Bucket fermenter question

[BaylessBrewer]

Cane you brew 3 gallons in a 5 gallon bucket and not risk anything? Will there be too much head space?
We get honey in 5gallon buckets at work and I would like to use one for fermenting my beer if possible.
Reason for 3 gallons is my brew pot isn't the biggest so 3 is the most I can do.
I do plan on washing with oxyclean and sanitizing with starsan prior to using the bucket. I'll also drill the lid for an airlock and/or blow off tube.

 

[madscientist451]

Once your yeast kicks in that headspace will be filled with Co2 , so I think you'll be fine. If its going to be more than 3 weeks or so, or you want to use a secondary to add fruit or for bulk aging, I'd rack to a 3 gallon carboy.

 

[HB_in_Subic]

Why not topping off to 5 gallons? Use a 5 gallon recipe (partial boil), then top up with water after boil.

If you cool down the top off water (use bottled water or tap water that you have previously boiled) in the refrigerator that will help with the cooling off of the wort. Most extract recipes use a 3 gallon boil with top off at the end.

 

[stillbillmd]

5 gallons of beer in a 5 gallon bucket leaves no head room, though. Couldn't that be an issue?

 

[unionrdr]

Yes, it would. for 5 gallons recipe volume, you need 6 to 6 1/2 gallons total space. But a 5 gallon one should be fine for a 3 gallon batch, with 2 gallons head space. Taking krausen & Co2 into account, a 5 gallon should be fine.

 

[progmac]

sounds like you've got a plan. no problem with 3 in a 5

 

[IslandLizard]

Why not topping off to 5 gallons? Use a 5 gallon recipe (partial boil), then top up with water after boil.

If you cool down the top off water (use bottled water or tap water that you have previously boiled) in the refrigerator that will help with the cooling off of the wort. Most extract recipes use a 3 gallon boil with top off at the end.

+1^
But you will need at least a 6 or 6.5 gallon fermentor to give you ample head space, as said before.

 

[HB_in_Subic]

I missed the 5 gallon capacity (too much HB), you need head space, I am using 7.9 Gallon buckets for 6 gallon batches...

 

[RM-MN]

I'm using 6 1/2 gallon bucket as well as 5 gallon buckets for a 2 1/2 gallon batch with no issues. You'll be fine.

 

[BaylessBrewer]

Thanks for the responses guys. I currently only have the Mr.Beer LBK and to be honest I hate that thing.
I'm a cheapo so I plan on using what will be free to me as long as it will work.
Can I make a bottling bucket out of one of these food grade buckets? Or just keep the LBK to bottle out of?

 

[McKnuckle]

How about simple answers:

Yes, you can ferment 3 in a 5 (primary).

Or, you can scale up to 4 gallons if you like and do partial boil with top-up, also in the 5er.

Yes, you can use a food grade bucket for bottling. Or buy carbonation drops and bottle straight from the Mr. Beer LBK.

 

[RM-MN]

Thanks for the responses guys. I currently only have the Mr.Beer LBK and to be honest I hate that thing.
I'm a cheapo so I plan on using what will be free to me as long as it will work.
Can I make a bottling bucket out of one of these food grade buckets? Or just keep the LBK to bottle out of?

Sure you can. If you want to use the racking cane and siphon from it, that will work, but if you have the tools to do it a spigot will be easier.

 

[hartlesj]

I did a search, having trouble finding an answer. What about using the BPA free water bottles that come from the grocery store. They hold water for a long time without issue, so i'm assuming they are impermeable to air.

My problem is that I'm getting ready to brew a sour and don't want to hold up a fermenter for a long time. Instead of purchasing a few more buckets, I was going to get a few of the 5 gallon water bottles and use them. Has anyone tried them? Or do you have a link on a post on HBT?

 

[McKnuckle]

I have used a Poland Spring 5 gallon bottle (standard water cooler type) for primary, but not for extended fermentation or storage. It works. I think the recycling code is #2 so there are no toxicity issues.