I see Mr. Beer kits for sale on Craigslist all the time...if I didn't already have the 2 gallon buckets, I'd buy a Mr. Beer Kit just to get the little brown keg.
Go for it. I used to ferment 2.5 gallon batches in my 5 gallon carboy. Of course, I didn't leave it in the carboy for any long time conditioning.
I highly recommend the 2 gallon buckets for 1 gallon to 1.5 gallon batches.
For 12oz bottles, I add 2.5 grams per bottle. If you can find them, Domino Brand has smaller sugar cubes that are 2.5 grams. Place one cube in each bottle.
It might help if I explain my system....I mash doing BIAB on my stove top in a 3 gallon kettle....my Brew House efficiency is 70%...
But my pre-boil efficiency is around 80%....BF adjusts my Brew House efficiency down based on my volume losses and low boil-off so my actual efficiency drops...
You're right.....2.5 lbs of grain in 3.5 gallons of beer shouldn't give you a 1.060 beer. Here's is what i think happened. Now this is based on my testing Brewers Friend but I image Beersmith would be similar. Your OG gravity is based on the 1 gallon setting in BS. When I played around with BF's...
Very cool...awesome your family did that for you.
My Birthday was 3 weeks ago and my wife made a hop garden for me...
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f92/birthday-gift-hop-garden-476988/
Just wait to bottle after you get back from vacation.... I like to wait a minimum of 3 weeks before I even think about bottling. The extra time will let the yeast do its job and clean up the beer. Have a great time on vacation.
Garden update:
1st picture: First Crystal Hop is still doing well despite a setback....I believe a rabbit got in and nibbled the top off of the first soot,
2nd picture: 2nd Crystal Hop is up and doing awesome....
3rd picture : a new variety is up....Newport Hop
More information will help us answer your question but I wouldn't get stressed about it. I've made quite a few beers that I've made mistakes and they have turned out okay. Not the greatest beers but drinkable...if it was me I'd let it finish in a couple more weeks...bottle it and see how it...
Cascade and Crystal of course...Zeus, Newport, Tettnganger and Nuggett
I laughed about the symbols too...she's just so artsy...my technical brain hurts sometimes :cross: