Three days in what is next

[mbaha]

OK so I am brewing my first batch of beer, a pale ale kit that included everything. On Saturday 11/ 26/2007 I heated the malt and did the normal steps per the instructions including measuring the gravity. The wort (?) was then put into an eight gallon brew bucket the thermometer sticker on side and airlock on top. For the first day my temp was about 68*F now it is 62*F. In addition to the bucket already in use I have a 5 gallon bucket with a valve, lid, and hole for an airlock.

My question is, should I leave the beer in the fermenter until I am ready to bottle (next Saturday) or when the beer is ready should I use my five gallon bucket as a secondary fermenter then bottle out of that bucket in a few days?

Note I can’t add any new equipment at this time

Thanks

 

[Blender]

You should let the beer ferment out real well before bottling. One week is to early. I would let it sit in the primary for 2-3 weeks, transfer to your bottling bucket and bottle them up.

 

[olllllo]

Count to 1814400.
Bottle.
Count to 1814400.
Drink.

 

[Blender]

Count to 1814400.
Bottle.
Count to 1814400.
Drink.

That took me 6 weeks last time I did it.

 

[mrk305]

Most people will say this is wrong, but I will post it anyway because that is the way I started out as taught by my LHBS and it worked for me.

You have only have two buckets. The first one is your fermenting bucket, and the second is your clearing and bottling bucket. After one week, your beer is probably going to be at, or close to its finishing gravity. Your hydrometer will tell you for sure. When I first started I didn't have a hydrometer.

Rack to your bottling bucket, and let it clear for another week. This will free up your primary for your next beer. Got to keep that pipeline flowing. After a week or two in you bottling bucket it is bottling time. Add priming sugar with two cups of water, and I boil in the microwave. Pour that into your beer, and you have to stir it so slowly that you don't disturb the layer of trub that has settled into the bottom of your bucket. After stirring (ever so gently and slowly) let the beer rest for a few minutes, so the priming sugar can evenly mix.

Bottle, rince, repeat!

I did the 1-1-2 method for a few months. One week fermenting in primary, one week clearing in secondary(bottling bucket), and two weeks conditioning in bottles.

 

[mbaha]

Most people will say this is wrong, but I will post it anyway because that is the way I started out as taught by my LHBS and it worked for me.

You have only have two buckets. The first one is your fermenting bucket, and the second is your clearing and bottling bucket. After one week, your beer is probably going to be at, or close to its finishing gravity. Your hydrometer will tell you for sure. When I first started I didn't have a hydrometer.

Rack to your bottling bucket, and let it clear for another week. This will free up your primary for your next beer. Got to keep that pipeline flowing. After a week or two in you bottling bucket it is bottling time. Add priming sugar with two cups of water, and I boil in the microwave. Pour that into your beer, and you have to stir it so slowly that you don't disturb the layer of trub that has settled into the bottom of your bucket. After stirring (ever so gently and slowly) let the beer rest for a few minutes, so the priming sugar can evenly mix.

Bottle, rince, repeat!

I did the 1-1-2 method for a few months. One week fermenting in primary, one week clearing in secondary(bottling bucket), and two weeks conditioning in bottles.

So when you move the beer from the primary to the secondary do you try and leave as much of the crud in the bottom the primary.

I think this might be the way to go. This is my first brew and I want to produce a clean product. Personally I am fine with drinking cloudy beer but the I need the get the wife on board as well
-m

 

[Orfy]

 

[Bulls Beers]

lol...Now that's friggin funny....

 

[paulthenurse]

Rotflmhao!

 

[ohiobrewtus]

Oh man, I actually lol'd at that.

 

[Bernie Brewer]

Count to 1814400.
Bottle.
Count to 1814400.
Drink.

Oh, sh!t! Lost my place- gotta start over!

 

[Ryanh1801]

LMFAO Orfy.

 

[cheezydemon]

Give the guy a break! There are members who have been here for years that start the same threads over and over. At least he put it in the right forum!

 

[mbaha]

Thanks Skippy, I ALREADY read that thread and it said some people go to secondary some don't. WOW the helps really F'ing profound... Secondly It does not answer my question about transferring the beer from primary to secondary.

I guess I should post these questions in the beginners forum, oh wait...... I did post this in the beginners forum.

 

[cubbies]

Yeah, you want to leave as much of the trub layer behind as possible. That layer is break material, hop material, dead yeast etc. There will still be plenty of yeast in suspension in the beer to carb later, so avoid as much of this as possible.

 

[Yooper]

Thanks Skippy, I ALREADY read that thread and it said some people go to secondary some don't. WOW the helps really F'ing profound...

I guess I should post these questions in the beginners forum, oh wait...... I did post this in the beginners forum.

Wow- I'm sure no one meant to upset you. It was just being pointed out that this question is asked every day (sometimes several times a day), and it's always answered. Still, reading a FAQ thread is a great start.

The (very) general consensus is to leave in primary for 10 days or so, then rack into a clearing tank for 2 weeks or so. If you're not using a clearing tank, just leave it in the primary fermenter for 2-3 weeks.

Just about everyone who replied said to wait a bit longer. You can whatever you want- it's your beer. That's why the forum is so great- different people bring different perspectives. Still, you can't bottle in one week and expect it to be good. You have to make sure the beer is finished by checking the gravity. It may or may not be. I'd wait until it was a little clearer since I'm not a murky beer fan. That's why the other threads were pointed out to you- to help you out.

By the way, if I wanted to be picky with you, I'd point out that Saturday was most definitely not November 26. But I was trying to be nice and not nit picky. No reason to get your shorts all in a bundle- it's beer. We're making beer. Let's all chill out and enjoy it.

 

[trainfever]

By the way, if I wanted to be picky with you, I'd point out that Saturday was most definitely not November 26.

You just did.

 

[buraglio]

Wow- I'm sure no one meant to upset you. It was just being pointed out that this question is asked every day (sometimes several times a day), and it's always answered. Still, reading a FAQ thread is a great start.

The (very) general consensus is to leave in primary for 10 days or so, then rack into a clearing tank for 2 weeks or so. If you're not using a clearing tank, just leave it in the primary fermenter for 2-3 weeks.

Just about everyone who replied said to wait a bit longer. You can whatever you want- it's your beer. That's why the forum is so great- different people bring different perspectives. Still, you can't bottle in one week and expect it to be good. You have to make sure the beer is finished by checking the gravity. It may or may not be. I'd wait until it was a little clearer since I'm not a murky beer fan. That's why the other threads were pointed out to you- to help you out.

By the way, if I wanted to be picky with you, I'd point out that Saturday was most definitely not November 26. But I was trying to be nice and not nit picky. No reason to get your shorts all in a bundle- it's beer. We're making beer. Let's all chill out and enjoy it.

My first batch was bottled straight from primary after ~10 days; the hydrometer said it was done the day before but I waited another day till I had time. It's been bottle conditioning for a while now and it is already pretty good. It's also nice and clear (much to my surprise).

 

[mbaha]

By the way, if I wanted to be picky with you, I'd point out that Saturday was most definitely not November 26. But I was trying to be nice and not nit picky.

Ok and I'll not point out that you are trying to be an ass hat
-m

 

[cheezydemon]

Secondary fermentation is overrated(that isn't to say that I don't do it every brew anyways). You can definitely make good beer with no secondary, and it will probably be clear. I think that primary of more than a month or so can result in the yeast doing some nasty tasting things and this is the main reason to secondary, so that the beer can bulk condition without sitting on all the dead and sickly yeasts that have fallen out.

 

[cheezydemon]

Ok and I'll not point out that you are trying to be an ass hat
-m

Hmmmmm, is that a hat you put on your ass? maybe the other way around? Maybe a hat shaped like an ass? A hat for a donkey?

I'll try not to point out that I have never seen an ass hat myself.

 

[mbaha]

Secondary fermentation is overrated(that isn't to say that I don't do it every brew anyways). You can definitely make good beer with no secondary, and it will probably be clear. I think that primary of more than a month or so can result in the yeast doing some nasty tasting things and this is the main reason to secondary, so that the beer can bulk condition without sitting on all the dead and sickly yeasts that have fallen out.

OK sounds good. I'll give the beer two weeks or so then bottle
-m

 

[CBBaron]

OK sounds good. I'll give the beer two weeks or so then bottle
-m

Sounds like a good plan to me. I prefer 3 weeks but 2 is good. At the end of that time boil a couple cups of water with about 3/4 cup of sugar. Put the sugar water into your sanitized bucket w/spigot (bottling bucket). Transfer your beer to the bucket then bottle from there. Wait 2-3 weeks after bottling for carbonation and conditioning. Then start drinking. I would get a second brew going as soon as you bottle the first one otherwise you will always be short home brew.
Craig

 

[Yooper]

Ok and I'll not point out that you are trying to be an ass hat
-m

Ok. I was just actually trying to help you with advice. If you don't want anyone's expertise, that's fine. I was pointing out that you were being a jerk when people are answering your questions. I could have ripped you to shreds if I wanted to. But I know we're all been beginners (and I'm still a beginner in many ways) and are trying to be helpful in the community.

If that makes me an ass hat, I'll wear it proudly.
And never answer another of your questions.

PS- you've been a jerk to two different moderators. That might be a first!

 

[Cheesefood]

My first batch was bottled straight from primary after ~10 days; the hydrometer said it was done the day before but I waited another day till I had time. It's been bottle conditioning for a while now and it is already pretty good. It's also nice and clear (much to my surprise).

Your hydrometer has a "Done" mark on it?

Wow!

 

[the_bird]

mbaha, how old are you?

 

[Evan!]

Your hydrometer has a "Done" mark on it?

Wow!

Actually, mine has a little alarm on it that goes "DING" like the toaster oven when my beer is officially "done". What are you using, cheese, one of those old POS analog hydrometers?

 

[DeathBrewer]

mine sends a delightful brewing anecdote via txt msg to my cell phone

 

[BierMuncher]

Ok and I'll not point out that you are trying to be an ass hat
-m

Whoa there friend…ya just can’t go walking into an established pub and start insulting the “lady of the house”.

Nobody walks in without a fair share of some good natured ribbing. Roll with the punches a bit…take the advice that’s offered and don’t take things too seriously.

Any brewer will agree that when you start out…1 week in the primary, two weeks in a secondary and three weeks in the bottles is a good base line.

If’n ya don’t have a secondary…leave it alone in the primary for 3-4 weeks and proceed.

 

[Beerthoven]

They have ass hats now? I want one.