I messed up. Help!

[rebelproud]

When the fermentation slows/stops, the foam will subside. You'll be left with some floaters and unidentifiable stuff on top - ignore it. The yeast will still be in the liquid although it will be dropping out over time. If the ferm gets stuck, roust it up (gently - no splashing) and move the fermenter to a warmer spot. That should get the yeast working again.

I'm going to be moving a little less than 5 gallons onto two gallons of water to dilute, and then splitting the batch into two separate carboys. Its been fermenting for less than 24 hrs. Do you think I should just syphon off and ignore the foam? Will there be enough yeast in the liquid?

 

[year2beer]

Honestly at this point... just go for it! You're only gonna learn from this mistake one way or another... keep us informed, I'm interested.

 

[helibrewer]

Just take the liquid, there is plenty of suspended yeast.

 

[rebelproud]

Alright, I did it. I boiled some more hops in just over 2 gallons of water for 60 minutes and then diluted and split the batch up into two fermenters. I now have 2 6 gallon fermenters going. Each are about half full, which is a lot of head space, but primary fermentation just started yesterday, so I'm hoping that doesn't bother it. It needs the oxygen at this point, right?

Anyway, I hope this brew turns out alright. With 16 pounds of extract plus specialty grains and hops in there, I've got a lot of money and time into it.

 

[Stauffbier]

Do you have a 6 gal carboy that you can rack into as a secondary when the primary is finished? If not, try to come up with some kind of secondary set-up that has a lot less head space (5 gal carboy and a 1 gal growler or something...)

 

[BOBrob]

Alright, I did it. I boiled some more hops in just over 2 gallons of water for 60 minutes and then diluted and split the batch up into two fermenters. I now have 2 6 gallon fermenters going. Each are about half full, which is a lot of head space, but primary fermentation just started yesterday, so I'm hoping that doesn't bother it. It needs the oxygen at this point, right?

Anyway, I hope this brew turns out alright. With 16 pounds of extract plus specialty grains and hops in there, I've got a lot of money and time into it.

I would'nt worry about the head space, it will fill with gases as it ferments. Also, I leave mine in primary only seldom use a secondary. You only need to boil water for 10 minutes, your plan was additional hop for 15 I think. Good luck and let us know how it works out, I think you will be OK. Cheers

 

[rebelproud]

Do you have a 6 gal carboy that you can rack into as a secondary when the primary is finished? If not, try to come up with some kind of secondary set-up that has a lot less head space (5 gal carboy and a 1 gal growler or something...)

Yes, that is exactly the plan. As soon as it is done fermenting for the most part, I'm going to combine the two into one 6 gallon carboy. That should be perfect.

 

[rebelproud]

I would'nt worry about the head space, it will fill with gases as it ferments. Also, I leave mine in primary only seldom use a secondary. You only need to boil water for 10 minutes, your plan was additional hop for 15 I think. Good luck and let us know how it works out, I think you will be OK. Cheers

About the boil, I forgot to mention that I recalculated everything and I must have been missing something because my IBUs came up a bit short with a 15 minute boil. I had to add a half ounce and do a 60 minute to get it to where I wanted with what hops I had left.

Hopefully this turns out alright, its going to have to age for a while, but I'll keep everyone posted.

 

[seabass07]

It will turn out fine. If you had left it, it would have probably stalled at a high gravity. You would have had to dilute it then or add a high gravity yeast. Best to do it now while the yeast will still eat up the oxygen.