losman26

Recipes 

I just transferred a 5 gal recipe from a 6 gal better bottle to a 5 gal better bottle, and there seems to be an awful lot of head-space. It goes from one inch above where it says "better bottle" on the carboy all the way to the top. I'm beginning the lager phase right now.

Is this something I should be worried about? I've heard that C02 will protect the beer from head space, but almost all the co2 is gone? Should I perhaps not use an airlock and just the plug to keep co2 in? Some people say add sugar as well. Or should I just lager like normal, and wait see what happens?

david_42

Recipes 

Some CO2 will come out of the beer during the transfer, so it's probably okay. But you can add an ounce of table sugar to generate a fresh blanket.

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losman26

Recipes 

Should I be worried about contamination with the sugar without boiling it? Or should I boil some water? Should I use an airlock or standard plug?

paraordnance

Recipes 

I lagered maibock once for 4 months in 6 gal carboy. I had atleast 2 gal of headspace and I had no problems.

losman26

Recipes 

Did you have any airlock activity going?

osagedr

Recipes 

IMO this is one of those cases where the cure can be worse than the disease.

I'd just leave it.

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bessieflames

Recipes 

If you swirl after it is in secondary, CO2 will come out of the beer and create a fresh blanket.

paraordnance

Recipes 

I had a solid bung on it and when I pull it out once a month or so, it always made "whooo" kind of sound, meaning there is always positive pressure build up so I would not worry about oxidation much

losman26

Recipes 

Do you mean, don't worry about oxidation with the airlock on, or put the solid bung and not worry about it?