Is a 7gal carboy to big for a 5 gallon batch

I found someone looking to unload a bunch of 7 gal carboys fo $25 each. So if they will work I may jump on it.

TIA Ray

they will work for primaries. Probably less chance of needing a blowoff with that much space. Not so good for secondary (if you secondary) as you don't want that much head space (at least I don't).

They are perfect for primaries. I would snag a few if it were me.

I was all set to go then I saw it's a 90 minute drive each way. That puts a bit of a damper on it.

I just paid $45 +tx for a 6.5gal carboy.
What kind of gas mileage do you get ?

They don't make 7 gallon carboys. You had better make sure you know what you are buying.

Forrest

where is the seller located?

I contacted the seller. He is in Perryville PA.

I have four 7.5 gal carboys.. they work great. I have done 5 gallon batches in them.. but why stop there? Make 7 gallons of beer instead.

Are they really carboys (ie: large bottle) or are they buckets? I've never seen a carboy > 6.5G.

Khyber said:

I have four 7.5 gal carboys.. they work great. I have done 5 gallon batches in them.. but why stop there? Make 7 gallons of beer instead.

Click to expand...

For the last 20 years I have never seen or had the ability to order a 7.5 gallon carboy. They are probably 6.5 gallon or they are older than me.

Forrest

Austinhomebrew said:

For the last 20 years I have never seen or had the ability to order a 7.5 gallon carboy. They are probably 6.5 gallon or they are older than me.

Forrest

Click to expand...

Lol! I too have never seen one, though I would love to have some.

I just stumbled across this thread because I found someone selling 7.5 gallon carboys for $15.

Just to confirm, these would be good primary fermenters, correct?

I picked up a few of these carboys from the same seller a few months ago. They are the 6.5 gal Acid carboys. Good price for them, and I have put a few batches through them without a problem. Good thing about them is they come with the Styrofoam cases, which are great for shipping/moving.

Handle said:

I just stumbled across this thread because I found someone selling 7.5 gallon carboys for $15.

Just to confirm, these would be good primary fermenters, correct?

Click to expand...

They are fine for primaries because the CO2 produced blankets your beer and protects it from oxygenation. Once moved to secondary little fermentation occurs allowing oxygenation to occur if too much headspace is present.

Mountainbeers said:

They are fine for primaries because the CO2 produced blankets your beer and protects it from oxygenation. Once moved to secondary little fermentation occurs allowing oxygenation to occur if too much headspace is present.

Click to expand...

I appreciate the reply.

I've yet to brew, but I'm slowly collecting everything I need. I already have a plastic bucket and three 5-gallon carboys, but I cannot pass these up for $15 a piece.

Austinhomebrew said:

For the last 20 years I have never seen or had the ability to order a 7.5 gallon carboy. They are probably 6.5 gallon or they are older than me.

Forrest

Click to expand...

I've seen 7, 7.5, and there's someone selling a 10 gallon carboy on San Diego craigslist right now. They're probably older than you, and I wouldn't doubt it. Carboys last forever if they're taken care of.

carnevoodoo said:

I've seen 7, 7.5, and there's someone selling a 10 gallon carboy on San Diego craigslist right now. They're probably older than you, and I wouldn't doubt it. Carboys last forever if they're taken care of.

Click to expand...

I remember seeing a 9.5 gallon one on Craigslist not long ago, but that might be better classified as a demijohn. I imagine they're more useful for winemaking (but I guess they'd work well for meadmaking as well?).

I've seen some 7 and 7.5 gallon carboys, they were in labs at work and quite old. I almost snagged one a few weeks ago.

Handle said:

I appreciate the reply.

I've yet to brew, but I'm slowly collecting everything I need. I already have a plastic bucket and three 5-gallon carboys, but I cannot pass these up for $15 a piece.

Click to expand...

I spotted those on Craigslist, too! :rockin:

yeah, i just saw them on craigslist and came to the forum to see what the deal was.
so they are 6.5 gallon? what is an acid carboy?

apologeticus said:

I spotted those on Craigslist, too! :rockin:

Click to expand...

lknbigfish said:

yeah, i just saw them on craigslist and came to the forum to see what the deal was.
so they are 6.5 gallon? what is an acid carboy?

Click to expand...

Those are the ones. I picked up two tonight. They look to be every bit of 7.5 gallons.

They look clean and have a slightly dirty, earthy smell. I asked the guy what was stored in them, but he said they were cleaned before he got them. Should I be concerned about this, or am I good to go as long as I clean and sterilize them?

lknbigfish: what do you mean acid carboy? Edit: I see you were referring to Chad C, who I believe was referring to the OP. The ones I got, in the Charlotte area, are 7.5 gallons.

Oh, he said he has almost 50 of these if anyone in the Charlotte area is interested.

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/for/1538713716.html

where did you pick them up? (what part of town)

I met him just past Weddington at I-485 and Providence Rd.

He actually drove about half an hour to meet me, so he may be willing to meet you halfway. Seems like a good guy.

Khyber said:

I have four 7.5 gal carboys.. they work great. I have done 5 gallon batches in them.. but why stop there? Make 7 gallons of beer instead.

Click to expand...

You will have a mess.

I'm thinking these will also be great for Apfelwein or Mead -- recipes that a newb like myself can adjust for larger batches.

I have yet to brew anything, but I've amassed two 7.5 gallon carboys and three 5 gallon carboys. I think it's time I actually put all of this stuff to use.

One more question regarding Mountainbeers' statement:

They are fine for primaries because the CO2 produced blankets your beer and protects it from oxygenation. Once moved to secondary little fermentation occurs allowing oxygenation to occur if too much headspace is present.

Click to expand...

Given the headspace, would it be acceptable to leave a beer in the primary for a longer time without racking to secondary at all, or would the CO2 exit the carboy after a week or so, thus allowing oxygen in?

I have no problem moving the beer to a 5 gallon carboy, but I've been reading recently about the success people have by leaving their beers in the primary for a longer time and skipping the secondary altogether.

Are they food grade plastic?

more

they're not any kind of plastic. they're glass.

Yep, regular old glass 7.5 gallon carboys.

My only concern, really, is what was stored in them previously. But I'm looking forward to using them soon.

Could anyone answer the question below? I see that I could indeed primary in the 7.5 gallon carboy, but essentially I want to know if I'm okay to leave the beer in the primary for a month or so, as many are now doing. Sorry for the noob question.

Given the headspace, would it be acceptable to leave a beer in the primary for a longer time without racking to secondary at all, or would the CO2 exit the carboy after a week or so, thus allowing oxygen in?

I have no problem moving the beer to a 5 gallon carboy, but I've been reading recently about the success people have by leaving their beers in the primary for a longer time and skipping the secondary altogether.

Click to expand...

Handle said:

Could anyone answer the question below? I see that I could indeed primary in the 7.5 gallon carboy, but essentially I want to know if I'm okay to leave the beer in the primary for a month or so, as many are now doing. Sorry for the noob question.

Click to expand...

Yes, you can primary in it, and you can leave it in for aging. Since its already filled with CO2, and air can't get in, the headspace issue isnt an issue. If you were transferring into it as a secondary vessel, it would be an issue since CO2 production would be minimal.

Handle said:

Could anyone answer the question below? I see that I could indeed primary in the 7.5 gallon carboy, but essentially I want to know if I'm okay to leave the beer in the primary for a month or so, as many are now doing. Sorry for the noob question.

Click to expand...

As Aubrey said, it's fine. CO2 is heavier than oxygen; it won't "float" out and allow oxygen in. Also, you can read a ton about autolysis if you want, but it doesn't seem to be an issue (this, from someone who secondaries!). Just leave it in the primary for a month and the CO2 blanket will protect the beer while the particulate matter falls out of suspension.

aubrey said:

Yes, you can primary in it, and you can leave it in for aging. Since its already filled with CO2, and air can't get in, the headspace issue isnt an issue. If you were transferring into it as a secondary vessel, it would be an issue since CO2 production would be minimal.

Click to expand...

Grizzlybrew said:

As Aubrey said, it's fine. CO2 is heavier than oxygen; it won't "float" out and allow oxygen in. Also, you can read a ton about autolysis if you want, but it doesn't seem to be an issue (this, from someone who secondaries!). Just leave it in the primary for a month and the CO2 blanket will protect the beer while the particulate matter falls out of suspension.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the answers guys! Can't wait to use these as my primaries.

Austinhomebrew said:

For the last 20 years I have never seen or had the ability to order a 7.5 gallon carboy. They are probably 6.5 gallon or they are older than me.

Forrest

Click to expand...

Laboratory equipment catalogs often list something called a carboy that looks kinda like what homebrewers think of, but is made of translucent PPE. I work in a scientific facility, and there's an old apparently cast-off one that someone left in the shower I use every morning. I don't know what its capacity is, but it appears to be closer to 10 gallons than five, and I've seen catalogs that listed much larger ones.