5 vs. 6 gallons

kwaidonjin · May 27, 2010

I am about to make a Muntons Gold Imperial stout No boil kit. Two cans of malt extract one hopped and one not. It calls to make 6 us Gallons, What would be the likely outcome if I used 5 gallons instead? Would it have to strong a taste? I have never made a stout before, but have been real pleased with the Muntons IPA & Pilsner.

Shooter · May 27, 2010

It will be higher gravity, probably a little richer flavor and have a higher ABV. You'll also get one gallon less of it for your effort.

kwaidonjin · May 27, 2010

Do you think it would be better??? I will give up a gallon for a better tasting beer.

Shooter · May 27, 2010

kwaidonjin said:
Do you think it would be better??? I will give up a gallon for a better tasting beer.

Potentially, but, never having brewed it, it's hard to say. It wouldn't render it undrinkable. Try it and see, what have you really got to lose? It's just beer. :mug:

billvon · May 27, 2010

kwaidonjin said:
Do you think it would be better??? I will give up a gallon for a better tasting beer.

Give it a shot. If you don't like it add some water back in.

kwaidonjin · May 27, 2010

Add water back in before I pitch my yeast?

Shooter · May 28, 2010

kwaidonjin said:
Add water back in before I pitch my yeast?

Actually, it is possible to add water in post fermentation, prior to drinking, but I wouldn't worry about it. I occasionally make Coopers kits and they are also sized for six gallons, but I hear that a lot of people just make them as a five gallon batch and they turn out just fine.

billvon · May 28, 2010

kwaidonjin said:
Add water back in before I pitch my yeast?

Or after fermentation, before either kegging or bottling. I'd boil it first just to be sure on sanitation, especially if you do it before pitching yeast. If you have fermentor size limits I'd stick to a 5 gallon ferment (since the headspace can come in handy if you have a rowdy fermentation.)

Occasionally I've done this by just increasing the amount of water I dissolve the bottling sugar in. It helps sanitize the bottling bucket a bit better anyway.

BeerWars · May 28, 2010

Weigh the ingredients. Multiply by 5 then divide by 6. Use that amount of ingredients.

Your 6 gallon recipe is now a 5 gallon recipe.

bovineblitz · May 28, 2010

What's the gravity going to be in the 6 gallon? What style is the beer?

Brewing it at 5 gal should be fine either way.

Pappers_ · May 28, 2010

So you have a reason to think you're not going to like the kit? If yes, then change it. If no, try it as it was designed.

kwaidonjin · May 28, 2010

It is 2 3.3lb cans of malt. Muntons Imperial stout, from their Gold collection.

BeerWars · May 28, 2010

Use 5.5 lbs of your malt for a 5 gallon batch.

ksbrain · May 28, 2010

Go ahead and make it 5 gallons. Don't worry it will be fine. It will taste stronger, but you won't have as many bottles. I bet they make them 6 gallons so that after you lose trub and all you get at least two cases.

RushN24 · May 28, 2010

I'm sure the beer will turn out great, but it will be a completely different beer than was intended. Your gravity will be exactly 20% higher than the kit intended, which if I'm not mistaken will also have an effect on the perceived bitterness. The overall flavor profile of the beer will be significantly different, but that not to say it iwll be worse, in fact it could and probably will be better .

I say go for it! :mug:

BeerWars · May 29, 2010

Perhaps I am more anal than I know - but making a 5 gallon batch with 6 gallons worth of ingredients is mind boggling. You have a few options if you want your brew to finish as advertised.

Buy a bigger carboy

or

Buy 1 gallon of water + 1 stopper + 1 airlock and use water for brew and pour the excess wort in the jug and ferment separately.

or

make 6 gallons pour into your carboy and flush the leftover gallon down the drain.

or

Get a food scale from Wal-Mart if you don't have one. Weigh everything out and make the batch per the recipe by multiplying by 5 and diving by 6. Keep the excess for next batch or toss it.

The last thing I would do is mix 6 gallons of ingredients into only 5 gallons of water.

You have options - Suit yourself.

kwaidonjin · May 29, 2010

BeerWars said:
Perhaps I am more anal than I know - but making a 5 gallon batch with 6 gallons worth of ingredients is mind boggling. You have a few options if you want your brew to finish as advertised.

Buy a bigger carboy

or

Buy 1 gallon of water + 1 stopper + 1 airlock and use water for brew and pour the excess wort in the jug and ferment separately.

or

make 6 gallons pour into your carboy and flush the leftover gallon down the drain.

or

Get a food scale from Wal-Mart if you don't have one. Weigh everything out and make the batch per the recipe by multiplying by 5 and diving by 6. Keep the excess for next batch or toss it.

The last thing I would do is mix 6 gallons of ingredients into only 5 gallons of water.

You have options - Suit yourself.

I have the fermenters to do it at 6 gallons, I was just wondering if I would get a better beer by making it 5 gallons.The consensus seems to be that it would be better..

Pappers_ · May 29, 2010

kwaidonjin said:
I have the fermenters to do it at 6 gallons, I was just wondering if I would get a better beer by making it 5 gallons.The consensus seems to be that it would be better..

Not me, fwiw.

KevinW · May 29, 2010

6.6lbs of extract for a 5 gallon batch should get you about 1.047 og, if you did the same in a 6 gallon batch the og would be about 1.039(these are just beersmith estimates).

Sounds to me that the recipe is for 5 gallons, but then that is just my opinion!

Either way you brew it I am sure it will be just fine!

5 vs. 6 gallons

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