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

Author Topic: 5-gal fermenter for 3-Gal batch size?  (Read 1992 times)

Offline Lazy Ant Brewing

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 634
5-gal fermenter for 3-Gal batch size?
« on: July 08, 2015, 09:51:28 am »
I've run into a couple of recipes I'd like to try in a smaller batch size than 5-gal.  Does a 5-gal fermenter offer too much head space to use as primary for a 3-gal batch of beer?  OG would be less than 1.065.

Thanks in advance for your help.
It's easier to read brewing books and get information from the forum than to sacrifice virgins to appease the brewing gods when bad beer happens!

Offline Stevie

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 6858
Re: 5-gal fermenter for 3-Gal batch size?
« Reply #1 on: July 08, 2015, 09:52:24 am »
Sounds like a good fit to me.

Offline HoosierBrew

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 13031
  • Indianapolis,IN
Re: 5-gal fermenter for 3-Gal batch size?
« Reply #2 on: July 08, 2015, 09:56:29 am »
+1.  I do 5.5 gallon beers in 8 gallon buckets. No worries.
Jon H.

Offline reverseapachemaster

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 3778
    • Brain Sparging on Brewing
Re: 5-gal fermenter for 3-Gal batch size?
« Reply #3 on: July 08, 2015, 11:03:59 am »
I do it all the time. No problem.
Heck yeah I blog about homebrewing: Brain Sparging on Brewing

Offline brewinhard

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 3272
Re: 5-gal fermenter for 3-Gal batch size?
« Reply #4 on: July 08, 2015, 12:04:01 pm »
Yep, no worries.

Offline factory

  • Brewer
  • ****
  • Posts: 270
  • Virginia Beach, VA
Re: 5-gal fermenter for 3-Gal batch size?
« Reply #5 on: July 08, 2015, 12:35:53 pm »
I've wondered if this would be an issue as well, more headspace and all.  Thanks for the replies.

Offline BrewingRover

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 771
  • Brewing in Flossmoor, IL
Re: 5-gal fermenter for 3-Gal batch size?
« Reply #6 on: July 08, 2015, 01:06:10 pm »
I also do this all the time. I have a couple of 3 gallon carboys I use for long term aging.
It's such a fine line between stupid and clever.

Offline erockrph

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 7788
  • Chepachet, RI
    • The Hop WHisperer
Re: 5-gal fermenter for 3-Gal batch size?
« Reply #7 on: July 09, 2015, 06:43:20 am »
I also do this all the time. I have a couple of 3 gallon carboys I use for long term aging.
Same here. I brew 2.5-3 gallon batches. My sours primary in a 5 gallon better bottle and condition in a 3-gallon one. My clean beers ferment in buckets ranging from 4.5-6.5 gallons, then go into 2.5-gallon kegs.
Eric B.

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