secondary transfer to another fv

[Davybarman]

Hi folks.
This may seems a mwbie qustion. I have a fv filled with coopers wheat beer at the minute about 4 days from bottling.
Anyway I picked up a job lot of brewing equipment today and want to transfer the beer to the new fv ( it has a tap and a little bottler). I am not worried about bulk priming as I have a gd system for priming as I go along.

Anyway at what stage would you recommend doing the transfer?
Do it now and let it settle for a few days
or
Same day as bottling?


Ps over 100 bottles, new fv with tap and little bottler, capper, caps etc plus a 2cans of coopers stout for£40. What a bargain!!!!
:drink:

 

[Kev888]

If you're not using it as a bottling bucket, probably the main reason people would use a second FV is to get the beer off all the yeast (people can be concerned that they'll get effects from autolysis) or perhaps to stir in finings (or dry hops) without stirring up sediment too.

So as a minimum time there's little point (IMHO) racking until after the fermentation has finished its vigorous stage, and maybe had time for the worst of the yeast to settle out, as loads will be carried to the second FV otherwise, partially defeating the object. Also it can slow the fermentation to rob it of yeast too prematurely. How long in physical time this is depends on loads of things (like yeast strain, temperature, rehydrating etc) so its probably best to go by how active it is.

As to the maximum time, well many people don't bother at all so its all a bit open to opinion (and there are loads of them). I myself don't really consider autolysis a big issue these days but I would start to get twitchy if it was still on the yeast after say three weeks or so, though I do tend to ferment relatively cool.

Keep in mind that its another opportunity to mess up with sanitation, so take care. And try to avoid splashing the beer any more than necessary, as the yeast won't use up any oxygen introduced, by this stage.

Cheers
Kev

 

[Davybarman]

Cheers.
Might just bottle straight from the first fv then. Just back to ordinary syphoning. Maybe use the littler bottler on my next batch.

If I was bulk priming then I presume it should all be done on the day of bottling?

I am aware of contamination and am very zealous when comes to sterilisation. ( cant be too cautious) :thumb:

 

[Kev888]

If I was bulk priming then I presume it should all be done on the day of bottling?

Usually yes; after you add priming sugar/fermentables you need to get it into the bottle/keg quite soon, or the CO2 being made from it will escape rather than cause the beer to become carbonated. You could put the beer into the bucket earlier, but any benefits of it settling are at risk of being mixed up again when you stir in the sugar, so I prefer to do the settling (and any fining) in the FV beforehand.

Cheers
Kev

 

[mmaguy41]

I have a primary, secondary and a bottling bucket with little bottler attached. I leave the my beers in primary for 10-14 days then secondary if i feel the beer needs it, then when im ready to bottle syphon to bottling bucket, batch prime and bottle. Just dont use the bottling bucket as a primary and try to bottle straight from it because the tap will get clogged with sediment.

 

[ScottM]

7 days primary, 7 days secondary and 1 day in the bottling bucket for me. Works a treat.

If the original 7 days isn't enough for the fermentation to be finished (indication via the bubbler) then I give it another few days, I don't rack into secondary until the primary is done. My brews have been crystal clear, other than 1 honey glitch, using this method.