need a straight answer!

[bangers]

I have a brew on the go at present (coopers pale ale) will be ready to go through next stage on sat Feb 2nd.
Heres the quetions do I
* a.syphon off into my second fermenter and leave for a couple of days to help yeast to drop out then bottle.
* b.put finnings in to clear up and help the yeast to drop out (dont need a debate over finings just a yes or no answer)
* c.syphon off and then bulk prime which I've never had a go at and what do I NEED TO DO!
* D.Just bottle it as I have been.
I understand the different opinions on these subjects and apreciate the debate on which is better than what but as a novice it can be very confusing when asking a question and a debate starts over whats what.I'm after a set of simple rules and guidelines to set me on the right track in my second stage of brewing as we are all in the persuit of the perfect beer we can call our own.one last one has any one ever ised a drill pump to transfer from one fermenter to another or are they bad news to a brewer (too much turbulance that will stir up yeast ect.)

[timmy]

a. I normally do this as I think it helps. It's a contentious issue around here as it can lead to infections if you're not careful/clean
b. I don't know if this will help in the primary. Perhaps someone else can enlighten
c. Bulk priming is handy if you're using different size bottles. If not (and you can accurately measure your priming sugar), just bottle directly. Bulk priming is handy if you're priming with other stuff like honey etc.
d. Or you could do this too. I would if your bottles are consistent.

A good alternative to racking is to leave for longer in your fermenter and then throw the whole thing in the fridge for a week or so. This will give some benefits with little risk. Some people may not like leaving the beer on the yeast cake for so long, but anything under a month should be fine.

Cheers,
TIm

[rwh]

You want a straight answer. Here it is: Do what you are comfortable with. Once you've mastered your current techniques, then try something new and see if you like doing it that way.

Now, specific answers:

.Heres the quetions do I
a.syphon off into my second fermenter and leave for a couple of days to help yeast to drop out then bottle.

The benefits of racking are:
- faster conditioning (the beer will "age" faster in a fermenter than in the bottles which means that the beer will need to be in the bottle for a shorter period before reaching its optimal flavour)
- less sediment in the bottle

If you're happy with your beer's flavour, or if you can store it for a long time, and if you don't care about the amount of sediment in the bottle, then forget racking. We're talking a small incremental improvement here.

b.put finnings in to clear up and help the yeast to drop out (dont need a debate over finings just a yes or no answer)

No.

c.syphon off and then bulk prime which I've never had a go at and what do I NEED TO DO!

Don't bother. Again, this is an incremental improvement. You need to be happy with racking and need bulletproof sanitation before you do this.

D.Just bottle it as I have been.

Yep. Sounds like a good idea to me.

one last one has any one ever ised a drill pump to transfer from one fermenter to another or are they bad news to a brewer (too much turbulance that will stir up yeast ect.)

You could use one, but I can see a couple of issues:
- non-food-grade materials. This means you might end up with "rubber" tastes in your beer. You can't use garden hose for the same reason.
- you need to sanitise every surface that the beer touches, and a pump might be a bit tricky.

Most brewers just buy a bit of PVC tubing from the HBS and use gravity to transfer the beer by lifting the first fermenter up high and letting the beer drain through the tube, with it attached to to the tap (if the fermenter has one) or syphoned out.

HTH,

Rob

[bangers]

gentlemen, thankyou all ! I have received excactly what I needed to hear. No debate just clear and concise answers Like I said as a novice you can get lost amongst the technical and the jargan as I learn more I will try to improve my brewing.I'm probably more interested in making a great beer or cider rather than a perfect beer or cider so again I say thanks for the insight it will help me keep getting better at brewing

[SpillsMostOfIt]

I think it is too easy to read stuff that others are doing and wonder if you should too.

If you're new to brewing, it really pays to keep things simple and focus on getting those things down pat - the rest comes easier than if you try to take on too much too soon.

And, once you've mastered the simple stuff, the rest of it just kinda happens at its own pace, I reckon and before you know it, you're a sad, brewaholic recluse. Or is that just me?

[rwh]

before you know it, you're a sad, brewaholic recluse. Or is that just me?

Certainly not just you.

[Stubbie]

Ha! Less than 12 mths ago all I wanted was to make a basic beer from a Kit only. There was no way I was going to be sucked into doing anything fancy. No chance. Not me. No No and No.

Now I find myself building a brewery................

Just stick around this forum and see what happens

[James L]

Thats exactly the same as me Stubbie... got my fermenter last christmas, didnt use it till april, bought a fridge in july, bought and other fermenter in august, bought another fridge in sept, just bought another two fridges last week, and spent 860 bucks on AG equipt... What next... kegs????

[Chris]

If you have that much cash to throw around at beer stuff I'm suprised you haven't gone kegs already!

[James L]

well i cant justify 6 fridges..... but we'll see... even if its just a few kegs...

I jsut dont like the idea of having to finish the whole brew before you can fill the keg again.... you can pick an choose what you want to drink if you have the bottles..

[gregb]

... you can pick an choose what you want to drink if you have the bottles..

Multiple taps. Search AHB or Brodies for a picture of Ross' 10 tap setup. Apologies if I am spending more of your money.

Cheers,
Greg

[James L]

You guys should know now that it doesn't take much to twist my arm....

[Trough Lolly]

...I jsut dont like the idea of having to finish the whole brew before you can fill the keg again....

yeah, I used to have that very problem....until I bought my 8th keg!

Cheers,
TL

[James L]

All in good time... All in good time... I'm a little impulsive sometimes.

[Stubbie]

Hmm. James, that sounds familiar. Bought my first fermenter in Mar 07. Stuffed my first brew, or so I thought at the time, but now know better, and foolishly poured the lot down the sink. Not to be outdone, I immediately bought a second and then third fermenter. Flogged the fermenters, two brews at a time throughout the year. Four kegs before christmas and procured two fridges. Bloody dropped one off the trailer and wrecked the thing as I was unloading. Bloody furious I was That little dark episode put a spanner in my summer brewing. So, now I need to find a replacement. I really can't be stuffed bottling any more and can see that 4 kegs will simply not be enough..........

[beerdrinker]

You can bottle a few 6 packs to finish the keg

[Tipsy]

well i cant justify 6 fridges..... but we'll see... even if its just a few kegs...

Not with that attitude

[James L]

Well... i have a beer fridge already that would accomodate two kegs, but the missus's wine supply would have to be ditched (i dunno what its doing in my beer fridge anyway) plus one of the shelves... and i guess i'll have to just store the beer bottles in the door... but i cant... i've spent too much.... It'll have to wait till christmas... besides i have bottles coming out of my arse, so i cant...

[ryan]

seek medical advice immediately

[James L]

It was an accident i swear.....