Secondary Or Not?

[Mexibilly]

I've had Heady Nugs DIPA on the primary for 7 days.
I could simply pop the top and dry hop (pellet), or transfer to a secondary this evening.
What are the advantages of each?
I want a clear beer, but I've heard many say secondary is entirely unnecessary unless additions require it

 

[dkevinb]

I dry hop in the primary. It's fast, easy and avoids the slight chance of contamination and oxygenation involved with transferring to a secondary. The beer turns out fine. The advantages of using a secondary really come into play if you're adding something bulky, like fruit, and/or you want to bulk age for months. There are a LOT of discussions on this topic here. It's a common cause of religious wars.

 

[flars]

I have found that my beer is just as clear with three weeks in the primary, compared to the when I had used a secondary.

 

[unionrdr]

you can secondary to dry hop if you want to, but you don't have to. Some think secondary gives cleaner flavor &/or clearer beer. i've gotten both many times in primary. Wait till the beer is at FG & clearing well. Then add dry hops for 5-7 days before bottling.

 

[Hammy71]

For a double IPA I would secondary. It may not be necessary, but there are a lot of things I do during the brewing process that are not necessary. Racking to your bottling bucket/keg will be easier from a secondary. In my process there is usually a lot of trub in the bottom of the primary (I use a LOT of hops in my IPAs) and then add dry hopping in the primary....what a pain in the arse. You don't have to secondary, but each person has a different need/process. If your careful and take your time there is no harm from using a secondary. I've done it both ways, but for me...if I'm dry hopping, then a secondary it is.

 

[seckert]

I typically only secondary when adding fruit to my beer. I find that if I primary and then cold crash my beer it comes out great.

 

[halcyondays]

You're not gonna get a definitive answer for this question. Either way is fine, kind of up to personal preference and experience. Is say try one way this time and another next time and see what works for ya.

 

[Bobcatbrewing42]

I agree with flars. I gave up racking to a secondary but leave it in the primary for an average of 17 days with an undisturbed cold crash before kegging or bottling. No movement at all keeps the yeast and trub settled.
I use those little nylon socks that you get in shoestores for hopsacks, either in the carboy or into the keg. They fit right through a carboy opening and are easy to remove. I sanitize those with moonshine or vodka. My yeast is easy to re-use if not gunked up with hop residue.
I recently started to use Irish moss as a clarifier and it seems to help a lot.

The best thing that I have learned is patience. I don't disturb my fermenters and give them plenty of time. Sometimes I don't even check the gravity until the 17 days are up. I try to give my kegs a month to carbonate, infuse the dry hop, settle out and condition. Some beers that I though were losers turn out to be great if you wait.