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Author Topic: 6 gallon buckets - - Big enough?  (Read 5651 times)

Offline micsager

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6 gallon buckets - - Big enough?
« on: May 04, 2012, 01:32:53 pm »
I brew ten gallon batches, and ferment primary only in 6 gallon buckets.  But quite often, I get krausen coming through the airlocks and spill all over my freezer.  It's a pain.  I'm thinking 7 gallon buckets would be the way to go.

Any suggestions?

Offline Pinski

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Re: 6 gallon buckets - - Big enough?
« Reply #1 on: May 04, 2012, 01:45:25 pm »
I use 7 gallon brew buckets when I my 6.5 carboys are busy. I've never had any blowouts from one of my buckets.  I usually am doing 10 gallon split batches as well.
Steve Carper
Green Dragon Brewers
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BJCP Certified

Offline davidgzach

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Re: 6 gallon buckets - - Big enough?
« Reply #2 on: May 04, 2012, 04:22:05 pm »
Just start using a blow off tube.  No more mess, no extra purchases!

Dave
Dave Zach

Offline euge

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Re: 6 gallon buckets - - Big enough?
« Reply #3 on: May 04, 2012, 06:18:35 pm »
I brew in the 7.9 (let's call them 8) gallon buckets. This allows me to do 6 to 6.5 gallons comfortably without a blow-off or a fermentation lock.
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 bigchicken

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Re: 6 gallon buckets - - Big enough?
« Reply #4 on: May 05, 2012, 07:36:50 am »
I've never had a blowout when doing 5 gallon batches in my 6.5 gallon bucket. If I were to buy another, I'd go with the 7.9 gallon size that Euge mentions.
« Last Edit: May 05, 2012, 07:48:48 am by bigchicken »
TJ Cook

On Deck: Planning
Fermenting: Nothing
In bottles: It's All About MEAD!

Offline bo

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Re: 6 gallon buckets - - Big enough?
« Reply #5 on: May 05, 2012, 07:52:34 am »
Where do you get 7.9 gallon buckets?

Offline bigchicken

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TJ Cook

On Deck: Planning
Fermenting: Nothing
In bottles: It's All About MEAD!

Offline bo

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Re: 6 gallon buckets - - Big enough?
« Reply #7 on: May 05, 2012, 09:23:26 am »
Where do you get 7.9 gallon buckets?

 http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/brewing/beer-brewing-equipment/fermenting-equipment/brewing-fermenting-buckets/7-9-gal-fermenting-bucket.html

This is what I'd go with.

OUCH! I don't think I could bring myself to paying $23 + shipping for a bucket. All of my 5 gallon ones were free.

Offline erockrph

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Re: Re: 6 gallon buckets - - Big enough?
« Reply #8 on: May 05, 2012, 10:26:22 am »
Where do you get 7.9 gallon buckets?

 http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/brewing/beer-brewing-equipment/fermenting-equipment/brewing-fermenting-buckets/7-9-gal-fermenting-bucket.html

This is what I'd go with.

OUCH! I don't think I could bring myself to paying $23 + shipping for a bucket. All of my 5 gallon ones were free.

The 7.9 gallon buckets are usually used for fermenting wine. You might be able to get a better deal at your LHBS or at least save on shipping.
Eric B.

Finally got around to starting a homebrewing blog: The Hop Whisperer

Offline Hokerer

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Re: 6 gallon buckets - - Big enough?
« Reply #9 on: May 05, 2012, 03:49:15 pm »
I ferment 5.5 gallon batches in six-gallon better bottles so I always use a blowoff.  Most times there's some but sometimes there's not.
Joe

Offline aa7yy

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Offline erockrph

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Re: 6 gallon buckets - - Big enough?
« Reply #11 on: May 05, 2012, 07:29:18 pm »
http://www.containerandpackaging.com/item/P067W

I just ordered a bunch of stuff from their site the other day. The only downsides are there's a $10 fee for orders less than $50, and shipping is not cheap. I haven't gotten my order yet so I can't attest to the quality of their products (but a food-grade bucket is a food-grade bucket).
Eric B.

Finally got around to starting a homebrewing blog: The Hop Whisperer

Offline davidgzach

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Re: 6 gallon buckets - - Big enough?
« Reply #12 on: May 07, 2012, 06:58:48 am »
I ferment 5.5 gallon batches in six-gallon better bottles so I always use a blowoff.  Most times there's some but sometimes there's not.

+1.  Why not just spend $1 on 2 feet of hose?  Fermenting a 5G beer in a 7.9G container leaves a lot of headspace.  I'm much more comfortable with a blow off tube than leaving that amount of headspace above my beer.

Dave
Dave Zach