When to rack from primary to secondary?

[Nkliph]

I''ve never used a secondary. This time, I've chosen to for dry hopping.

It's a high OG IPA with Ringwood yeast. I'm going to dry hop for 3-4 days. Not sure if I should rack to secondary after the usual 2-2.5 weeks I do when using primary only, or if I should rack to secondary in closer to 10 days, or if it even matters.

 

[EcuPirate07]

You will get a bunch of different answers on here. Most people will rack to a secondary if they are dry hopping or adding fruit purée or they want to clear their beer up. Others will say only use a primary due to risk of adding oxygen to the beer when racking to a secondary. 90% of the time I just dry hop in primary and then keg. You want to minimize your risk of infection or oxygen getting into the beer. Hope this helps

Oh and to add to it I usually will do 2 weeks primary 2 weeks secondary

 

[Vamptrump]

I personally would just dry hop in primary after fermentation has completed. This helps prevent oxidation and infection.

If you are dead set on wanting to go the secondary though, wait until fermentation has completed then transfer.

 

[Nkliph]

Guess that is the question. How do I know when fermentation has completed? I think some fermentation still occurs well after bubble things from the airlock correct

 

[1977Brewer]

Bubbling is not a sign of fermentation. Check your gravity, and then check again in three days. If it's stable, it's ready. I wouldn't use a secondary to dry hop unless you need the fermenter space.

 

[Nkliph]

I appreciate all the feedback. Just to clarify, I do plan to rack to secondary for various reasons. Therefore my specific question is what is the general rule of thumb when racking to secondary for an additional 3-5 days of dry hopping? Closer to 10 days, or the traditional 2-3 weeks as if I was keeping in primary the whole time?

 

[BigFloyd]

I appreciate all the feedback. Just to clarify, I do plan to rack to secondary for various reasons. Therefore my specific question is what is the general rule of thumb when racking to secondary for an additional 3-5 days of dry hopping? Closer to 10 days, or the traditional 2-3 weeks as if I was keeping in primary the whole time?

Dry hop it 3-5 days just prior to your planned bottling date. No problems here doing so in the primary.

 

[AnOldUR]

Therefore my specific question is what is the general rule of thumb when racking to secondary for an additional 3-5 days of dry hopping?

As a "rule of thumb" (what does that mean anyway?), I go 8-10 day primary, cold crash primary for 1-3 days, transfer to secondary with dry hopping for 3-5 days.

But as others have said. Either by gravity reading or experience, don't transfer to the secondary until gravity has stopped dropping.

 

[brew_ny]

Check your gravity, and then check again in three days. If it's stable, it's ready.

Either by gravity reading or experience, don't transfer to the secondary until gravity has stopped dropping.

OP let me help you with the answer


all the best

S_M

 

[Calder]

I'm not in a rush for any of my beers. I wait 3 weeks and then rack to secondary. I collect the yeast from every batch, 3 weeks allows a lot to drop, taking before adding dry hops or other items keeps it clean, and getting it in the fridge helps it last longer.

Dry hopped beers are packaged at 5 weeks, all others are 6+ weeks.

You do not have to dry hop the day you rack. Time the dry hop to your packaging date.

 

[unionrdr]

Wait until a hydrometer test spaced a couple days apart gives a stable FG reading. Then let it settle a bit so most of the yeast & trub have settled out. Then clean/sanitize the secondary vessel before racking the beer from primary to secondary with some tubing from the spigot or an auto siphon to the bottom of secondary to prevent oxygenating the wort. Then you can dry hop a few days, 4 or 5 days would be good. I usually dry hop in primary, after the beer has settled out clear or slightly misty. But you can do it in secondary if you like.

 

[C-Rider]

I appreciate all the feedback. Just to clarify, I do plan to rack to secondary for various reasons. Therefore my specific question is what is the general rule of thumb when racking to secondary for an additional 3-5 days of dry hopping? Closer to 10 days, or the traditional 2-3 weeks as if I was keeping in primary the whole time?

What are the "various reasons"?

 

[Nkliph]

Why do you care so much?

I've never tried it. I want to try It.

 

[C-Rider]

Why do you care so much?

I've never tried it. I want to try It.

Just wondering. Hope all works out as I'm sure it will.

 

[Nkliph]

Just wondering. Hope all works out as I'm sure it will.

Thanks! I hear a lot about oxidation risks, but i feel comfortable with having the tube on the bottom and no splash!

 

[MattyIce]

No worries about oxidation if you are careful like you say. My only gripe about secondary is another vessel (often a carboy) to clean! Haha