5 gallon carboy - 2 gallon batch

[jbb3]

Any harm in fermenting a 2 gallon batch in a 5 gallon carboy?

I do have a 2 gallon plastic Mr Beer fermenter (looks like a barrel on it's side) but thought if the extra head space does not have negative affect, I would use the 5 gal glass carboy.

Does it matter either way? Opinions??

 

[Hopinista]

Yeah that much headspace will cause oxidation, I'd use your Mr Beer

 

[RM-MN]

Yeah that much headspace will cause oxidation, I'd use your Mr Beer

Nope, it won't cause oxidation. As soon as the beer starts fermenting and pushing our CO2 it will push the oxygen right out of that fermenter. Then it will continue to push CO2 out through the airlock too.

I've done a bunch of 2 1/2 gallon batches in a 6 1/2 gallon fermenter with no issues. It works out really well since I never have to worry about krausen in my airlock either. Your 5 gallon carboy will work just fine.

 

[sompls]

It will be fine...I too have done plenty of 2 1/2 gallon batches in a 6 gal carboy with never an issue. Go for it!

 

[RhodySeth]

Same here. I've done several 2.5 batches in a 5.5 gallon bucket. Go forth and brew with confidence!


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[Sbarnard80]

Nope, it won't cause oxidation. As soon as the beer starts fermenting and pushing our CO2 it will push the oxygen right out of that fermenter. Then it will continue to push CO2 out through the airlock too.

I've done a bunch of 2 1/2 gallon batches in a 6 1/2 gallon fermenter with no issues. It works out really well since I never have to worry about krausen in my airlock either. Your 5 gallon carboy will work just fine.

CO2 is heavier than air so the potentially oxidizing air goes to the top and gets pushed out first as it start to ferment.

 

[jbb3]

Carboy it is. I can use Mr Beer for priming/bottling... Thanks all!

 

[ericbw]

Wow, usually these threads are all about less headspace!


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[NivekD]

Some breweries use open fermentation, meaning the CO2 layer protects the beer from O2. Headspace is not a concern for primary, only secondary. Brew on!

[ame]http://youtu.be/xClXKMhcFr0[/ame]

Cheers...

 

[jbb3]

Some breweries use open fermentation, meaning the CO2 layer protects the beer from O2. Headspace is not a concern for primary, only secondary. Brew on!

http://youtu.be/xClXKMhcFr0

Cheers...

cool video!

 

[HopSong]

Wow, usually these threads are all about less headspace!


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If you do a secondary, headspace is important because the beer isn't producing CO2.. or at least enough of it to push the air out of the bottle. I don't usually do a secondary.. so, it's never an issue with headspace. When I do, I purge the secondary with bottled CO2 or simply use a smaller secondary.

 

[Roadie]

^^^ This. Primary - no worries. Secondary - don't do it.

 

[imnothardcore]

Some breweries use open fermentation, meaning the CO2 layer protects the beer from O2. Headspace is not a concern for primary, only secondary. Brew on!

http://youtu.be/xClXKMhcFr0

Cheers...

Sweet video! Thanks for the share.


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