Secondary Fermentation

[yonkerj3]

I recently purchased the beginner package from Midwest. It came with a primary fermentation pail and a bottling pail.

I am about to start a red ale up and I am wondering about the benefits of secondary. I guess what my real question is is can I just use another Ale Pail for secondary or do I have to get a carboy?

 

[HeadyKilowatt]

You can use an Ale Pail. I recommend using the same one you primary in. And to streamline the operation, don't rack it.

In other words, you don't really need to secondary.

 

[bobbrews]

I wouldn't use a bucket for secondary (especially a ported bucket with a spigot). Too much headspace and it's not designed like a carboy at all in terms of minimizing 02 exposure with the beer.

Only use a secondary if you are an experienced brewer, who has racked several beers, and are able to rack carefully without introducing 02. Half the time it isn't required unless you're aging your beer, or adding unique additions after the fact. Dryhops do not qualify as a unique addition.

 

[Cyclman]

+1 on no secondary, unless you're ageing the beer in a carboy.

 

[Hackwood]

I secondary almost all of my beers, BUUUT, I only do it because I have access to 50,000,000,000,000 PET bottles and 2 ferment buckets. I do 10 gallon batches and have been brewing every other week. If I had more FREE fermenters I wouldn't secondary at all. It just makes sense to use my free PET bottles to let my beers finish and get on to my next beer.

 

[yonkerj3]

Ok, I will try this first one with no secondary. Thanks for the help guys.

 

[unionrdr]

True this. The only time I secondary is when I'm oaking a beer. I dry hop in primary. Lacking that,I just leave it in primary till it finishes & settles out clear or slightly misty. Then rack to the bottling bucket,prime & go.

 

[birdley123]

Other than the introduction of O2, whats the downside of going to a secondary?

 

[unionrdr]

Without good sanitation,it could get infected. Not to mention,loosing a lil beer everytime you rack it.