Small Batch AG

I got home so late from work last night that I was unable to stop by the LHBS for supplies. I have just a few ingredients laying around from the last few brews, but enough to do a small batch. Thought I would do a stove top AG brew, boiling 2.25 gallons for a final volume of 2 gallons. Anybody see a problem with fermenting this in a 5 gal carboy, or will there be too much headspace??

I see no problems with headspace because the CO2 will puch any air out.

I have fermented 3 gal of wine in a 6 gal carboy with no problems, it set for about 2 months with no issues.

I also do a lot of 6 gal wine kits in 7.5 gal carboys

Good to know. I was worried that the nasties might find a way in with all of that headspace. Heres my leftovers recipe.



Bored and Broke Amber Ale
American Amber Ale


Type: All Grain
Date: 10/19/2007
Batch Size: 2.00 gal
Brewer:
Boil Size: 2.25 gal Asst Brewer:
Boil Time: 60 min Equipment: Phil's Equipment
Taste Rating(out of 50): 35.0 Brewhouse Efficiency: 75.0
Taste Notes:

Ingredients

Amount Item Type % or IBU
4 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 94.2 %
4.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt -120L (120.0 SRM) Grain 5.8 %
0.75 oz Glacier [5.60%] (60 min) Hops 35.8 IBU
0.25 oz Glacier [5.60%] (30 min) Hops 9.2 IBU
1 Pkgs American Ale (Wyeast Labs #1056) Yeast-Ale



Beer Profile

Est Original Gravity: 1.058 SG
Measured Original Gravity: 1.010 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.014 SG Measured Final Gravity: 1.005 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 5.7 % Actual Alcohol by Vol: 0.6 %
Bitterness: 44.9 IBU Calories: 43 cal/pint
Est Color: 11.2 SRM Color: Color


Mash Profile

Mash Name: Single Infusion, Full Body, Batch Sparge Total Grain Weight: 4.25 lb
Sparge Water: 1.68 gal Grain Temperature: 72.0 F
Sparge Temperature: 168.0 F TunTemperature: 72.0 F
Adjust Temp for Equipment: FALSE Mash PH: 5.4 PH

Name Description Step Temp Step Time
Mash In Add 5.31 qt of water at 170.5 F 158.0 F 45 min



Mash Notes: Simple single infusion mash for use with most modern well modified grains (about 95% of the time).

The only problem with doing a small batch in a large carboy is the percentage of liquid lost during racking is fairly high. It is more of a problem if one were to do a 1-gallon batch in a 6 gallon carboy, but you should be just fine. This is a minor problem anyway.

Recipe looks good. Normally when I do small batches, though, I do something funky with it (like add a bunch of dextrose or something). by doing weird stuff to small batches you may end up with something weird, but a lot of times I'm surprised by how good they turn out, proving an accepted theory wrong. Small batch experimentation has broadened my brewing horizons.