Secondary. I just don't get it

[Avocet]

OK well let me add this to my thoughts of using secondary-I have 3 refrigerators so space is NOT a problem. In fact one can hold three 6.5 gallon carboys--so I'm not jammed up for space-oh yes I'm a single man too and I can do things like dry out lines by hanging off ceiling fan, or have a carboy in house frig to cold crash (well only other things in there are like mustard , bbq sauce, pickles) so I have less limited constraints than many others.

I just am going to stand pat although I have a buddy using low P.S.I. gas in Corny now as secondary so I am going to check out his results.

 

[pjj2ba]

All I see in secondary is an increased risk of infection and air damage. what are the alleged Benefits. What are the guaranteed benefits?

Not a benefit to some, but the flavors are a bit different when comparing primary only to secondaried beers. This is more evident the lighter the beer style. If one really prefers the flavor of secondaried beers, then they will figure out a way to minimize the risk of infection, O2 exposure etc. For many others, it is not worth the bother. Still though, the flavors do change with the two methods

 

[dryboroughbrewing]

I do secondaries on things that I'm aging, but I use a purged corny for the job rather than a carboy, that way I have no more O2 pickup than when I normally keg, and I can do a simple closed transfer to a serving keg when I'm done aging. Most beers though go right into the serving keg from my primary.

 

[McBrewskie]

Yep, whatever works is the "best". I don't use Isinglass due to its origin, but many people do.

I just don't use finings (except for whirlfloc) at all, even in winemaking. Although I had some dandelion wine that just would NOT clear, so I used sparkelloid. It works "ok", probably not as good as isinglass, but I don't have any objection to the sparkelloid like I do with isinglass, gelatin, or KC superkleer finings.

I usually don't bother with a secondary, but sometimes I do if I want to harvest the yeast and don't want 2 more ounces of dryhop material in the trub.

Either way, the beer ends up tasting and looking the same in the end.

Yoop, what are your objections to these finings? Just interested as you mention origins and such.

 

[unionrdr]

Isinglass is made from fish trim bladders. Odd to me...I use super moss instead.

 

[McBrewskie]

Isinglass is made from fish trim bladders. Odd to me...I use super moss instead.

So someone is putting fish bladders to good use? Nice. Not trying to offend Yooper, I just had no idea and being someone who hunts and fishes the more of the animal that can be put to use the better.

 

[unionrdr]

Agreed. But I'd have never thought that one up,& I'm German...

 

[McBrewskie]

Agreed. But I'd have never thought that one up,& I'm German...

Well being Scottish I'm surprised I haven't tied one on and thought "beer is good, haggis is good, I should throw animal intestines in the primary!".

 

[unionrdr]

I'm a little Scotch & Irish myself. The story goes that one of my German ancestors got mixed up with some highlanders & married into the family of an Irish warlord to keep the peace around Sir William's time. Then toss an Apache chief in there with some Slovak. not even a drunken German gynocologist could've thought this one up!...
So maybe I should brew an altheavytizwin in a haggis???

 

[NewJersey]

ive always racked to secondary, but i have three beers currently fermenting that i am not going to rack to secondary. will be dry hopping in primary too.
im interested to see how theyll turn out