Fermentation quantity question.

[williamsportwrestler]

Hello I am brand new to the forum and a brand new "Home Brewer". I just got done making my first batch on Wed. I think I may have messed up though. I have the Home Brewery Basic Kit. I am sure everyone is familiar with it. I followed all the steps exactly making sure to sanitize everything. The problem is I only had a three gallon pot. What I was supposed to do was boil an extra two gallons and add it before the fermentation stage. When I was reading the directions I thought this was optional. What the directions really said it was optional boil the the two gallons of water then add it. It was only optional to boil it.

So now I have three gallons of beer fermenting instead of five. Is my batch ruined or can I press on and bottle and hope for the best. Or should I dump it and start from square one. If I have to dump it I will let you know I will not get discouraged if I have to dump it. I know everyone makes mistakes and I will learn from this one. Thanks in advanced to everyone who looked at my post.

 

[KeithMoonsLiver]

It will be a much stronger/more concentrated beer than it is supposed to be, but it will still be beer. I'd stick with it, it will probably turn out fine.

 

[ISLAGI]

^^^ What he said...

Though, if you are concerned, you can boil the other two gallons, cool it down, and add it to your fermenter. Just make sure you let it set for at least 2 weeks after you do that.

For future reference, you follow the directions, then after your 60 minute boil, add the additional 2 gallons to the fermenter. The additional 2 gallons can either be boiled or not, before you add it. Depends on the quality of the water you are using.

Search for "partial boil" for more specifics. Also, if you haven't seen it yet http://www.howtobrew.com

Enjoy!

 

[gypsyhead]

make sure you're aware that the alcohol content is going to be really high. if they turn out delicious, great, but I wouldn't go about chugging them til you see how much kick just 1 has.

 

[Calder]

Add 2 gallons of water now to bring it back to the original recipe.

MAKE SURE YOU BOIL AND COOL IT!

Per the original instructions you can add either use boiled or 'normal' tap water (if your tap water is a good water source).

BUT ....... water contains a lot of oxygen. Oxygen is good for the yeast at the start because it needs it for it's reproduction phase (up to 24 hours), and you should do everything you can to get oxygen into the wort before pitching the yeast. After that, oxygen is the enemy, and adding it after fermentation can create oxidized flavors (wet cardboard) which you don't want. Boiling water will drive off the free oxygen, and once cooled can be poured (gently) into the wort.

 

[lumpher]

depending on what type it is, i'd run with it. if it's an apa, now it's an ipa. if it's an ipa, now it's an iipa. stout becomes imperial stout, etc... if it's a type that won't be so good that strong, what calder said.

 

[williamsportwrestler]

Thank you all for your responses. I forgot to let you know I made "American Lager" by the home brewery. I don't know if this changes anything. Just to let you guys know I am thiking about staying with it. I want to free up my fermentor so I can start my next batch. Thanks all.

 

[williamsportwrestler]

Thanks for all the quick responses! I am making "American Lager" if it matters. I think I will stay with it. The reason I plan on staying with it is because I want to free up my fermenter. Thanks all!

 

[gypsyhead]

so you just made Anti-Bud, nice