Why not secondary?

[big7ben]

I heard it mentioned on the sunday show that doing a secondary was somewhat of not necessary. I cant remember who said it, but I dont understand.

I bottle and if i dont secondary, i'm afraid all kinds of crap will make it's way into my bottles. Am i wrong? If i had a kegging system i would understand the theory behind no secondary, because the keg is sort of like a secondary.

Is it true that doing one is not needed?

[Lars]

It is true. Secondary is not necessary. If you are worried about getting trub in your beer, then let it sit in primary a week or so longer, the trub will compact at the bottom of your fermenter and if you don't stir it up, it wont get into your beer! On the other hand, some styles benefit from a secondary. One drawback, is that any time you rack your beer there is a chance for infection.

[Bugeater]

I don't secondary a lot any more. If there is a lot of trub in the bottom of the fermenter I am more likely to secondary. Other times I like to do it are when I plan to bottle the whole batch or if I need the fermenter space for another beer. Doing a secondary when bottling is planned just cuts down on the chances for transferring sludge to the bottling bucket. I now have enough fermenters that fermenter space is no longer a deciding factor for me.

Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company

[big7ben]

as much as i love homebrewing, transfering to secondary is a major PITA to me, and i have often thought about skipping it and just putting a hopbag over the racking cane when i go from fermenter to priming bucket to keep out any trub.

I have to admit I am on my like 6th batch and have secondaried all of them (with much success) because thats what Charlie P says to do.

[Brewbuddy]

Just keep in mind, are those that say a secondary fermenter is not necessary using a conical fermenter or a plastic bucket as their fermenter ?

If your using a conical fermenter of course you don't need to rack your beer to a secondary fermenter.

[Homegrown Hops]

I am pretty sure could ave been Jamil that you may recall saying that II° is not needed. I have been leaving my beer for 10-14 days after any action in the airlock and have been getting clear racking straight into the kegs. I usually pitch a new wort right on top of the yeast cake at this time.

HH

[yinzer]

I heard it mentioned on the sunday show that doing a secondary was somewhat of not necessary. I cant remember who said it, but I dont understand.

I bottle and if i dont secondary, i'm afraid all kinds of crap will make it's way into my bottles. Am i wrong? If i had a kegging system i would understand the theory behind no secondary, because the keg is sort of like a secondary.

Is it true that doing one is not needed?

I'm a big fan of secondary but that's because I wait a long time to bottle. And I do a lot of big beers.

But more to the point.
I'm afraid all kinds of crap will make it's way into my bottles. If you Ferment out all the way and take care when racking to your bottleing bucket, all the bad stuff will stay behind.

I'd say more, but I'm kinda drunk. I'll stop while I'm ahead.

[Brewcaster J]

It was jamil who stated (much to my happiness!) that secondary is not necessary for most beers. Of course things will depend on how much the trub has settled and compacted on the bottom, or whether you have dry hopped, etc.

I used to secondary every single batch until Pope Jamil said "it's ok my son, I wil not condemn you to homebrew hell if you only primary".

Now I never do a secondary. You may get some more trub in your bottles, but only slightly if you do it right, and you reduce the chance of infection by transfering less.

When I was bottling my process was as follows:
Primary for 14 days.
Move to place I will rack to bucket for bottling night before actually bottling.
rack to bucket..
bottle

I did have some trub settle at the bottom of my bottles...but...it's homebrew, so i did not really care. For the most part, cold storing my bottles cleared up any haze, etc. and i am now a huge fan of the never secondary camp!!