timing

[Ditch]

Short answer is that it should be fine

[niallac]

Welcome to the forum
There are those who would argue that your beer will actually be improved by some time sitting 'on the yeast'...
As the yanks would say, YMMV

[guypettigrew]

Once the initial fermentation has finished it's a good idea to syphon the beer into another 5 gallon container, protected by an airlock, for two or three weeks.

You'll be able to tell when the initial fermentation has fished because the wonderful yeast heads will disappear and the beer will have just a light froth on it. This is usually 2-3 days after the yeast has been pitched. At this point it is very susceptible to oxidation, which will ruin its flavour. If you rack (syphon) it into an airlock protected container it will always have a covering of CO2 to protect it.

Guy

[Simon7]

I've left them for up to two weeks in primary fermentation without any ill effects.

[Beer O'Clock]

Once the initial fermentation has finished it's a good idea to syphon the beer into another 5 gallon container, protected by an airlock, for two or three weeks.

You'll be able to tell when the initial fermentation has fished because the wonderful yeast heads will disappear and the beer will have just a light froth on it. This is usually 2-3 days after the yeast has been pitched. At this point it is very susceptible to oxidation, which will ruin its flavour. If you rack (syphon) it into an airlock protected container it will always have a covering of CO2 to protect it.

Guy

Surely, by moving it at this time you are removing it's protective CO2 blanket. An airlock without a CO2 blanket will only protect from debris not O2, as the very act of transfer will expose it. Racking to a secondary is an unnecessary risk with kits as they are made to be as simple as possible. Thus (almost) idiot proof. It seems that this is just over complicating the process.
IMO unless you are priming for bottling, leave the beer where it is (with it's co2 barrier) until the just before bottling/kegging to reduce the risk of oxidation.

[fatnurse]

It'll be fine, we left our first kit in the FV 6 days over what the instructions said. I've made what some would call massive errors ( my first AG, hahaha, I called it Miracle for a reason) but the beers have turned out fine and in some cases, awesome. I've found beer brewing very zen, relax, everything irie (bit of east meets west there).

[Paddy Bubbles]

At this point it is very susceptible to oxidation, which will ruin its flavour. If you rack (syphon) it into an airlock protected container it will always have a covering of CO2 to protect it.

That's a mad statement! At this point, it is a lot less susceptible to oxidation than if you siphoned it to another FV. The primary FV will already have a blanket of CO2.

George, the only reasons to rack to secondary are if you want to improve it's clarity, or dry-hop it, or if you want to condition it for an extended period of time. Most people will bottle/rack after about 2 weeks because of concerns about "yeast autolysis", which can produce off flavours. Most homebrewers will tell you that it's fine to leave your beer on top of yeast for 3 weeks, with no ill effect.

[jimp2003]

It'll be fine, we left our first kit in the FV 6 days over what the instructions said. I've made what some would call massive errors ( my first AG, hahaha, I called it Miracle for a reason) but the beers have turned out fine and in some cases, awesome. I've found beer brewing very zen, relax, everything irie (bit of east meets west there).

Well said fatnurse

Homebrewing is as stressful or as relaxing as you make it I have found. I think most people are very uptight when they do their very first kit - I know I was

I soon learnt (mainly from the old heads on this forum) that the beer will do its thing and now I give it 2 weeks in the FV throw in the the hydrometer and then bottle/keg if there is no movement in the FG