Possible stupid question

[the_mox]

Hi all~
I'm relatively new to home brewing, so if this questions is stupid, please forgive me. I want to get into lagering, and I have heard that a plastic bucket is not ideal for lagering, and that you should use a glass carboy. so my question is, can I use a 5 gallon carboy as a primary, when brewing a 5 gallon batch? or will a 5 gallon carboy not give me enough room for the krausen? I don't want my rubber stopper blown out! Another question is, if i need to get a bigger carboy, does anyone have the dimensions of one? so i can figure out what size fridge or freezer to get. I unfortunately don't live near a home brew store, so I cant just walk in and measure a carboy I don't own! Thanks guys for any help and advice you can offer!

 

[Crazytwoknobs]

I would assume that either a glass carboy or better bottle would fit in most fridges with flat bottoms.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Dimensions_of_a_5_gallon_carboy

My 5 gallon is 19.5 inches tall, and 10.75 across. Hope that helps.

Don't forget to add space on top for the airlock or blowoff tube.

 

[the_mox]

So you're saying i can use a 5 gal. carboy, and wont have any overflow issues?

 

[boneshb]

I would not use a 5 gallon carboy for a 5 gallon batch, just like you said, it will go all over

 

[Crazytwoknobs]

With a lager fermenting at low temperatures using a blowoff tube, I would assume that it would not be a big issue, but I'm not experienced with lagers. If you don't fill it all the way (cold break/hot break volume loss, etc) that would also help.

A 6 gallon carboy is not that much bigger than a 5 gallon.

http://www.williamsbrewing.com/6_GALLON_BETTER_BOTTLE_P1176.cfm

 

[Crazytwoknobs]

Well, on the outside at least. It's obviously one gallon bigger...

:cross::cross:
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