5 Gallon Carboy as Primary?

goforevercrazywithit · Jun 3, 2012

Could you put a 5 gallon batch into a 5 gallon carboy as the primary fermenter if I put a overflow hose on it until initial fermentation is complete?

I brewed my first batch last night and was a little sad to put it in a plastic fermentation bucket because I wouldn't be able to watch the initial process. I plan on purchasing a 6.5 gallon carboy coon for this reason but until then and for future knowledge would it be pushing it to do this?

cg2112 · Jun 3, 2012

I wouldn't - there's really not enough room for 5 gallons of beer, and you're going to risk blowing the top whether you have an overflow hose or not.

kh54s10 · Jun 3, 2012

Use the bucket. After one day of watching there is really nothing new to see.

That said, I have a bucket and a couple of 6 gallon Better Bottles. I prefer the BB's because I can see the fermentation.

rmmepv · Jun 3, 2012

I have always used a 5 gal carbon for 5 gal batches. I use a 1 inch diameter blow off tube always for the first 4-5 days then switch to airlock. Never had a problem at all. Not much headspace in there but it works great.

kwingert · Jun 3, 2012

Why don't you make smaller batches until you get a bigger carboy?

rifraf · Jun 3, 2012

As long as your doing a fairly normal beer (not super high abv, etc) you should be ok.

Could always do a 4g batch as well. Just multiply all your ingredients by .8. The only thing that won't be perfect is hops but you'll be close enough

weavka32 · Jun 3, 2012

I just did a IPA in my 5 Gal carboy. Used a 5/8" blow off tube stuck on the 3 piece air lock. Worked just fine.... of course I am still trying to clean out that damn tube. I wanted to see the action. I plan to do it again, albit with a larger diameter blow off tube.

the75 · Jun 3, 2012

I just used my 5 gallon carboy for a 4.25 gallon batch. I used beersmith to set everything up for the smaller batch & it was a piece of cake. Blow off tube for sure, but I always use one when I begin fermentation. I did get some krausen in the tube, but it's an imperial ipa at 8.5%, so I had some good action.

eastoak · Jun 3, 2012

not every beer blows out but you never really know when it will. i routinely put 5 gallons of wort into a 5 gallon fermentor without a problem but from time to time it does blow out.