5 Gallon brew, what should i use for fermenter?

[ryms88]

I am going to be making an irish red and was wondering if a 5gal bucket would be big enough for a 5 gal batch?

if yes, will a blow off result in loss of wort/beer? how much?

if not could i divide the brew into 2 5gal buckets? will there be too much head room?

i dont have a lot of funds at the moment and looking for a cheap solution i have a couple 5 gal food grade buckets from the wal-mart bakery that i got for $1 each. i dont really see paying $20 for an "ale Pale" when i could get a carboy for a few $ more. or should i just break down and get a 6.5ish gallon carboy?

 

[Ace_Club]

If you divide the brew into 2, 5 gallon buckets, the head space will not be an issue due to the fermentation activity driving the O2 out of the head space. However, you should ensure that the volume of your 5 gallon buckets is really 5 gallons and not more. It may be that it can actually hold 6.5 gallons (to the brim), in which case you could easily ferment in a single bucket.

You should use a blow-off tube, but if you don't and keep the temperature in the low range for the yeast, you shouldn't have a problem. As to how much wort/beer you might lose using a blow-off, that is dependent on lots of different factors (yeast strain, fermentation temperature, etc.), although it should be no more than a quart at the max.

 

[Smokeater233]

+1 on the bucket test to see if it's larger than 5 gallons. You will likely lose some in blow off - I often lose at least a quarter gallon...and I'd recommend straining out your hops if you don't use a blow off tube. It'll help ensure you don't get an explosive air lock missile (speaking from experience)...

 

[ryms88]

thanks for the input,

ill check to see how much the buckets can hold and go from there...

any recommendations as to what size for a blow off?

 

[stevedasleeve]

Get a 6.5 gallon carboy: it lasts forever, it is easier to keep everything sanitary and o2 free, it is relatively inexpensive since you will never need another unless you are fool enough to drop it, and if you decide to go over to the dark side (wine making) you can still use it. If you are completely corrupted and quit brewing I bet you can sell it for close to what you paid for it.

IMHO, and YMMV, and WTF,

Steve da sleeve

 

[Smokeater233]

3/8" tubing fits right into the grommet no the bucket top I believe, or if you take the gasket out I think 1/2" will fit snugly. Or you can go the Revvy way and cut the criss cross thing off the bottom of the airlock, put the base of the airlock in place, and then put your tubing (I think it's also 3/8") right over the center of the topless airlock...

 

[flabyboy]

Ive been using 6.5 gallon buckets and have not had a blowoff yet

 

[Smokeater233]

I've been using 6.5 gallon carboys and had ferment explosions twice. I haven't used an airlock for months...there's nothing like cleaning up a room full of crap (twice!) to consider a switch.