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Author Topic: Is it done?  (Read 1812 times)

Offline quest4watneys

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Is it done?
« on: January 20, 2011, 10:42:22 am »
I put my wort in the primary at 6pm on Mon. As I was leaving for work this morning, I stopped to check on the progress and stood there for about 3 or 4 minutes (I was in a hurry) without noticing any activity. This is only day three but when is a good time to move it to the secondary? And is it unusual for fermenting to slow down so quickly? It was really bubbling on Wednesday.
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Offline bonjour

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Re: Is it done?
« Reply #1 on: January 20, 2011, 10:47:26 am »
IMHO --- NO.

Give it a few more days.
What is the FG today (Thursday)?
What was the FG yesterday (Wednesday)?
What was the FG the day before that (Tuesday)?
When the answer to the above three questions is the same, then you can bottle.

So NOT before Saturday (you had a lot of activity Wednesday)

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Offline denny

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Re: Is it done?
« Reply #2 on: January 20, 2011, 11:08:08 am »
You almost never need to use a secondary, anyway.
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Offline theDarkSide

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Re: Is it done?
« Reply #3 on: January 20, 2011, 11:18:08 am »
What's a secondary?  :D

I go minimum 2 weeks.  Longer if I need to ( or I get lazy )
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Offline bonjour

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Re: Is it done?
« Reply #4 on: January 20, 2011, 11:53:44 am »
Quote from: denny on January 20, 2011, 11:08:08 am
You almost never need to use a secondary, anyway.
I'll have to check, I think my bottling bucket is labeled secondary,  so I guess I secondary some of my beers for about 30-45 minutes

 ;) ;) ;)
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Offline quest4watneys

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Re: Is it done?
« Reply #5 on: January 20, 2011, 12:17:29 pm »
Thanks fellas! You just made life a little easier! So when is a good time to use a secondary just out of curiosity? I've even heard the term (are you sitting down) tertiary!!! What's up with that?!? I can't thank you guys enough for walking me thru my first batch!
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Offline euge

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Re: Is it done?
« Reply #6 on: January 20, 2011, 12:26:36 pm »
Quote from: bonjour on January 20, 2011, 11:53:44 am
Quote from: denny on January 20, 2011, 11:08:08 am
You almost never need to use a secondary, anyway.
I'll have to check, I think my bottling bucket is labeled secondary,  so I guess I secondary some of my beers for about 30-45 minutes

 ;) ;) ;)

Funny thing is that even that amount of time will drop some sediment out of the beer.

When people say "secondary" it really is for adding more sugars like fruit or whatnot. The practice of clarifying beer also has carried this term so it is confusing for many new brewers. You'll be better served by leaving your brew in the primary for a couple extra days instead of using a secondary vessel.
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Offline beerstache

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Re: Is it done?
« Reply #7 on: January 22, 2011, 03:39:28 pm »
You want to know why beginner brewers are confused about using a secondary vessel?  The recipe posted on the AHA's website for Deck Head Stout includes a Secondary fermentation for 9 days!  This doesnt help!  I guess it's up to each indivduals preference to do secondary or not.
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