Oktoberfest---in a 5 Gallon Carboy???

[JodsterBrewMan]

OK Folks, I'm gettin' ready to brew a partial grain Oktoberfest, but have read in some interesting threads about the problem with lots of extract and the problem of BOOM--exploding fermenters.

I think I have a solution for mine, but wanted to make sure I was doing it right. I have a 5-gallon carboy, and I will hook up a 1 1/4 inch (outside diameter) hose as a blow off.

Here's the details of the ingredients:
3# Amber Extract
3# Pale Extract
2# Wheat Extract
1 1/2# Pilsner malt
1# Munich Malt
3/4# Dark Crystal Malt
Safale yeast
1 oz hallertaur (bittering)
1 oz hallertaur (flavoring)
1 1/4 # DME (priming)
OG 1.058
FG 1.014

Am I good to go with this set up, or should I stick with my 6.8 gallon bucket with a blow off hose?

Thanks for any and all input, suggestions, naysayers, soothsayers, doomsayers, etc!

Jodster

 

[loopmd]

I'd do the bucket with blow off hose as primary and then rack to the carboy for the secondary. 5 gallon carboy does not leave you with much headspace.

Loop

 

[SavageSteve]

I concur with loopmd in using the 6.8 gal. bucket, except that you shouldn't need a blowoff tube with that much headspace. Fermenters only go BOOM when something blocks the exit of CO2, usually blowoff material.

Plus, I'm assuming you will be fermenting this with a lager yeast at around 55 deg. F. I did an Octoberfest last year and never got more than about 1" of krausen at the peak of fermentation in a 6.5 gal. glass carboy.

-Steve

 

[JodsterBrewMan]

Actually, no, I'm fermenting with Safale 05, an ale yeast. my LHBS owner and I discussed and he suggested the ale yeast due to limitation of NOT being able to Lager at low temps... I can maintain a constant 65-68 degree fermentation temp but that is the lowest until I can create my own lager cellaring apparatus.

 

[avidhomebrewer]

I'm sure it was a typo, but make sure you use no more than 1 1/4 cup of DME, not 1 1/4 # of DME for priming. I ferment all of my batches in 5 gallon carboys. Sure, the blowoff tube gets nasty, but I have never had a problem with exploding carboys.