fermented my IPA in a 7 gal. carboy that apparently I had marked a little shy of 5 gallons. I transfered to a 5 gallon 2ndary are saw it was shy by quite a bit. Starting gravity was 1.050 and currently it is 1.012. Can I top it off with water to reach the 5 gallon mark before I pitch the yeast, or is that a bad idea?
just add water?
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Fingers
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BEFORE you pitch the yeast? What got it down to 1.012? Are you talking about future batches? If so, you can do that but understand that your gravity will be lower and will make for a weaker beer. You'll dilute flavor as well. It depends on what you're aiming for. A nice session beer might be okay, but a heavier stout would suffer.
i'm confused...you already pitched the yeast when you put it in the fermentor. You don't re pitch yeast when you put it into the secondary.
If it's already fermented I wouldn't dilute it with anymore water....I'd just enjoy the beer you have when it's ready.
If you haven't yet, I suggest you read http://www.howtobrew.com/intro.html
If it's already fermented I wouldn't dilute it with anymore water....I'd just enjoy the beer you have when it's ready.
If you haven't yet, I suggest you read http://www.howtobrew.com/intro.html
I did the same with my first batch. For future batches you can start with a larger volume; aim for a 5.5 gallon batch at the start, and end up with five gallons going into the secondary.
Rick
Rick
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I just bottled my first batch. Added water to make 5 gallons into primary, fermented, then dry hopped with an oz of cascade for 2 weeks. I got a little over 3.5 gallons actually bottled after leaving trub in primary and then leaving all the crud from the dry hopping not to mention what the whole leaf hops had soaked up. Basically what I'm saying it don't expect to boil 5 gallons and bottle 5 gallons. 
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