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Author Topic: Fermentation  (Read 5185 times)

Offline chrismccull

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Fermentation
« on: December 27, 2011, 05:14:18 PM »
When brewing with an extract kit, do you always use a secondary fermenter?   The book How to Brew claims that you do not need to use one except with high OG beer and Lagers and many people on homebrewtalk seem to just use a primary.  What do you use?  I am about the brew a Pilsner kit and a Brew House IPA.

Offline Chris Craig

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Re: Fermentation
« Reply #1 on: December 27, 2011, 05:47:15 PM »
The only time I rack to a secondary is when I'm dry-hopping.  The consensus these days is to use the primary for the whole fermentation.

Offline Richard

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Re: Fermentation
« Reply #2 on: December 27, 2011, 06:09:08 PM »
+1
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Kegged: air.
Primary: air.
Bulk Aging: Silence of the Lambics (Pitched 13/05/2012).
Owed: JQ LSA x 1, Kyle Stout x 1 & IPA x 1.

Offline chrismccull

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Re: Fermentation
« Reply #3 on: December 27, 2011, 06:29:59 PM »
Thanks, I thought so.

How long do you generally leave it in the primary, I am thinking about 4 weeks rather than the 10 days listed in the instructions.

Offline Dave Savoie

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Re: Fermentation
« Reply #4 on: December 27, 2011, 06:54:36 PM »
if there is not  like 3 inches of sediment then 4 weeks should be ok I think
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Offline Chris Craig

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Re: Fermentation
« Reply #5 on: December 27, 2011, 06:59:17 PM »
As a rule, I go 3 weeks if you're bottling.  Most of the fermentation will be done by 10 days though, so if you're kegging you can do what you like after that.

Offline Chris Craig

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Re: Fermentation
« Reply #6 on: December 27, 2011, 07:00:04 PM »
Maybe we should move this to the Technique forum...

Offline Richard

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Re: Fermentation
« Reply #7 on: December 27, 2011, 07:13:26 PM »
Done.
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Kegged: air.
Primary: air.
Bulk Aging: Silence of the Lambics (Pitched 13/05/2012).
Owed: JQ LSA x 1, Kyle Stout x 1 & IPA x 1.

Offline chrismccull

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Re: Fermentation
« Reply #8 on: December 27, 2011, 07:41:54 PM »
Sorry about that, thanks for the advice.

Offline sdixon

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Re: Fermentation
« Reply #9 on: December 27, 2011, 10:53:36 PM »
If I'm brewing something like an English Ale with a highly flocculent yeast, then I don't see a need to rack to a secondary. In my case, brewing with some slower fermenting Belgian yeasts, I see a benefit from a quasi ageing in a secondary. My advice... try both and see which you prefer. Also do some reading about the preferences of your particular yeast... each is different. At the end of the day... enjoy... you will usually make beer better than you can guy at the liquor store :-)
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