Feening to dry hop the Pliny

[BenTen]

So I have a Pliny clone fermenting and it is just about two weeks in, but still going very strong. I would like to get the dry-hop schedule going because I want to drank some ales! But there is the problem. I can't fit the hops through the hole in the carboy, and I want to know if I transfer to a secondary such as a corny, if I risk infection, oxidizing, or lack of full fermentation. I want the beer to be as dry as possible, so I do not want to piss off my yeasties. Anyone have any input here?

[tlael]

So I have a Pliny clone fermenting and it is just about two weeks in, but still going very strong. I would like to get the dry-hop schedule going because I want to drank some ales! But there is the problem. I can't fit the hops through the hole in the carboy, and I want to know if I transfer to a secondary such as a corny, if I risk infection, oxidizing, or lack of full fermentation. I want the beer to be as dry as possible, so I do not want to piss off my yeasties. Anyone have any input here?

If it's still fermenting, do not rack it anywhere.
Patience and planning should help to prevent future frustration.

[Stinkfist]

what kind of fermenter are you using that you cannot get the hops in there?

[Ozwald]

what kind of fermenter are you using that you cannot get the hops in there?

I was wondering the same thing. Pellets, plugs & even whole cones shouldn't have a problem fitting in a standard 3-6 gallon carboy. If you find you have to transfer it (which I would recommend against, unless absolutely necessary) purge the secondary vessel well with CO2.

[spiderwrangler]

I can't fit the hops through the hole in the carboy

Perhaps Ben was planning on bagging them?

[Stinkfist]

I can't fit the hops through the hole in the carboy

Perhaps Ben was planning on bagging them?

I have not made a Pliny clone but I am going to assume there are a ton of dry hops...if you bag them they will not fit in any container, besides a conical...lol


let them ride free Ben...you will get a lot more out of it...yeah slightly less beer...but it will be better...

[BenTen]

As I said in the OP, it's in a standard carboy. I would love to let them go free, but I cant let any of this beer go because I only have about 3.5 gallons. I plan to bag them. I will just wait until it is done and throw them in the keg.

Side note: Crazy fermentation! It had about 1.5 inches of krausen for 11 days, and then all of the sudden in one day, nothing at all. Cant wait to check the FG! I had posted about the recipe calling for 84% attenuation earlier, and after I realized i got 80% with Safale 05 on a different beer, this should be totally attainable.

So am I to assume that you should never expect any actual fermentation to occur in a secondary? Only assume your fermentation will happen in the primary?

[tlael]

So am I to assume that you should never expect any actual fermentation to occur in a secondary? Only assume your fermentation will happen in the primary?

If you move to secondary during an active fermentation there is a good chance you will stall the fermentation unless you drag all of the yeast along too. Then the question begs as to why you would move to secondary anyway?
If you rack off of the primary yeast cake, the yeast will attempt to repopulate to the best of their abilities and you may get fermentation in your secondary, but it probably won't be as strong as if you left it alone and it may not (probably won't) finish where you want it to. The yeast repopulating will also create another, albeit smaller, yeast cake, so again the move to secondary won't be very productive from a clearing standpoint.

IMHO, secondaries are far overrated unless you are using them primarily to clear or age on wood.
Dry hop in the primary.