Upgrade Fermenter

[PorterPete]

This brewing stuff is addictive. I am already looking ahead to upgrade my fermenter to a larger size. Currently I am using a 1 gallon that came with my kit.

For certain reasons I am thinking about doing 2.5 gallon batches. I like the better bottle 3 gallon because it is square and they would fit better in my 5cu fermenting chamber. However picking up a 5 gallon now would provide more flexibility in the future without having to get more equip.

So my question is, can you use a 5 gallon fermenter to do 2.5 gallons or would that cause problem do to head space?

 

[Yooper]

This brewing stuff is addictive. I am already looking ahead to upgrade my fermenter to a larger size. Currently I am using a 1 gallon that came with my kit.

For certain reasons I am thinking about doing 2.5 gallon batches. I like the better bottle 3 gallon because it is square and they would fit better in my 5cu fermenting chamber. However picking up a 5 gallon now would provide more flexibility in the future without having to get more equip.

So my question is, can you use a 5 gallon fermenter to do 2.5 gallons or would that cause problem do to head space?

The five gallon fermenter would be fine for 2.5 gallon batches.

I have a couple of three gallons better bottles, and I like them- but they might be a little small for 2.5 gallon batches due to the lack of headspace.

 

[freisste]

I don't think it is a problem for primary, but that is a lot of headspace for a secondary. Lots of people very rarely use a secondary, so if you don't want to use one, the 5 gal bucket will probably work great for you. Lessens the need for a blowoff tube as well.

 

[nymtber]

The only thing I secondary anymore is Kolsch, and dark beers. Dark beers, IMO, just need bulk aging. And Kolsch has to be taken off the yeast for "lagering"

2.5gal in a 5gal carboy? go for it. No problem for primary, it will fill up with CO2 from fermentation quite rapidly

But if your going to use a 5gal carboy, might as well bump it to 3gal batch thats 5 more beers ya know

 

[PorterPete]

I don't plan on using a secondary yet. Guess the next step would be to measure the space in the freezer and see how well the 5 gallon buckets would fit.

I am thinking of 2.5 just for the math purposes. Easier to split the 5 gallon recipes.

Thanks for the info. From what I have read the primary produces enough C02 to fill the headspace but the secondary needs to have minimal headspace. Just wanted to make sure.

 

[freisste]

For what it is worth, you can use a large vessel for a secondary. You just need to purge the oxygen with CO2 to ensure you don't oxygenate your beer. I do that just in case for my beers, even when headspace is minimal.

 

[juggaleo]

Get the biggest m-f fermenter you can... you'll thank yourself later