Beginners question

[Alastair70]

Hi Folks,
Just started out in all grain brewing. Planning to do a number of smaller batches to get the hang of things and sort out some recipes. I have a 25L fermenter from my kit brewing days. Is there any problem with the excess headroom if I have 5 to 10 L batches fermenting inside?

 

[Clint]

Nope. Just keep the lid on and don't fiddle with it!

 

[Banbeer]

Nope. Just keep the lid on and don't fiddle with it!

And if you do fiddle with it, wash your hands.

 

[Alastair70]

Cheers guys. Don’t worry, I’ll keep my hands to myself!

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Too much information.

 

[matt76]

As others have said, you'll be fine brewing 10L-ish batches in your 25L FV - I've done this a few times and have one on the go at the moment actually

Top tip - don't bother with 5L batches, it's a huge investment in time for the paltry return. Trust me on this, you will inevitably lose some beer to the trub.

I actually brew 11.5L - 12L batches - one you've accounted for losses, this normally yields 19-20 X 500ml bottles.

And if you discover you've to much beer in sure some friends will magically appear to help you drink it!

 

[An Ankoù]

When you consider that a lot of old British brewers used open fermenters with, effectively, infinite headspace, and that your closed headspace is going to quickly fill up with carbon dioxide, then there's no problem at all. If you rack your beer off the trub for "secondary fermentation" and clearing before kegging or bottling, though, you might want to get something closer to the liquid volume.

 

[An Ankoù]

As others have said, you'll be fine brewing 10L-ish batches in your 25L FV - I've done this a few times and have one on the go at the moment actually

Top tip - don't bother with 5L batches, it's a huge investment in time for the paltry return. Trust me on this, you will inevitably lose some beer to the trub.

I actually brew 11.5L - 12L batches - one you've accounted for losses, this normally yields 19-20 X 500ml bottles.

And if you discover you've to much beer in sure some friends will magically appear to help you drink it!

Absolutley. It takes nearly as long to brew 5 litres as it does for 50!

 

[Zephyr259]

My standard batch is 15 L and for the last 2 years have been brewing them in the young's 25L fermenter with the black screw on cap and not had any issues.

I'll echo the previous comments about losses, a 15 L batch for me gives 27 x 500ml bottles, your siphon is going to lose suction about the same point regardless of batch size, something to bear in mind. 5l batches probably aren't worth the time and the losses, 10L work ok and I've done a couple but used a smaller FV.

Good luck with your journey into all grain.

 

[steve denholm]

You'll be surprised how quickly you can drink through it when its good :)
I do 5 gallon batches and now try and have 2 batches fermenting at a time ><
(Plus when your friends tend to come round alot more when there's good beer kicking about.......)

 

[Alastair70]

Yes, 5L isn't going to cut it. Just bottled tonight, getting 10X330ml bottles out of the first kit. Tastes good but, ABV coming out around the 4% mark. Currently limited by the 10L stock pot I'm boiling in. Didn't want the brewing to wait while I make my mind up on which bigger kit I'm going to go for.
Plan for next weeks brew is to make 8L of higher O.G. wert and liquor back to get the final volume up to something more respectable. Aiming to get at least a couple of different SMASHs brewed ASAP, then get a couple of mates round for tasting session.