5 Gallon Carboy and a 5 Gallon Batch...

jaydubb said:

. . . My question is this, I went for a full 5 gallon batch and I'm using a 5 gallon carboy. Am I asking for trouble? Should I transfer it to a larger primary to avoid having it get everywhere once it gets rolling?

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It should be ok, but best to keep an eye on it. If the fermentation starts getting really vigorous, switch the airlock for a blow off tube. They're easy to make -- cut off the tube end of an airlock and insert part of it into the rubber stopper, then couple the other end to a vinyl hose. Run the end of the hose into a basin filled with sanitizing solution -- a sulfite solution will do.

I use 6.5 gallon, 6 gallon, and 5 gallon carboys. Eventually, I end up racking into a 5 gallon carboy for bulk aging.

For a melomel, where I am adding fruit and/or honey to the secondary, I will start in a 5 gallon, then rack up to a 6 or 6.5 gallon for secondary fermentation. Then I rack down, again ending up in a 5 gallon for bulk aging.

For something like Joe's Ancient Orange or Crazy Ludwig's Blackberry Wine, I started in a larger carboy and racked downward...

But I have the flexibility to use a bigger carboy to provide the necessary headspace. I will probably curse myself by saying this but the only batches I have ever had blow the traps were the hard cider yeast tests which used about 3/4th's of a gallon of raw juice in a gallon container. None of my bigger batches have ever had problems...

Pewter,

Not to hijack this thread, but when I rack, I loose everytime. If I where to start a 5 gallon batch with exactly 5 gallons, byt the time is been through a couple of racks, I'm sure I loose at least 1/2 gallon. From what I read from posts like these, and from the recipies themsleves, it seems that 5 gallons starts with 5 gallons, and ends with 5 gallons. Doesn't make sense to me.

Ed,

I usually start in a 6.5 gallon carboy and rack down to a 5 gallon for bulk aging. I have a line on each of the 6.5 gallon carboys I use that let's me know when I am just above 5 gallons. When the spillage get's to that point, I rack to a fiver and call my buddies for a spillage party. After that they usually make off with the carboy. Lately I've been making stuff mostly for my buddies. They buy the stuff, come over and help me put it together.

I'm going to get rid of some of the honey I have on hand though, so I'll be busy here pretty soon.

cheers,

Oskaar

edacsac said:

Not to hijack this thread, but when I rack, I loose everytime. If I where to start a 5 gallon batch with exactly 5 gallons, byt the time is been through a couple of racks, I'm sure I loose at least 1/2 gallon. From what I read from posts like these, and from the recipies themsleves, it seems that 5 gallons starts with 5 gallons, and ends with 5 gallons. Doesn't make sense to me.

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Edasac,

When I start with 5 gallons of straight mead in my primary and rack onto a gallon of puree and a half gallon of honey/water, I am up to 6 1/2 gallons. Then I rack into a 6 after the ferment is completed and into a 5 for bulk aging. Like you, I lose about 1/2 a gallon on every racking except the bottling.

When I do something like Joe's Ancient Orange, or a batch where I am not going to be adding volume in the secondary, then I start out in a 6 or 6.5 gallon carboy and rack down from there.

Hope that helps clear things up.

Pewter