Fermenting my first 10 Gallon Batch

[Willy]

Hey Guys,
I want to do my first 10 gallon batch and I'm thinking ahead. What do people do with a 10 gallon batch and 6.5 gal. glass carboys? I'm thinking I need a 10 gallon bucket for the primary, then can I transfer to two 5 gal glass carboys? Or will that change my beer between the carboys. Also quickly thought of racking from primary to two 5 gal Corny kegs, put an airlock on the gas in tube until fermentation is complete, replace with gas in connector???

It's my first 10 gallon batch. What do you have for experience??

[fossilsrocks]

Just pour half of the 10 gallon batch in one 6.5 gallon carboy & half in another 6.5 gallon carboy. Or half in a 6.5 gallon carboy & half in a 6 gallon bucket. I think 5 gallon carboys are a bit small for primary fermenters; but if you don't mind extra blow off, they will work, too.

I would not recommend transferring from the primary fermenter until at least 3 days after fermentation is complete. Racking early can cause stuck fermentations, and the yeast remove some undesirable fermentation bi-products after primary fermentation is complete if you leave them alone for a little while.

[krizwit]

I agree with Fossil.

Divide the 10g batch into two carboys(6g or 6.5). The cool thing is that you can use different yeasts in each carboy to compare and contrast the differences. It will help you figure out what yeasts you like the best and how big of an impact yeast has on your beer.

[fossilsrocks]

Divide the 10g batch into two carboys(6g or 6.5). The cool thing is that you can use different yeasts in each carboy to compare and contrast the differences. It will help you figure out what yeasts you like the best and how big of an impact yeast has on your beer.

+1

Great point krizwit! I have really enjoyed playing around with different Belgian yeast strains in my Belgian pale ale experiments. The yeast strain you choose can have a HUGE impact on the way the beer comes out; this is a fun & educational way to learn about them.

[JLBrew]

I agree with Fossil.

Divide the 10g batch into two carboys(6g or 6.5). The cool thing is that you can use different yeasts in each carboy to compare and contrast the differences. It will help you figure out what yeasts you like the best and how big of an impact yeast has on your beer.

+1
I recently brewed 10 gal of Sweet Stout with it split in half between two 6.5 gal carboys - WPL530 Abbey in one and WLP002 English in the other. The English ferment then got transferred to 2ndary on bourbon soaked oak chips. Two totally different beers.

[beertron]

Just pour half of the 10 gallon batch in one 6.5 gallon carboy & half in another 6.5 gallon carboy. Or half in a 6.5 gallon carboy & half in a 6 gallon bucket. I think 5 gallon carboys are a bit small for primary fermenters; but if you don't mind extra blow off, they will work, too.

+1 this is what i do...


i would advise you not to use the carboy hoods that i have. they are not air tight. notice all the hose clamps i have on the damn things.

[IIPABrewer]

Just pour half of the 10 gallon batch in one 6.5 gallon carboy & half in another 6.5 gallon carboy. Or half in a 6.5 gallon carboy & half in a 6 gallon bucket. I think 5 gallon carboys are a bit small for primary fermenters; but if you don't mind extra blow off, they will work, too.

+1 this is what i do...


i would advise you not to use the carboy hoods that i have. they are not air tight. notice all the hose clamps i have on the damn things.

Nice picture. I use those hoods all the time (for the 1st few days) and didn't realize they were a problem. If people don't use those then how do you hookup a blow off tube to a glass carboy?

[cbbrown40]

if you are going to do 10 gal batches often I reccomend getting a sanke keg to ferment in works like a charm

[beertron]

Nice picture. I use those hoods all the time (for the 1st few days) and didn't realize they were a problem. If people don't use those then how do you hookup a blow off tube to a glass carboy?

ive had this problem a couple of times, maybe im doing something wrong? for an alternative, you could use a stopper with a tube stuck into the hole.

[fossilsrocks]

I've always used a stopper & a tube for a blowoff.

[bewm]

If people don't use those then how do you hookup a blow off tube to a glass carboy?

Get some 1/2" ID tubing, it fits perfectly around the interior stem of your airlock. One of my airlocks has a crack on the side and that's the one I use for blowoffs:

[JLBrew]

If people don't use those then how do you hookup a blow off tube to a glass carboy?

Get some 1/2" ID tubing, it fits perfectly around the interior stem of your airlock. One of my airlocks has a crack on the side and that's the one I use for blowoffs:

+1
I do the same. It's easy to take the tube off and replace the bell, pour in some sanitizer and cap the airlock after the fermentation slows, without taking the stopper out (if you choose to). Unless of course you have a crack in the side.

[im1dermike]

Or you could just use 1" tubing and not need an airlock at all.

[beertron]

Or you could just use 1" tubing and not need an airlock at all.

just switched over to the 1'' tubing. good advice , no leaks, and it couldnt be any easier to install.

[thdewitt]

I would really like to ferment in a Sanke like you show here, but how in the heck do you clean this out when you are done.

Tom