uh, oops? too long in the primary???

[AllyBeth]

i've had my oatmeal stout in the primary for 9 days now. i got real busy and apparently i should have moved it to the secondary after 6 days, at most.

i've read some advice that there is no absolute necessity in moving it to a secondary. should i do this since i already left it so long?

i'm not too concerned with clarity.

(this is my very first batch. i know so little....)

 

[Nurmey]

Hi AllyBeth, welcome to HBT!
Nine days is in no way too long in Primary. (Six day is definitely too little!) If you're not going to use a secondary, at LEAST two weeks in primary and 3 to 4 weeks is even better.

 

[beerthirty]

thursday I check FG on an amber thats been there for 3 weeks(21 days). No matter what the book says, or the LHBS, give it time. It cant hurt, and can always help.
Brew On

 

[stever]

leave it and don't worry about it. minimum 10 days in the primary. Leave it for 3+ weeks and skip the secondary, your yeast and your beer will thank you.

 

[homebrewer_99]

I had a primary for 34 days that won Best of Show...9 days too long?? Nah, too short.

Technically, your brew should be done fermenting before you rack to the secondary.

For example, if your OG is 1.050 your FG should be 1.012 with yeast attenuating at 75%...when the gravity reading hits the projected FG then it's ready to rack for clearing.

 

[farmbrewernw]

Yeah what everyone else said.

 

[bobbrewster]

What if I racked to secondary too early? I secondaried and dry hopped after a week like the recipe said but when I racked my hydro was 12 points above the FG. A week later is has fallen to the recipe's FG but do you have to wait until you reach FG to secondary? Thanks.

 

[Edcculus]

What if I racked to secondary too early? I secondaried and dry hopped after a week like the recipe said but when I racked my hydro was 12 points above the FG. A week later is has fallen to the recipe's FG but do you have to wait until you reach FG to secondary? Thanks.

Yes you should ABSOLUTELY wait until it is completely done fermenting before you even think about moving it. Done fermenting as in you get the same SG reading 2 days in a row. Not slow/stopped airlock activity. Your beer will be fine however.

I've started to leave my beer in the primary for at least 2 weeks.

Someone has given a lot of people a bad impression. It is not a secondary FERMENTER. No fermentation happens in the "clearing tank" or secondary. A secondary is beneficial for dry hopping, clearing, bulk aging etc. Don't follow the instructions with kits!

 

[Stevorino]

I'd give an oatmeal stout 10 days minimum-- 14-18 days recommended. If you are holding the temperature below 70 and pitched healthy liquid yeast, you can leave it in there for much longer (easily a month) without bad side-effects.