Secondary fermentation on a gallon setup?

[Beersandbeards]

Currently, my first homebrew batch is fermenting. It's a blonde ale with willamette hops, the kit came with the wrong kind for the recipe but I was a little too eager to brew.

I want to do a secondary fermentation, but I'm a little worried that the little bit off loss I take will effect how much beer I get in the end, especially since it's only a 1 gallon setup.

Will the extra clarity be worth the work and loss, or should I just skip secondary, wait the extra week, and go straight to the bottle instead?

 

[schatzke]

No need to secondary. Just keep it in the primary until you are ready to bottle. Your beer will thank you

 

[flars]

Give the beer the extra week in the primary or even two weeks. Forget the timeline on the recipe sheet. More time in the primary means a more compact yeast/trub layer and more beer out. The yeast will not produce off flavors for at least a couple of months, if then.

 

[Weezy]

Secondary does not contribute to clarity. It only contributes to oxidation due to exposure while transferring and lack of co2 in new headspace. The only time to secondary is if you're transferring the beer onto something like fruit, and then only when the fruit won't fit in the primary due to space limitations.

 

[kev211]

Ill add to those against secondary. No need to in this scenario. As stated it only adds potential for oxidation. Also, by doing a secondary you are just adding one more source for potential infection. Unless you are racking onto fruit or otherwise, or are planning on bulk aging just stick with primary for an extra week or 2.

And FWIW, I think Willamette hops will actually work really well in a blonde. Nice floral hop for a light beer? Good mix if you ask me.

I know you said that you were too impatient/eager to brew, which is good, but patience is a virtue in brewing. The more you resist to touch and play with the fermenting beer, the better off you'll be (in most cases )

And welcome to the hobby (see: obsession) and HBT!

 

[Beersandbeards]

Thanks everyone! I did like the aroma from the willamette, but by too eager I mean I was too eager to wait the extra two weeks for them to mail me the chinook. I'm already looking in to a second fermenter so I can run two batches at once, and even some stuff to move to a five gallon setup later this summer.

 

[kev211]

Thanks everyone! I did like the aroma from the willamette, but by too eager I mean I was too eager to wait the extra two weeks for them to mail me the chinook. I'm already looking in to a second fermenter so I can run two batches at once, and even some stuff to move to a five gallon setup later this summer.

Sounds like a great plan! I didn't mean that you were impatient in my earlier post. It's just, when you hear eager from someone just starting out, it often means they're gonna try something they shouldnt (I.e. constantly taking the lid off 5 gallon buckets to look at the fermenting beer). It sounds like you are doing just great. A pointer moving forward just to keep you on the right track. Temperature control. Look into it. I can describe it more if you would like, but that would be the next logical step if you haven't done it already imo.

And all things considered... If it were me, I would rather have a blonde with Willamette than Chinook anyways so it sounds like you did alright there on accident ☺. Imo the piney earthiness of Chinook doesn't mesh with a blonde as well as the light floral notes of Willamette so there's that...

 

[RM-MN]

Thanks everyone! I did like the aroma from the willamette, but by too eager I mean I was too eager to wait the extra two weeks for them to mail me the chinook. I'm already looking in to a second fermenter so I can run two batches at once, and even some stuff to move to a five gallon setup later this summer.

You're not looking far enough ahead. Go for the bigger setup asap, then add some more fermenters. I have 3 batches in fermenters now and have spares yet in case I get the urge to brew again before I bottle again.

Check with the grocery store to see if they have any empty 3 gallon plastic buckets. Those would work fine for 1 gallon to 2 1/2 gallon batches and would be cheap (maybe free if you ask nicely).

 

[Steveruch]

. And all things considered... If it were me, I would rather have a blonde with Willamette than Chinook anyways so it sounds like you did alright there on accident . Imo the piney earthiness of Chinook doesn't mesh with a blonde as well as the light floral notes of Willamette so there's that...

I agree, leave the chinook for a double IPA.