Secondary if I filter?

[ezra]

Do I still need to do a secondary fermentation if I filter my beer?


Thanks

[OrionBrew]

I think it depends on what you want to gain from the secondary. If it is just for a clearer beer, then the answer is probably no. However, if you are planning on leaving it in the fermenter for any time grater than 3 weeks, then it would be a good idea to use a secondary.

I'm a rookie, so I may be missing some points here.

[corkybstewart]

Don't filter-you lose lots of stuff important to the aging process when you filter, and you really won't wnd up with signicantly clearer beer. Most ofthe stuff that contributes to haze passes right thru a filter. Sure you'll get rid of the hops debris and trub and some of the larger clumps of yeast but it's not worth the trouble .

[ezra]

Originally posted by corkybstewart
Sure you'll get rid of the hops debris and trub and some of the larger clumps of yeast but it's not worth the trouble .

I want to be able to give my beer away without having to explain what that layer of sludge is on the bottom of the bottle. To the average-joe, it looks like crud and that youre not doing something right.

[OrionBrew]

Originally posted by corkybstewart
Don't filter-you lose lots of stuff important to the aging process

Corky is right. If you are using a surface/membrane/barrier filter, then you will lose color, flavor, and body. Most likely, this is the type filter you have.

If you have a proper depth filter, than you should not have many problems. A depth filter is more selective about what gets filtered, so it can be designed to focus on the yeast and leave most of the good stuff alone. This is the type you want, but it is much more expensive.

http://www.filtrox.ch/filtrox-gbs-en/Depth_Filtration.htm

[OrionBrew]

Originally posted by ezra
I want to be able to give my beer away without having to explain what that layer of sludge is on the bottom of the bottle.

You may want to go with artificial/forced carbonation instead of filtering.

[ezra]

The filter I would like to is here. (http://morebeer.com/product.html?product_id=16769) Ive never heard of a depth filter or seen one mentioned on the brewing show Ive seen. They show microbreweries using plate filters. I just want to chill my corny, run it through a beergun and give away a lot of good beer and Im now getting confused and for a little bit I thought I had a handle on this hobby. But I guess this is how you learn....

[dparsons]

So give your beer away with sediment (tasty, nutritious sediment). I was just describing a Witbier to a friend. He said he wouldn't drink one because it had yeast in it. I informed him that the beer he had just finished - and had claimed was delicious - was unfiltered and had yeast floating around in it. He went from looking slightly more pale to thinking he'd try the Witbier over the next several seconds. Pretty funny.

If you are racking from primary to secondary and then to a bottling bucket to mix in priming sugar, you should be leaving most of the sediment behind. You shouldn't have very much in the bottom of the bottles.

I'd also just use the term "unfiltered" as it is not so unappetizing. You can also mention it is a hangover prevention as it has good nutrients in it.

[B_rad1969]

Originally posted by ezra
The filter I would like to is here. (http://morebeer.com/product.html?product_id=16769) Ive never heard of a depth filter or seen one mentioned on the brewing show Ive seen. They show microbreweries using plate filters. I just want to chill my corny, run it through a beergun and give away a lot of good beer and Im now getting confused and for a little bit I thought I had a handle on this hobby. But I guess this is how you learn....

That looks like a plain ole water filter.

[corkybstewart]

I've got that exact filter. As I said it's great for getting chunkers out but it will not produce clear beer. You say you're using cornies and a beergun, that's the best way to give away perfectly clear, carbonated beer, it just takes patience. Secondary your beer, carbonate it in the keg and Beergun some bottles-no sediment, no filter, no hassle.

[B_rad1969]

A beer gun is a great investment. My beer usually turns out pretty clear.... Except for this last batch using grain.

[markaberrant]

I picked up this tidbit of knowledge from a message board (could have been this one), but when I give away beer I include an information sheet about homebrewing in general, serving tips, and a description of the specific beers I give them.

[HogieWan]

If you are bottle conditioning, you'll have sediment, no way around it. Sierra Nevada bottle conditions after filtering and their bottles have a very small ring of sediment.

If you want no sediment, keg and then bottle from there - no need for the filter.

[Mad Scientist]

Originally posted by ezra
I want to be able to give my beer away without having to explain what that layer of sludge is on the bottom of the bottle. To the average-joe, it looks like crud and that youre not doing something right.

Sheesh, just tell them it is a traditionally bottle conditioned beer, like the english and the belgians.....