5 gal carboy as primary or rack to secondary?

[hd4wes]

If I knew how or could delete this I would. I found through search. I like HBT to much and got trigger happy.

I started my first batch Friday, and I'm wanting to start a second one soon. I only have one fermenting bucket, but I have 5 gal carboys. So, should rack my first batch to a secondary to free up a fermentor, or can I use one of my 5 gal carboys as a primary? I ask because or the lack of headspace in the 5 gal carboy.

I'm really wanting two homebrews to drink at the same time, and 4 cases of beer.

 

[Johnny_Crunch]

It will be pretty tight, I would go buy another bucket. You could make it work but it will likely flow over your air lock.

 

[pweizman]

It really depends how lazy you are.

If you want to rack to secondary, that is the safest option.

However, if you want to short your batch a bit (I find 4.75 gallons in a 5 gallon carboy to work), and it isn't a robust fermentation, the 5 gallon carboy will do. You will have to have a blow off tube though...a airlock is not a wise choice in this case.

Patrick