How bad would it be to add water now

[skagneti]

I was trying to make a quick american style lager and used a Muntons american light can and added 2.25 pounds of extra light dry malt. the problem was that I didn't notice that it is not in us gallons and apparently you are supposed to top it off to 6 gallons not 5. I pitched the yeast last night around 7:30pm and already had a pretty vigorous fermentation going this morning when I left for work. I am making the beer to be light for friends who don't like my heavier beer. So the question is would it be harmful to carefully add 1 gallon of clean water to the fermenter when I get home as long as I rack it from a clean bucket to avoid getting to much air in it?

 

[PHillBrewCo]

Do it. Otherwise you're going to have a stronger batch than you want.

 

[hamiltont]

Personally, I'd let it be for now. If you find it's too "strong" you can add boiled/cooled water later as long as you don't splash when adding. I've done it with a funnel & tube and then stirred ever so gently. Cheers!!!

 

[skagneti]

so is there a serious risk of aerating the wort/beer if I do it 24 hours after I pitched...especially since it was already in active fermentation this morning and I won't be able to get home to add the water till tonight. With that all in mind should I rack it in from the bottom up or what other suggestions does anyone have to add water without getting much air in there?

 

[hamiltont]

Boiling the water it will drive off the dissolved oxygen in the water. How ever you introduce it to the beer, don't splash & create oxygen. You can add it at bottling or kegging too. Just make sure it's mixed well before bottling. Cheers!!!