1 Gallon Carboy in my starter kit is undersized

[GPNewBrew]

Just checking to see if anyone had run into this problem.

Started prepping for my first 1 gallon batch of American Wheat using my small batch starter kit, and though I would take the time to mark the 1 gallon mark on my fermentation jug before I got started. As it turns out, the 1 gallon jug is really undersized. It barely holds a gallon, if that, and leaves no head space at all for fermentation.

Has anyone else run into this problem with a small batch starter kit, or am I a strange case? Luckily I also purchased a Little Big Mouth bubbler which has plenty of room.

Kinda disappointed,

Gary

 

[Keith81]

Yes. Those "1 Gallon Jugs" are actually something like 4 L, which leaves very little headspace. Use a blow off tube for the first few days, in my experience they blew off over half the time. The Little Big Mouth Bubbler was great when I did one gallon batches, I always started with a blow off tube but never needed it.

 

[GPNewBrew]

Yea, planning on using the Little Big Mouth Bubbler. The 1 gal jug basically has the neck as free space, and even though this is my first batch, it doesn't feel like that is enough.

 

[Keith81]

A good use for the jug is to make up a gallon of StarSan with distilled water so you have sanitizer on hand when you need it. If you use distilled water it will keep for a long time.

 

[bucketnative]

Yes. Those "1 Gallon Jugs" are actually something like 4 L, which leaves very little headspace. Use a blow off tube for the first few days, in my experience they blew off over half the time. The Little Big Mouth Bubbler was great when I did one gallon batches, I always started with a blow off tube but never needed it.

4 L is actually larger than 1 gal. A standard US gal is 3.78 L. I use the 4-L wine (Carlo Rossi) jugs to ferment a full gal of cider. There's not a ton of head space, but you don't get a really thick krausen with cider.

 

[jonwilliams48]

Do yourself a favor and get a 3 gallon carboy and don't waste time on 1 gallon batches. I get starting small, but it's the same amount of work to do 2-2.5 gallon batches and maybe a few bucks more. Even for 1 gallon, you're still spending $7 on liquid yeast and you'll either drastically over-pitch or dump half of it out. Why not get your $$'s worth? I did a couple 1 gallon batches and the amount of actual drinkable beer you get is rather disappointing. Now for special or experimental brews, I do a 2.5 gallon BIAB and I'll get about a dozen 750 ml bottles out of it (I keg my 5 gallon batches). Same effort...more beer

 

[RPh_Guy]

I've done many batches in 1-gal carboys.
Just use a blow off tube. It'll be fine.