Have I just been lucky?

[Talheedin]

Hi Everyone,

Since I started AG I've been using a primary fermentor for a couple of weeks and then transfering to secondary for another two or three weeks. I've noticed a real improvement in my beer but I'm not sure if that's down to going AG or using the secondary. Anyway, I was a little lazy and left a beer in primary for 10 weeks (I just couldn't face washing all those bottles!) and when I finally bottled it, despite being a little flat, it tasted great. Was I just lucky or is it perfectly acceptable to leave it that long? I haven't tried it from a bottle yet but I'm hopeful that it should be great.

The main reason I'm asking is that I'm getting an ACT800 and a second hand chest freezer for Christmas and I'd like to know if I should leave all my beers for this long in a temperature controlled environment? Up to now I've just been leaving them in a kitchen cupboard.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Talheedin

[Dan]

temperature plays a big role on how quickly autolysis sets in. if you keep it cooler you can keep it longer. 10 weeks is pushing it though. Autolysis is only a problem when it exceeds the flavour threshold, if you were brewing a strong stout you could get away with more than a light lager.

[Talheedin]

So I was quite lucky then.

Thanks for that, I'll go back to 2 weeks primary and 2-3 weeks secondary again then.