Secondary questions

[Filter]

i have a Coopers Draught in the Secondary, it has only been in there one week so far,i am using the 1-2-3 method, it has not started to clear up, it is still about the same color as it was when it was wort, dose it clear up more in the Secondary or in the bottles? also my secondary is a bucket, all i have is two buckets, that is what i use to bottle, primary and secondary, would that have an efect?

 

[fritz_monroe]

I think you should be fine. With my first couple of batches, I was kind of confused by the term clearing. If you had a carboy for a secondary, you could look through and see how the particulate matter has fallen out. But in a bucket, it's tough to see. If you bottle cloudy beer, it may remain cloudy, or you may end up with a lot of stuff in the bottom of the bottles.

 

[cubbies]

There is nothing wrong, you will be fine. There is a couple of things to know though. First of all clarity happens as light passes through the beer. Obviously in a bucket there is going to be less light passing through, so it will not look as clear. Also, beer in a five gallon volume has quite a bit more mass than a 12oz bottle, so light has to go further to travel through it. Basically what I am saying is that beer looks darker in a five gallon bucket, than it will look in your pint glass (or whatever).

However, there is another factor to this. Extract caramelizes during the boil. That is why most people recommend adding the majority of your extracts at the end of the boil. 25-50% @60 minutes and the remaining 50-75% at about 10 minutes (some people even add at flameout, but I do 10 minutes for sanitation purposes). The color that occurs because of caramalazation typically wont just clear out. Especially in only two weeks. Anyway, I wouldnt worry about it. It is more clear than you think it is, and really flavor is the only important thing anyway.

 

[rcbrew]

Also, if you cool down your secondary, things will settle out quicker...I have found. Being in NC, that may be harder than said, but if you can, it will help. I try to keep mine in the basement (less than 62 degees) and my 2ndaries settle out real good. May be try a wet teashirt.

 

[Filter]

Thanks Guys