So I brewed an oatmeal stout about 1 week ago. Its been in the primary for 9 days (have read 1-2 weeks). I dont have a secondary and have read that it doesnt really need secondary. Read it should be in secondary for 2 weeks. Should i keep in the primary longer?
Oatmeal Stout Time
- Thread starter ninjai21
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ChiknNutz
Well-Known Member
Most will say that using a secondary is an outdated process. There seems to be no real benefit but some downsides, such as possible introduction to bacteria and such.
No need for a secondary.
I'd let it go a full 2 weeks, cold crash, and package / condition as you will.
I'd let it go a full 2 weeks, cold crash, and package / condition as you will.
My Oatmeal Stout stayed in the primary due to some unexpected delays for almost 4 weeks ! It was a recipe from Beer & BBQ Lary from his live steam brew Day ! It's been in the keg for about 4 weeks and it's just gotten better ! It was a direct transfer fro Fermenter to keg, this is why I haven't done secondary for some time ! My IPA's have jumped to a second level of freshness from cutting down on the oxygen from moving it around post fermentation ! And no more cleaning a 2nd Fermenter 
As others have stated just leave it in the primary I would keep it in there the full four weeks. Stouts tend to get better with age at least that's what I've experienced.
BrewMan13
Whole Nother Level Brewing
A "standard" strength oatmeal stout will be good in 2 weeks. I just did one, and fermentation activity visually subsided well before that, but gotta give it time to "clean up" (2 weeks is my standard ale fermentation time anyway). Also, like everyone else is saying, secondary is unnecessary, and possibly detrimental, unless you're long term aging.
