To rack...or not?

[pietro75]

I am a new brewer w/ only 4 batches under my belt. All have been extract w/ specialty grains, two were dry hopped.

I racked my 4th batch into the secondary for dry hop after reading and researching and talking w/ my LHBS owner. I have my fifth batch 10 days in the primary and would be about ready to move it to the secondary, BUT, after reading more and watching a really good video on youtube, It seems to me that the decision is split on single stage and two stage.

Many guys out there say it doesn't make much difference...Then on the other side guys say that it is imperative to move to secondary...

Question. should I dry hop and leave this 5th in primary for the duration?

 

[BendBrewer]

Sure. Then you could formulate your own opinion and go with it.

 

[GuldTuborg]

Excellent beers are made using both processes, so I wouldn't sweat it either way.

When it comes to dry hopping, though, I take a slightly different approach than most. I throw the hops into the primary when the bulk of fermentation over over, and then rack to secondary when I want to get most of the hops out (usually after 4-5 days). I let things settle more in the secondary (there's always more junk to settle out), and then bottle from there. I find this drastically cuts down on the junk that ends up in the bottles, and makes the bottling process much easier.

 

[pietro75]

Kinda what I was thinkin' I made a SN Torpedo extract clone and it has been in the bottle just over a week. I tried one and it was really good. I guess I could go ahead and let this one sit as it is similar extract (attempt @ a Stone IPA clone) I just don't want to screw it up. I have made a few good beers here and want to keep up the good work.

 

[pietro75]

When I racked my tor pete o, It just seemed like it would be impossible to prevent oxygenation, from the little bubbling in the hose.

 

[Calder]

The bubbling in the hose is CO2, not oxygen.

Good beer is made from both methods. Personally I prefer to rack after a couple of weeks, but don't always do it. I think it's from habit, and I usually harvest the yeast. Often when I rack it's to dry hop, or I rack onto gelatin.

Not racking is less work, and if it works for you; go for it.

 

[pietro75]

Thanks, Calder.

I just spent about an hour reading another post after using the search bar(like I guess I should have before posting this thread). as you mentioned, both ways seem to build good beer. I intend to dry hop this next batch w/ an ounce of Amarillo. I will be making another batch(maybe two) right after and would like to use the yeast from this batch. Everyone goes back and forth, I guess I need a bunch more experience to know what works for me. That's fine, I have the time!

I am so young into brewing, I am questioning whether or not to try and clean this yeast and re-use it. If I rack to dry hop I can use the yeast and get another batch going. If I leave it in primary and dry hop it seems it will be more difficult to use the yeast...Oh, the decisions!

 

[Wyrmwood]

If I leave it in primary and dry hop it seems it will be more difficult to use the yeast...Oh, the decisions!

You can wash yeast after dry hopping in the primary. The (dry) hops will settle just the same as normal hops/ hop residue. Just make sure you give it 20 minutes to settle, pour off gently, then another 20 minutes to settle before pouring into the final containers. As long as you give it both settle periods, you will get very little hops in your wash.