Fermenter for 2.5 gallon batches

[aprichman]

I don't think oxygen matters at all in the primary fermenter -- the yeast will use it up.

That would only be true during fermentation, and in particular the lag & log phase which happen's relatively quickly (maybe 48 hours after a good pitch).

 

[dfhar]

Oxidation is a pretty commonly sited off flavor in BJCP judged competitions. If you're wanting to make world class beer, oxidation can't be written off as a "non-issue". IMO there's a huge difference between "pretty good" beer and "great" beer - in order to make "great" beer you really have to pay attention to minor details.

I always set out to make the best beer possible, so I consider issues like oxidation quite important. YMMV.

I wish there was a disclaimer before every discussion about "Does X matter?" telling you if the OP was trying to brew "good" beer or "world-class" beer. People who have differing opinions on whether or not X matters often have different goals with respect to the kind of beer they're trying to brew.

 

[broadbill]

Oxidation is a pretty commonly sited off flavor in BJCP judged competitions. If you're wanting to make world class beer, oxidation can't be written off as a "non-issue". IMO there's a huge difference between "pretty good" beer and "great" beer - in order to make "great" beer you really have to pay attention to minor details.

I always set out to make the best beer possible, so I consider issues like oxidation quite important. YMMV.

it can be written off if you don't have an issue with it. Just because someone else has a problem with oxidation doesn't mean that I will have it.

I mean if I worried about all the things that could go wrong with my beer, I'd probably not bother brewing in the first place.