Brewing a kit in a smaller bucket

[kpr121]

So I have a couple 5 gallon buckets that I'd like to use for additional fermentors. They are the Lowes HDPE #2 buckets. I do partial extract boils and usually have to add between 1 and 1 1/2 gallons of topoff water. Is there any problems with making my final wort a smaller volume, like say 4.5 gallons, to give me room for krausen buildup? Obviously the OG will be a bit higher, does it make sense to do this or should I just scale the recipe back and deal with the leftovers (have no idea what I would do with them). Or should I just throw the entire 5 gallons in there and prepare with a blowoff tube from the get go?

 

[HalfPint]

Why not just use those as secondaries and ferment in the typical cheapo ale pales like these http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?cPath=178_53_147&products_id=10375?

Dude, I was just looking at your bar build like 2 seconds ago! Great work man!

 

[kpr121]

Yeah, I know I should probably go that route, but I was just trying to see if anyone out there disobeys the rules a little. I just dont want to spend the extra money if I dont have too.

The whole reason I ask is that I just bought three kits from AHS (the free shipping over 100 bucks got me! I shoulda bought two kits and that fermentor!) I want to try to bang these kits out pretty quickly, but only have 1 fermentor, a 5 gal carboy, and these two Lowes buckets.

I also have a 6.5 gal bottling bucket that I could probably use as a fermentor if need be. But since I only have one open keg, I would need to bottle the other two brews....

 

[nanofreak]

Go for it, I have done that once or twice. Just pick the two that will be best for it. Consider this will play with how malty they are.

 

[kpr121]

Go for it, I have done that once or twice. Just pick the two that will be best for it. Consider this will play with how malty they are.

Nice, malty shouldn't be a problem with my ahs pumpkin ale and fat tire clone. Although I've never had a real fat tire,so not totally sure what to look for here. Could I possibly also add some top off water once fermentation has stopped?

 

[nanofreak]

I wouldnt wait til it stopped, I think maybe you can comepretty close to the top and use a blow off tube though.

 

[akthor]

So I picked up 4 food grade buckets from the bakery they are all 5 gallon. What would be the effect of using 1/2 gallon less water in them and is 1/2 gallon less allowing enough headspace?

What effects exactly can you expect from putting 1/2 gallon less water in the different types of beer? Ales, lagers ect.

 

[HalfPint]

So I picked up 4 food grade buckets from the bakery they are all 5 gallon. What would be the effect of using 1/2 gallon less water in them and is 1/2 gallon less allowing enough headspace?

What effects exactly can you expect from putting 1/2 gallon less water in the different types of beer? Ales, lagers ect.

Well, to brew a recipe according to style, you would have to begin by adjusting your amount of hops and malts. The reason being is b/c if you were to say add 1/2 gallon less, but used the same grain bill, you would have a bigger beer than if you had that half gallon more of wort. With that said, you would need to adjust your hops for that change.

J

 

[Shackled]

The one option I dont see in here is to simply split wort between two buckets.
also gives you the chance to try different yeast with the same wort and see how it affects the beer in the end.
Just tossing something else out there.

 

[kpr121]

I like this option, splitting the wort between the two buckets. Especially since I have been wanting to experiment with different yeast strains. Now to the opposite end of the spectrum, would there be too much headspace with 2.5 gallons in each 5 gallon bucket?

 

[Yooper]

I like this option, splitting the wort between the two buckets. Especially since I have been wanting to experiment with different yeast strains. Now to the opposite end of the spectrum, would there be too much headspace with 2.5 gallons in each 5 gallon bucket?

No, you can never have too much headspace in primary. The fermentation will kick out tons of co2, and protect the beer. You'd be fine to use a 5 gallon bucket for a 2.5 gallon batch.

 

[Shackled]

Yooper beat me too it.
Headspace is a concern in bottles to carb correctly but doesnt make a difference in the primary.

 

[BGJ223]

What about in secondary? I have never racked my beer to a secondary before, so I would love to split a batch. Put half in secondary and bottle the other half. Just to see what the difference would be.

 

[impur]

Secondary isn't necessary, but since you are siphoning off the yeast cake and since you are toward the end of fermentation there will be less CO2 output by the yeast. Since there is less CO2 to protect the beer, you need less headspace in your secondary to avoid infection/off flavors/etc. This is what i've read thus far at least.

 

[BGJ223]

Secondary isn't necessary, but since you are siphoning off the yeast cake and since you are toward the end of fermentation there will be less CO2 output by the yeast. Since there is less CO2 to protect the beer, you need less headspace in your secondary to avoid infection/off flavors/etc. This is what i've read thus far at least.

Thanks for the info.
I have read that secondary is not necessary, and there is a huge debate about that also. I figured I would see for my self.