Effect of Dilution in Primary Fermenter

[KiaOraBrew]

What would the effect of diluting around 2 weeks into primary fermentation?

I brewed a 6 gallon recipe and only filled the PF to 5 gallons to prevent krausen blow off in my 6.5 gallon fermenter bucket.

I had the thought just to dilute it once the krausen dropped off a bit but I'm worried about introducing oxygen. If I boil the water first, cool it and carefully pour it in will this have a detrimental effect?

 

[terrym]

In my view you should be OK assuming the primary has finished. The alternative to boiling and cooling tap water would be to gently pour in 2 x 2 litre bottles of cheap supermarket still water and leave it a few hours before packaging so that it mixes in. As an alternative you could package one half as is, and then dilute the other half before packaging to compare the two. Personally I would go with it as it is but drink less!

 

[Bigcol49]

Personally I would go with it as it is but drink less!

Hi!
My very first thought

 

[KiaOraBrew]

In my view you should be OK assuming the primary has finished. The alternative to boiling and cooling tap water would be to gently pour in 2 x 2 litre bottles of cheap supermarket still water and leave it a few hours before packaging so that it mixes in. As an alternative you could package one half as is, and then dilute the other half before packaging to compare the two. Personally I would go with it as it is but drink less!

Thanks for your reply. I would but I think the IBU is really quite high. Its a big Pliny the Elder DIPA clone - It tastes quite astringent as it is - I know it will mellow a bit but im worried that short changing a 6 gallon recipe by a gallon will taste too bitter..

 

[terrym]

Whatever you decide, feel the fear and do it anyway. Hope it works out.

 

[Bigcol49]

short changing a 6 gallon recipe by a gallon will taste too bitter..

Hi!
For your next brew, try scaling down the ingredients to suit your FV capacity. In this case, multiply all ingredients by 0.83 (five-sixths in old money).

 

[KiaOraBrew]

Hi!
For your next brew, try scaling down the ingredients to suit your FV capacity. In this case, multiply all ingredients by 0.83 (five-sixths in old money).

I definitely will next time but I also think I'll just fill it to 6 gal, the krausen never rose super high. I was just cautious being a double yeast pitched DIPA, you never know what way its going to go..

 

[Tony Palmer]

First of all you could leave it as is and have a stronger brew. If you want to "cut" it down add water as soon as the explosive part of the fermentation is through .i.e whilst still actively fermenting so that the yeast mops up the oxygen in the cutting liquor. Good luck.