msleeve_ak

Recipes 

is it ok to use a 6.5 gal carboy to ferment only 2.5 gal of brew? Or will there be too much o2 in it?

thanks

Kephren

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That would be fine. As the beer ferments, there will be a layer of CO2 on top of it. After a while, the CO2 will push out all of the atmospheric air.

__________________
The best way to store malt is to combine it with water, hops and yeast... -Charlie Papazian

cbiegel

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Plus it'll give you lots of air to mix O2 into the wort when you slosh it around right before adding the yeast.

Janx

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Yep that's just fine

__________________
Oh don't give me none more of that Old Janx Spirit
No, don't you give me none more of that Old Janx Spirit
For my head will fly, my tongue will lie, my eyes will fry and I may die
Won't you pour me one more of that sinful Old Janx Spirit

mrkeeg

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but the REAL question is... why brew only 2.5 gals?

DyerNeedOfBeer

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Why only 2.5? More brews, more variety. I want to brew every darn weekend just so I can taste all the different ones and experiment with subtle changes and how they would affect the batch. I know I surely can't drink it this fast! I have been considering 2.5's as well. It would also reduce the equipment size and if your considering all of the stainless steel pots that I'm looking at, that would save alot of money

D-brewmeister

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I'm sure that once you start producing your brews, you'll probably have plenty of friends who will be willing to help out with disposing of any excess inventory!

__________________
O, guid ale comes, and guid ale goes,
Guid ale gars me sell my hose,
Sell my hose, and pawn my shoon -
Guid ale keeps my heart aboon! -- Robert Burns

Rhoobarb

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Gawd, ain't that the truth! Although, my freinds feign guilt... "Are you sure? I mean, I don't want to drink all of your beer!" But once I insist, it's 'Katy, bar the door'.

However, I can see the merit in doing 2.5 gal. batches and the desire to "brew every darn weekend" and "taste all the different ones and experiment."

Dude

Recipes 

I'm considering doing half batches (2.5 gallon) once I start all graining too. I'm dying to brew but I can't find a keg to convert into a brewpot ANYWHERE. That leaves me with the only option of using my current pot.

I like the idea of experimentation with smaller batches too--I'm gonna experiment with hops and different yeasts big time. Once I find something I really like I'll start going bigger. Oh yeah, and once I find a keg.

__________________
On Tap: Lake Walk Pale Ale -- Eternity (Raspberry Stout) -- Nutrocker -- Donnybrook Dark
Primary: Lake Walk Pale Ale
Secondary: Summit IPA
Up Next: Smoked Porter -- Pub Ale -- Watermelon Wheat
Planning:
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www.IronOrrBrewery.com

DyerNeedOfBeer

Recipes 

Sabco sells kegs but they are gonna be around 100 bucks plus shipping. For this price, the top is already cut out and two nipples welded near the bottom, one for a valve and the other for a thermometer (or whatever else uses you desire). I have been looking for kegs myself to save money over the sabco option but with little success.

I'm really wanting to find a 1/4 barrel keg (half the size of the ones which seem to typically be used in this hobby). I think that would be perfect for doing these 'half' batches. As mentioned in my last post of this thread... half batches would put you in the range of using the 22qt s.s. pots from Wal-Mart. These pots are tripple bottom (scorch protection) and just all around very nice. Mine was 45 bucks and I'm sure you could get others around this size without the heavy bottom for probly under 20 bucks.