turned out fine. I guess I am more likely to rack sooner if I need to wash the yeast from primary. I didn't need to do that with this last batch, so I fugured the hell with it.......