Headspace in my secondary

[popscube]

I realized I left to much headspace in the secondary. It only came up to the shoulder. It still is giving off a lot of Co2. What has been the experience of others leaving to much headspace in the secondary? Am I going to get vinegar? I'm starting to worry.

 

[osagedr]

I had this exact same question a few weeks ago. I had beer in a secondary for five weeks with the better part of a gallon of headspace. You've got an airlock on it, correct? If you give your secondary a little shake, enough CO2 will come out of the beer to bubble up the airlock. So if your beer is under a "blanket" of CO2, doesn't seem like much bad can happen to it. I certainly wouldn't worry about it. Plus you'll probably only have your beer in the secondary a few weeks. IMO you'll be fine!

 

[Buffman]

No worries. The C02 keeps the beer cozy and safe from oxygenation.

 

[Poolplayer]

No worries. The C02 keeps the beer cozy and safe from oxygenation.

It would be alot different if there were no airlock and alot of headspace. Then you could start making faces with your brew - Aackkk!!!!

 

[ekranzusch]

+1 on giving the beer a very very gentle shake to rouse some co2. try not to splash things around. co2 is heavier than o2 =)
Generally having less headspace in a secondary is a good thing though but I left a batch like this for like 8 weeks and didn't have a problem.