arog3000

Recipes 

I am planning on brewing a 2/3 gallon batch of beer. I usually end up with a little more with the mash and the sparge water. I currently have a five gallon carboy and a 6.5 gallon carboy. I normally primary ferment in the 6.5 gallon and then secondary in the 5 gallon when brewing 5 gallons. Is it a problem having all the extra space at the top when I go to ferment 2 or 3 gallons of beer? Please advise. Thanks!!

dhoyt714

Recipes 

From what I understand the co2 forms a cushion, which makes it impossible for the air to get in.

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xjmox14x

Recipes 

It's what I do... head space means nothing really during primary fermentation. The beer is coated by a layer of co2 whether it's in a 4 gal device or 10 gal device.

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Primary: Hard Apple/Berry Cider
Primary: Hefeweizen
Primary: Brown Ale
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Secondary: Empty
Bottled: Pumpkin Pie Ale, Vanilla Chai Porter, Blueberry Blonde, Double Chocolate Stout, Hard Apple Cider, Mango Habanero Pale Ale, Citra/Cascade Pale Ale

GiraffeBrew

Recipes 

If you just purge your carboys w/ co2 before you rack into them you should be just fine. Cheers!!!

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erikpete18

Recipes 

If you decide you're really worried about it, you could just long primary in the 5 gal carboy and not bother with a secondary. Don't want to get into the primary/secondary discussion, but I've been tempted to start brewing some of my higher grav beers as 3 gal batches and use the 5 gal carboy that doesn't get used as much any more. Anymore the only thing I use my 5 gal carboy for is apfelwein, and I hate to see anything go to waste that could be holding beer!