Forgot to fill the bucket...

[Fenix26]

Hey Brewers,

I made an American Pale ale last night, but I noticed today that I forgot to gill my primary fermenter up to 5 gallons when I pitched the yeast. I'm currently at about 4.25 gallons.

Is it too late to add water? Can I add water at any time before I bottle? Will it degrade the quality of the beer if I add water now?

Thanks!

 

[Murphys_Law]

If it were me I'd let it ride. Did you take your gravity measurements?

 

[Brownalemikie]

If it were me I'd let it ride. Did you take your gravity measurements?

Yep, the worst possible scenario is you'll end up with a higher ABV beer that might have some mild off flavors. JMO

 

[Fenix26]

I found that my hydrometer had broken just before I started the brew... :/

 

[Fenix26]

So it sounds like the consensus of letting it ride is the best solution..
What would happen if I did add water to make it 5 gallons?
Just for curiosity purposes... what the final product by watery?

Thanks!

 

[RustyHorn]

So it sounds like the consensus of letting it ride is the best solution..
What would happen if I did add water to make it 5 gallons?
Just for curiosity purposes... what the final product by watery?

Thanks!

If the reason you had less wort was because you boiled off too much then just putting it back in won't make a difference.

 

[Fedora]

Adding even boiled water at this point would aerate the beer and do more harm than good. Let it ride.

 

[Fenix26]

Interesting posts...
just a thought, what if I boiled water, cooled it and then added it to my secondary, then siphoned from the primary to the secondary on top of the now newly boiled and now room temperature added water?

Thanks!!

 

[Fedora]

Interesting posts...
just a thought, what if I boiled water, cooled it and then added it to my secondary, then siphoned from the primary to the secondary on top of the now newly boiled and now room temperature added water?

Thanks!!

It would oxidize your beer.

If it were me, I would just triple the dry hops and call it an IPA.

 

[flars]

Hey Brewers,

I made an American Pale ale last night, but I noticed today that I forgot to gill my primary fermenter up to 5 gallons when I pitched the yeast. I'm currently at about 4.25 gallons.

Is it too late to add water? Can I add water at any time before I bottle? Will it degrade the quality of the beer if I add water now?

Thanks!

You could add well aerated sanitary water to bring it up to five gallons now ,but not later, if the OG was significantly higher than the recipe. The yeast will still be in the growth phase using oxygen. You won't have to worry about oxidizing the beer.

Did you mark the five gallon fill level on your bucket or carboy? If not I would let it go as is unless the OG is high. Might be closer to five gallons than you think. Factory markings on buckets or carboys are often not accurate.