Primary Fermentation

[brewSteve]

Hey everybody,
I’m new here and to the world of homebrewing. I’ve been scanning some of the threads here and find the discussion to be very helpful.
I have not, as yet begun to brew. I have been doing avid research, but some of the information I am finding is conflicting and leaves me with some questions.
I joined this board in hopes of learning some tips and picking the brains of more experienced brewers. This first question I think is stupid, but almost everything I read presents conflicting views:
Fermenting, I am not going to bother with a secondary fermentation my first batch, so my question is this. Am I supposed to ferment the wort in the glass carboy or the plastic bucket? To me, it makes sense that the primary fermentation occur in the glass carboy so I can more easily moniter the process. Then I would transfer it to the bucket in order to bottle. Some sources I read suggest it goes the other way around.
A second related question would then be, would having two carboys be an advantage to use as a primary fermenter and then as a bottling bucket? Or for that matter, as I become more experienced would it be useful as a secondary fermenter?
I hope I have been clear, I know it is probably a simple question but I have exhausted all other options. Thanks for your patience and your time,
Steve

[AZDesertRat]

Your primary fermenter need to be about 6 to 6.5 gallons. I started with the Better brew starter kit which included a 6.5 gallon fermenting bucket and a 6.5 gallon bottling bucket with a spigot on the side. I have since bought a 6.5 G glass carboy and am buying a 5 gallon carboy tomorrow for a secondary fermenter. You want less head space in the secondary.

[PFDarkside]

1. Primary Fermenter (Plastic or Glass): Initial fermentation occurs in this vessel, plastic is cheaper, I still use plastoc, but technically glass is better. Plastic does not seal 100%, but since so much CO2 is being created during the inital stages it's not a huge deal.

2. Secondary Fermenter (Glass): If you are going to use a secondary fermentation vessel it should be glass. Much less CO2 is produced, it's a really good barrier to just about everything but light. This step ensures full fermentation, gets the beer off of the yeast cake, and gives the beer more time to clear up (have all the particulate matter fall). All these things give you a better tasting beer.

3. Bottling: I believe this is always done from a plastic bucket with a spigot at the bottom. This allows gravity feed instead of having to syphon.

FWIW - Primary fermentation generally required a 6.5 gallon fermenter due to all the krausen that is produced. Secondary produces much less, so a 5 gallon or 5.5 gallon carboy is generally used. Also, the terms "Primary" and "Secondary" really only apply to homebrewing. You can buy a Conical Fermenter (For some $$$) that emulates a pro-style fermenter. With this, all fermentation occus in the one unit. After a specified amount of time when the yeast has settled to the bottom, a valve at the bottom of the fermenter is opened and the yeast is drawn off. At this point, it's acting like a secondary.

Hopefully some other more experienced brewers can clear this up a bit more for you.

[HogieWan]

to me, using a glass carboy for bottling would be a major pain in the ass. I have a plastic bucket and 2 6.5 gal carboys. I generally use one carboy for primary and the other for secondary and the bucket for bottling. Having two carboys allows you to have a couple batches going at a time. I have found that I go through beer too quickly to not have 2 fermenting vessels. Also, if you're using a bucket for primary and bottling, you have to bottle your batch before putting anything in that primary. Bsically, you always need one empty vessel.

Also, buy yourself an auto-siphon. It's SO much easier and MUCH more sanitary

[brewSteve]

OK. Thanks guys, that helps a lot. I'm looking forward to doing the first brew!

[Grog]

I think most beginning brewer kits start with plastic and skip the secondary because it is the cheapest route and you never know if you are going to stick with the hobby. Once you get the bug, life becomes more complicated and the equipment becomes more expensive. All of my fermenters (primary and secondary) are glass (unless you count kegs as secondary vessels).

[BrewDog]

Yay! Another Steve!

I totally agree with what was said above. Try it out. Read a few books. Before long, you'll be hooked, just like we are.

Steve

(BrewDog)