Fermentation vessel

[JosephN]

I am looking at trying to make smaller batches until I get my recipes worked out, because making 6 gallons of decent beer is okay but a waste of money and I'd rather drink a couple gallons of decent beer than 5-6.

Now to my question. Is it okay to use a 5 or 6.5 gallon vessel to make 2-3 gallons, or is there too much head space that "will" cause oxygenation? I hear it's better to be as close to the top as possible but I also know, from experience, that you can be too close.

 

[Rockn_M]

Could you do it, yes. In my opinion that's to much head space. I've used the Mr. Beer Little Brown Keg for my 1-2 gallon batches. They work perfectly and they are pretty inexpensive.

 

[dsaavedra]

I've done 2.5 gallon batches in my 6 gallon carboys no problem. For 1 gallon batches though I use 4L wine jugs.

 

[GHBWNY]

I am looking at trying to make smaller batches until I get my recipes worked out, because making 6 gallons of decent beer is okay but a waste of money and I'd rather drink a couple gallons of decent beer than 5-6.

Now to my question. Is it okay to use a 5 or 6.5 gallon vessel to make 2-3 gallons, or is there too much head space that "will" cause oxygenation? I hear it's better to be as close to the top as possible but I also know, from experience, that you can be too close.

Yes, it is OK. Whatever oxygen is trapped in the fermenter upon sealing it won't have time to oxidize the wort by the time the fermentation takes off. The production of CO2 by the yeast will drive out oxygen and form a "blanket" of CO2 that will cover your beer until it's done fermenting. Careful, gentle handling of the fermenter and contents from that point on will preclude any further possible oxygenation.

Now to MY question: why would someone "rather drink [only] a couple of gallons of decent beer than 5-6."?

 

[JosephN]

Yes, it is OK. Whatever oxygen is trapped in the fermenter upon sealing it won't have time to oxidize the wort by the time the fermentation takes off. The production of CO2 by the yeast will drive out oxygen and form a "blanket" of CO2 that will cover your beer until it's done fermenting. Careful, gentle handling of the fermenter and contents from that point on will preclude any further possible oxygenation.



Now to MY question: why would someone "rather drink [only] a couple of gallons of decent beer than 5-6."?

From what little science I know about how fermenting works as well as my observation of the killed yeast that I've been using, your reply was my exact assumption.

Now to answer your question. "Because I want to make amazing beer, not just decent. Plus I brew a batch every other weekend and I already have about 23 gallons of bottled beer at my house and I'm running out of room. It's about time for Bon fire season though!!!"

 

[rhys333]

I am looking at trying to make smaller batches until I get my recipes worked out, because making 6 gallons of decent beer is okay but a waste of money and I'd rather drink a couple gallons of decent beer than 5-6.

Now to my question. Is it okay to use a 5 or 6.5 gallon vessel to make 2-3 gallons, or is there too much head space that "will" cause oxygenation? I hear it's better to be as close to the top as possible but I also know, from experience, that you can be too close.

I ferment 4 gallon batches in an 8 gallon fermentor regularly. The lid stays closed and my beer is never oxidized. You shouldn't have any issues.

 

[dstockwell]

I will be using one similar to this, 4 gallon.

 

[JosephN]

I will be using one similar to this, 4 gallon.

Where did you get this?

 

[PoppinCaps]

Any donut shop will have loads of them used for icing.

 

[dstockwell]

Where did you get this?

Got mine from local Agri-Supply. I have looked on-line but the shipping cosst as much as the bucket and lid. I was putting the lid on today to see how tight it was - wow, will need to use a small mallet to seal it, and lid tool to get it off.

 

[gotbags-10]

Got mine from local Agri-Supply. I have looked on-line but the shipping cosst as much as the bucket and lid. I was putting the lid on today to see how tight it was - wow, will need to use a small mallet to seal it, and lid tool to get it off.

Did you buy them there or was it something they had left over ?

 

[dstockwell]

Did you buy them there or was it something they had left over ?

Stock.. The local store was out, they sent it from another store.

Agri Supply link http://www.agrisupply.com/4-gallon-pail/p/79305/

 

[Owly055]

I brew 2.5 and 3 gallon brews exclusively. My fermenters are Walmart ice tea dispensers. They are clear acrylic, and have a spigot. They typically cost about $20 to $25, and I love to ferment in clear. I can see exactly what's going on. To paraphrase a common saying: "Go clear.. You'll never go back".

 

[JosephN]

I brew 2.5 and 3 gallon brews exclusively. My fermenters are Walmart ice tea dispensers. They are clear acrylic, and have a spigot. They typically cost about $20 to $25, and I love to ferment in clear. I can see exactly what's going on. To paraphrase a common saying: "Go clear.. You'll never go back".

I love my carboys for that reason, the clear part. I have a ale pale that is white plastic and I don't use it often, really only once, because I can't see what's going on. I like the ice tea container idea. I'm planning on building a thing called a Burton Union out of some clear or semi clear container from Walmart.

 

[rhys333]

I have translucent 8 gallon buckets. The're great because i can see inside

 

[user 141939]

I do all sizes ranging from 1.5 to 5.5 gallon batches. I have a 3, 5, and 6 gallon plastic carboys and just use the smallest one I can while still leaving at least .5 gallon headspace.

 

[JosephN]

I do all sizes ranging from 1.5 to 5.5 gallon batches. I have a 3, 5, and 6 gallon plastic carboys and just use the smallest one I can while still leaving at least .5 gallon headspace.

It's really nice that you have room to store all of those. I have 1-5 gal, 2-6.5 gal glass carboys and that's my limit as far as space. When I get out of this apartment and into a home I'll have everything set up to really get down on some home brewing. Until then I'm happy to have all that I do.

 

[user 141939]

The three is handy, its glass and it's tall and skinny. I use it age my monster beers in which i tend to do 3 gallon batches of, and also to ferment my small batches in.

 

[feinbera]

...and lid tool to get it off.

Wait, there's such a thing as a lid tool? You, sir, have just changed my life.

 

[dstockwell]

 

[ba-brewer]

I normally do 3gal batches in a 5gal bucket and occasionally in a 6gal bucket and have not had any obvious issues with oxidation.

The large head space is more prone to reversing the airlock when my chamber going into the cooling mode compared to 5gals in a 6gal bucket. Seems to be less of an issue when I ferment in the ambient air of the garage where temperature changes slower.

 

[SanPancho]

The 3 gal plastic carboys aren't too expensive, about $20 at morebeer. Not as cheap as free, but not bad. Nice thing is you can reuse the airlock caps from the 6 gal carboys.

 

[Gerry_P]

I do all my 2.5 gal. batches in Mr Beer LBKs, mostly because I got one as a gift and 2 on clearance at Target for 8 bucks apiece. They do the job.

 

[BR_]

I use Wal Mart large icing buckets. They were $1 each. They re white so you can't see inside but otherwise the least expensive way I've found. Marked them in .5 gal increments.

I can do my 2.5 gal batches with enough head space to be comfortable but not a lot more. Holds maybe 3.5 gals total right up to the rim??

 

[JosephN]

I ended up using a 6.5 gal that was on hand to do a 3 gal batch of a sunflower see dark Hefeweizen this weekend. I chose that size because Wyeast said to I would need 30% of extra head space based on the volume of the wort. The foam is up to the 4.5 gal mark and still rising. I would have used my spare 5 gal carboy but I'm using it in a few days to rack my pumpkin porter in so I can get it off the 9# of butternut squash I used in the boil. Just trying to clean that one up.

I like most all of your ideas.

 

[Artifishal]

http://www.ssbrewtech.com/collections/fermenters/products/brew-bucket-mini
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