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12-08-2009, 09:24 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: MN
Posts: 2
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accidently made 4 gallons versus 5 gallons
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I just attempted my first batch and should have but a 5 gallon mark on my 6.5 gallon carboy but didn't and now i am thinking i might have only 4 gallons in there. . . Is there anything i can do now (probably not) and is my batch ruined cause of this?
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12-08-2009, 09:48 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 1,257
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batch is not ruined.
did you do malt extract, boil 2-4 gallons and add water at the end? If so, you can simply add more water. Try and get the water at the same temperature as your fermentation before you dump it in.
Or let it be. If the fermentation goes as planned, it will be a higher abv beer.
google "John Palmer how to brew" or pick up a copy of the book if you have not already. Its the best thing you can do to kill time while your beer is fermenting.
Welcome to the hobby, don't be a stranger on the site (its a great resource!) and of course rdwhahb 
__________________
In process- Cream of 3 Crops, EdWort's Haus Pale Ale Kegged- Jamil's 70/-
Planning- Best Bitter, Patersbier, dry stout
Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Clay
Last night, as I cleaned out four carboys, two corney kegs and lots of lines, my 12 year old daughter noted: "Dad, it looks like brewing beer is mostly about washing dishes."
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12-08-2009, 10:27 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Anchorage-Seattle
Posts: 407
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Welcome to HBT!
Quote:
Originally Posted by philrose
batch is not ruined.
did you do malt extract, boil 2-4 gallons and add water at the end? If so, you can simply add more water. Try and get the water at the same temperature as your fermentation before you dump it in.
Or let it be. If the fermentation goes as planned, it will be a higher abv beer.
google "John Palmer how to brew" or pick up a copy of the book if you have not already. Its the best thing you can do to kill time while your beer is fermenting.
Welcome to the hobby, don't be a stranger on the site (its a great resource!) and of course rdwhahb |
X2
You can add water or leave it be, either way you will have beer. Just make sure the temp of the water you add is close to avoid shocking the yeasties.
__________________
Schadenfreud Brewing
Beer and hockey, the reasons I wake up every afternoon
Fermenting
Jamil's Russian Imperial Stout, RIS Partigyle, BierMuncher's Centennial Blonde, Denny Conn RyeIPA, BierMuncher's B.W. #2
Bottle Conditioning/ Drinking
Jamil's ESB, Honey Raspberry, EdWort's Bavarian Hefe, Oatmeal Stout, Jamil's Amber Ale, BierMuncher's Belgian Wit, Red Ale, Kitchen Sink, Yeasty Beasty Hefe, American Pale, Zone Zero Black, Maibock
Foster School of Business
Husky Ice Hockey
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12-08-2009, 10:45 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Az
Posts: 105
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How long has it been in the primary? If you have just started fermenting (1 or 2 days in), you could boil a gallon of water (to sterilize) then chill it to fermentation temp. Quickly open the lid and slowly pour in the water. Because the wort will be offgassing plenty of CO2 you shouldn't have to worry about oxygen getting in. If you are too far into fermentation, just ride it out. You might try tasting it when you go to rack to secondary and see if it is going to be too heavy. I don't know what would happen if you added water during racking to secondary. I can't imagine it would do too much damage. Just make sure if you make any adjustments you are very careful to sanitize well. Good luck!
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12-08-2009, 10:50 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Camano Island, Washington
Posts: 9,651
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+1 if you just made it, top it up with boiled water. If it's been a few days, ride it out and you'll have a smaller amount of stronger beer and a good learning experience.
Doing nothing would be fine. It'll still make drinkable beer. You might even like it more than if you did it right!
__________________
"Science + beer = good!"
-Adam Savage
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12-08-2009, 11:33 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 1,257
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jmiltime
How long has it been in the primary? If you have just started fermenting (1 or 2 days in), you could boil a gallon of water (to sterilize) then chill it to fermentation temp. Quickly open the lid and slowly pour in the water. Because the wort will be offgassing plenty of CO2 you shouldn't have to worry about oxygen getting in. If you are too far into fermentation, just ride it out. You might try tasting it when you go to rack to secondary and see if it is going to be too heavy. I don't know what would happen if you added water during racking to secondary. I can't imagine it would do too much damage. Just make sure if you make any adjustments you are very careful to sanitize well. Good luck!
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Great point another good thing about preboiling that water is that much of the o2 will leave the water
__________________
In process- Cream of 3 Crops, EdWort's Haus Pale Ale Kegged- Jamil's 70/-
Planning- Best Bitter, Patersbier, dry stout
Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Clay
Last night, as I cleaned out four carboys, two corney kegs and lots of lines, my 12 year old daughter noted: "Dad, it looks like brewing beer is mostly about washing dishes."
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12-09-2009, 12:34 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Manchvegas, NH
Posts: 230
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Worst case, I've boiled a half gallon of water with my priming sugar, on bottling day... beer turned out great.
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12-09-2009, 08:51 PM
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#8
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Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: MN
Posts: 2
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Thanks so much for the info! Well it has started fermenting and i think i am going to ride this one out. Maybe hope for that smaller amount of stronger beer comment!! But i am already excited to start up a second batch- definitely a learning experience! Thanks again for the advice it is nice to know i have somewhere to go to ask questions.
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