Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: To rack to secondary or leave it alone  (Read 1302 times)

Offline madscientist

  • Brewer
  • ****
  • Posts: 321
To rack to secondary or leave it alone
« on: January 21, 2011, 09:41:05 am »
So I have a 2.5 gallon batch of a "light" ale going.  OG was 1.048.  Assuming the fermentation is complete, should I rack to a secondary?  The reason I ask is because I pitched a whole vial of White Labs American Ale blend, so there's a lot of krausen and a nice yeast cake.  I usually just go right to bottle, but would the secondary be beneficial in this case? 
Homebrewed since 2010

Offline Hokerer

  • I spend way too much time on the AHA forum
  • ********
  • Posts: 2654
  • Manassas, VA
Re: To rack to secondary or leave it alone
« Reply #1 on: January 21, 2011, 09:45:55 am »
Secondary's not really gonna buy you anything.  Just make sure you give it plenty of time - plenty as in way more than when you "assume fermentation is done" :)
Joe

Offline oscarvan

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1707
Re: To rack to secondary or leave it alone
« Reply #2 on: January 21, 2011, 09:47:40 am »
And then immediately use that yeast cake to make a 5 gallon batch of something tasty!
Wooden Shoe Brew Works (not a commercial operation) Bethlehem, PA
http://www.woodenshoemusic.com/WSBW/WSBW_All_grain_Setup.html
I brew WITH style..... not necessarily TO style.....

Offline phillamb168

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2351
  • Lardy, France
    • My Job
Re: To rack to secondary or leave it alone
« Reply #3 on: January 21, 2011, 10:02:05 am »
The only time I ever rack to secondary is if I'm gonna be conditioning with something. E.g., I've got a 1-gallon test batch of chocolate chipotle stout that I racked to secondary, only because I was adding ingredients.
I'm on twitter: phillamb168
----
morticaixavier for governing committee!

Offline madscientist

  • Brewer
  • ****
  • Posts: 321
Re: To rack to secondary or leave it alone
« Reply #4 on: January 21, 2011, 10:46:29 am »
Yea ok, I'll just let it stay.  I was thinking of using the yeast cake for the next version of this beer which will be more inline with the Pale Ale requirements.
Homebrewed since 2010