Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: Ferment 3 gal batch in a 5 gal bucket????  (Read 12973 times)

Offline tsceprof60

  • 1st Kit
  • *
  • Posts: 9
Ferment 3 gal batch in a 5 gal bucket????
« on: January 04, 2012, 07:00:52 pm »
Is there a problem with fermenting 3 gallons in a 5 gallon fermentation bucket? I thought I heard or read at sometime that you wanted to have as little space in the bucket as possible, but I'm not sure about this. I have a grain bill that would be good for a 3 gal batch that I'd like to BIAB, but only have a 5 gal ferm bucket. What problems could this cause?

Any help is appreciated!

Offline euge

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 8017
  • Ego ceruisam ad bibere cervisiam
Re: Ferment 3 gal batch in a 5 gal bucket????
« Reply #1 on: January 04, 2012, 07:08:24 pm »
Is there a problem with fermenting 3 gallons in a 5 gallon fermentation bucket? I thought I heard or read at sometime that you wanted to have as little space in the bucket as possible, but I'm not sure about this. I have a grain bill that would be good for a 3 gal batch that I'd like to BIAB, but only have a 5 gal ferm bucket. What problems could this cause?

Any help is appreciated!

No problems. It's good to have headspace unless you want to harvest yeast through a blowoff.
The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool. -Richard P. Feynman

Laws are spider-webs, which catch the little flies, but cannot hold the big ones. -Anacharsis

Offline tygo

  • I spend way too much time on the AHA forum
  • ********
  • Posts: 2622
  • Sterling, VA
Re: Ferment 3 gal batch in a 5 gal bucket????
« Reply #2 on: January 04, 2012, 07:20:47 pm »
Yeah, what Euge said.  If you're conditioning a beer for a longer period of time in a secondary for some reason, like if it's a very high alcohol beer, you would want as little headspace as possible to minimize the risk of oxidation.  But for active fermentation you're blowing off enough CO2 that it doesn't matter.
Clint
Wort Hogs

Offline majorvices

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 11326
  • Polka. If its too loud you're too young.
Re: Ferment 3 gal batch in a 5 gal bucket????
« Reply #3 on: January 04, 2012, 07:54:52 pm »
The problem is you are going to only be drinking 3 gallons of beer.  ;)

Offline Jimmy K

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 3643
  • Delaware
Re: Ferment 3 gal batch in a 5 gal bucket????
« Reply #4 on: January 05, 2012, 06:36:44 am »
The problem is you are going to only be drinking 3 gallons of beer.  ;)

Nailed it.
Delmarva United Homebrewers - President by inverse coup - former president ousted himself.
AHA Member since 2006
BJCP Certified: B0958

Offline gymrat

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 921
  • Ralph's Brewery
Re: Ferment 3 gal batch in a 5 gal bucket????
« Reply #5 on: January 05, 2012, 08:15:55 am »
I have been thinking about doing the same thing for my next wee heavy. That way I don't have to deal with 25 pounds of grain in my mash tun. And I don't drink high gravity beers enough for only 3 gallons of beer to be an issue. I just enjoy a good scottish wee heavy from time to time.
Ralph's Brewery
Topeka, KS

wildknight

  • Guest
Re: Ferment 3 gal batch in a 5 gal bucket????
« Reply #6 on: January 05, 2012, 09:08:07 am »
No problems with extra headspace.  Even though there is a CO2 layer above the beer after fermentation, given enough time it will diffuse and mix with ambient air.  If you let it sit too longer after fermentation shuts down, then you risk oxidation.  Just be on top of the process and get it kegged or bottled as soon as you are able. 

Offline tsceprof60

  • 1st Kit
  • *
  • Posts: 9
Re: Ferment 3 gal batch in a 5 gal bucket????
« Reply #7 on: January 05, 2012, 11:05:08 am »
Thanks all.....sounds like I am good to go then.

Offline beersk

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 3721
  • In the night!
Re: Ferment 3 gal batch in a 5 gal bucket????
« Reply #8 on: January 06, 2012, 01:19:31 pm »
The problem is you are going to only be drinking 3 gallons of beer.  ;)

Nailed it.
What if it's beer he doesn't like?
Jesse

Offline ynotbrusum

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4880
Re: Ferment 3 gal batch in a 5 gal bucket????
« Reply #9 on: January 06, 2012, 01:45:12 pm »
The problem is you are going to only be drinking 3 gallons of beer.  ;)

Nailed it.
What if it's beer he doesn't like?

Or perhaps using the batch to step up yeast to be harvested for another batch (I do this with lagers - 2 liquid vials of lager yeast for a 2.5 gallon batch, then use the yeast cake in the next 5 gallon batch and then that yeast cake in a 10 gallon batch).

Of course big beers would not be a good idea for this step process based on yeast stress, but there are times when it makes sense (especially like when you are making a beer that is really experimental).

But if you end up really liking the beer, then, yes, that is a problem only having 3 gallons...
Hodge Garage Brewing: "Brew with a glad heart!"

Offline Jimmy K

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 3643
  • Delaware
Re: Ferment 3 gal batch in a 5 gal bucket????
« Reply #10 on: January 08, 2012, 10:13:17 pm »
The problem is you are going to only be drinking 3 gallons of beer.  ;)

Nailed it.

What if it's beer he doesn't like?

^^^^^^ In danger of taking this too seriously.
Delmarva United Homebrewers - President by inverse coup - former president ousted himself.
AHA Member since 2006
BJCP Certified: B0958