Is a 7gal carboy to big for a 5 gallon batch

[user 29674]

Could anyone answer the question below? I see that I could indeed primary in the 7.5 gallon carboy, but essentially I want to know if I'm okay to leave the beer in the primary for a month or so, as many are now doing. Sorry for the noob question.

Yes, you can primary in it, and you can leave it in for aging. Since its already filled with CO2, and air can't get in, the headspace issue isnt an issue. If you were transferring into it as a secondary vessel, it would be an issue since CO2 production would be minimal.

 

[Grizzlybrew]

Could anyone answer the question below? I see that I could indeed primary in the 7.5 gallon carboy, but essentially I want to know if I'm okay to leave the beer in the primary for a month or so, as many are now doing. Sorry for the noob question.

As Aubrey said, it's fine. CO2 is heavier than oxygen; it won't "float" out and allow oxygen in. Also, you can read a ton about autolysis if you want, but it doesn't seem to be an issue (this, from someone who secondaries!). Just leave it in the primary for a month and the CO2 blanket will protect the beer while the particulate matter falls out of suspension.

 

[Handle]

Yes, you can primary in it, and you can leave it in for aging. Since its already filled with CO2, and air can't get in, the headspace issue isnt an issue. If you were transferring into it as a secondary vessel, it would be an issue since CO2 production would be minimal.

As Aubrey said, it's fine. CO2 is heavier than oxygen; it won't "float" out and allow oxygen in. Also, you can read a ton about autolysis if you want, but it doesn't seem to be an issue (this, from someone who secondaries!). Just leave it in the primary for a month and the CO2 blanket will protect the beer while the particulate matter falls out of suspension.

Thanks for the answers guys! Can't wait to use these as my primaries.

 

[MR2Aaron]

For the last 20 years I have never seen or had the ability to order a 7.5 gallon carboy. They are probably 6.5 gallon or they are older than me.

Forrest

Laboratory equipment catalogs often list something called a carboy that looks kinda like what homebrewers think of, but is made of translucent PPE. I work in a scientific facility, and there's an old apparently cast-off one that someone left in the shower I use every morning. I don't know what its capacity is, but it appears to be closer to 10 gallons than five, and I've seen catalogs that listed much larger ones.