Newbish questions

[Echo2112]

Ok, two questions I am hoping to get help with.

First, is there going to be an issue with a batch if has been fermenting while about a half gallon or so short on water. I must have misread my gauge when adding water to the fermenter from the boil pot, because I am most certainly not at 5 gallons. Is this going to send the batch down the drain, or have some unwanted effects on it?

Two, kegging procedures. Can I keg beer without a beer fridge? Is it possible to transfer the beer to a keg, get it in a big ol cooler and ice it down, then force carbonate? Or perhaps some other method? Any input appreciated.

 

[A4J]

There should be no problem with fermenting a half gallon short of water. The beer will come out just a tad bit stronger but there's nothing wrong with that.

You can most certainly keg without a beer fridge. You won't need to force carbonate. You can use priming sugar to carbonate (the priming solution will be about half of what you would use for bottling). Set it aside for 3 weeks, cool it down with ice in a huge bucket, and you're good to go.

 

[Parker36]

1) No, RDAHB
2) Yes, RDAHB

 

[Anthony_Lopez]

Regardless of missing 1/2 a gallon, i would never pour a batch down the drain... Even beers that turn out poorly will teach you a lot about your brewing process...

I'm sure your beer is fine regardless. Grats on your beer!!!