When Should I Switch To The Secondary?

[TwistedHalo]

Hello, everyone. Now that I know not to worry about shaking my fermenter, on to my next question. How long should I wait to switch from my primary to my secondary fermenter? First off, I know secondary fermentation isn't a necessity, but I've read that it can be a good idea if you want to dry hop, which I do, and I think it would be a good experience to try it right off the bat. The batch I'm brewing is a slightly more potent Bell's Two Hearted clone. I switched up the hop additions to be 50/50 centennial and amarillo instead of straight centennial to make it at least a little unique. I also added an alcohol boost (basically extra fermentable sugars I guess), this brought the OG up a bit from the original recipe to about 1.072. I plan on adding a dry hop addition of about 1/2 oz at some point. What I've read suggests leaving the wort in the primary for about 1 1/2 to 2 weeks and then transferring it to the secondary for about 1 to 1 1/2 weeks. Does this sound like a pretty good schedule? Also, how much does my relatively high OG affect how long I should allow my wort to ferment? As always thanks a ton!!!

 

[brettg20]

Transfer when your beer is done plus a few days to let the yeast clean things up. Use a hydrometer, 3 weeks I would say


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[strambo]

I just dry hopped a pale ale today...in the primary. There is really no need or real advantage to a secondary for a normal beer. Just wait 2 weeks or so, then add the dry hops in the primary vessel.

To rack on fruit or oak cubes or for extended aging, that is when I use a secondary. It also frees up the primary for another batch if you only have one primary fermenter.


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[PastorofMuppets]

how much does my relatively high OG affect how long I should allow my wort to ferment? As always thanks a ton!!!

until its finished.

You dont need to use secondary. If you want to it is fine to do so however.
I still do when I want to clear a beer faster or age on oak as was mentioned.
You can dry hop in primary. Give it 5-10 days ish before you plan to either bottle or keg. I make sure the beer is stable in FG before adding dry hops.