4 gallon frementer..minimum gals I can ferment in this size?

[joechopper]

I have 4 gallon fermenters...what is the minimum amount (gallons) I should put in these fermenters? I'm brewing a wheat beer (wheat extract plus 3 oz amarillo hops), a scottish 60 1040 gravity(stock), and a scottish braggot(half malt half honey, fruggle hops) +- 1050 gravity...not sure of head space needed on these brews? ordered from northern brewery last weekend and would love to brew this coming weekend. HELP...

[a10t2]

Changing the headspace can change the flavors that develop during fermentation, but it won't cause any problems. You could ferment half a gallon in there and it would be fine.

[joechopper]

I was worried that too much co2 or head space would cause a slow or stuck fermentation ( DO TO THE WEIGHT OF THE CO2 being heavier than air)...my extract kits are for 5 gallons, and I was thinking of cuttting them into 2- 2.5 gallons batches each in the 4 gallon carboys leaving 1.5 gallons of head space... I see that most fermentors are 6-7.5 gallons which would leave a gallon or two of head space, but I wasn't sure if it was linear? I'm trying to clone a local brew around here called GUMBALLHEAD by three floyds in Munster In. it's a wheat beer with amarillo hops ( to die for & hard to come across by me) so flavor & aroma is #1... I have several of these 4 gal. carboys. but Im new to homebrew beer, Ive been making MEAD for a year now and I now how to make 3.5 gallons of mead...it the possibily of a blowout I'm worried about.

[a10t2]

I was worried that too much co2 or head space would cause a slow or stuck fermentation ( DO TO THE WEIGHT OF THE CO2 being heavier than air)

I think you're over-thinking this. The pressure due to an inch of water in the airlock is more than you'd get from a 30 ft column of CO2.

[dags]

With you on the overthinking, you can ferment in a jam jar or a bathtub and it will all work. Fermenter geometry and size can have impacts but dont go stressing about it.

I was worried that too much co2 or head space would cause a slow or stuck fermentation ( DO TO THE WEIGHT OF THE CO2 being heavier than air)

I think you're over-thinking this. The pressure due to an inch of water in the airlock is more than you'd get from a 30 ft column of CO2.

[joechopper]

thanks a10t2 and daws. I made my beer this last Saturday, I do overthink things when Im new a stuff, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't gonna do anything wrong. glad I stuck with 2.5 gals. 2 of the airlocks keep getting stuck with foam. I clean them out asap. I now watch these more then TV...I know I know.. but Im new at this. And Im gonna hook up blow off tubes it keeps happening....Once again to the two of ya.... THANKS!

[joechopper]

bottled my wheat beers last saturday...wow hop gernades...I love em.. waiting one more week to bottle the scottish ale and scottish braggot beers, my wheat/braggot with simco and amirillo hops taste like a sierria nevada torpedo, a bit hazey but YUMMY...my Gumballhead clone made by three floyds here in Indianna ..well close enough for me, and clear as hell...no more $15 six packs. I'm hooked on brewing my own from here on out... thanks to the brewing newwork, a10t2 and dags...p.s ...JP sucks ASS