Primary fermenter size

englishale · Nov 12, 2008

Hello All,
My first post here.
I have always used a 6 gallon carboy for primary and racked to a 5 gallon secondary. I don't get any blowoff in the 6 gallon because of all the extra head space. Is this bad practice? Do most of you use a 5 gallon carboy so it will blow off some of the icky stuff?

Thanks for your help. I'm looking forward to some good conversation here.

Rich

Yooper · Nov 12, 2008

englishale said:
Hello All,
My first post here.
I have always used a 6 gallon carboy for primary and racked to a 5 gallon secondary. I don't get any blowoff in the 6 gallon because of all the extra head space. Is this bad practice? Do most of you use a 5 gallon carboy so it will blow off some of the icky stuff?

Thanks for your help. I'm looking forward to some good conversation here.

Rich

I use a 7.5 "ale pail" and rarely get any krausen out of the top. When I've used a 6 gallon, though, I've had a few messes and needed a blow off tube. Not because I WANT it to blow off, but just because it does. I'm of the opinion that once the krausen falls, the bitter tasting resins and fusels will cling to the side at the krausen line, or fall back into the beer as trub. I later rack off of the trub.

McKBrew · Nov 12, 2008

I'd go with the bigger size for a primary. It is definately not necessary to have blow-off and if you put a full five gallons in a five gallon carboy you are asking for a mess. I use the 6 gallon better bottles for primary and even then they sometimes don't contain a fermentation.

(Basically what I just did was agree with Yooper, but worded it a bit differently).

springer · Nov 13, 2008

even a 6 gallon BB is no insurance

Saison super active fermentation

I have had 5.5 gallon brews that make a mess even in the 7.5 gallon conical

Blender · Nov 13, 2008

I ferment 5.5 in a 6 gallon Better Bottle. I always use a blowoff tube so I don't have to worry about any mess. I wouldn't worry about the yucky stuff as it will fall out over the course of fermentation.

Parker36 · Nov 13, 2008

In this case, bigger is better

englishale · Nov 13, 2008

Thanks everyone.

Primary fermenter size

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