2- or 4-gallon carboys?

Question

Local winemaking suppliers carry carboys in these sizes (U.S. gallons):

2.8, 3, 5, 6, and 6.5 (roughly 10.5, 11, 19, 23, and 25 liters). I can't seem to find any different sizes from online retailers, either.

I've started a couple batches of fruit wine (one pear, one apricot) that aren't going to fill a 5-gallon carboy. The pear is still in primary, and it looks like I'll have about 4 gallons after straining out and pressing the pulp. The apricot is in secondary in a 6-gallon carboy, but there's at least 4 inches of sediment at the bottom, maybe 5 -- that isn't going to fill a

5-gallon carboy either.

Does anyone know of a source for 2- and 4-gallon (7.5 and 15 liter) carboys?

TIA...

doublesb · Accepted Answer

You know anyone with gallon wine jugs? You could also use 2 litre sodabottles. They can hold a lot of pressure so screw the caps on tightand release a little every day until you figure out what you're goingto do. I actually likr 5 gallon carboys and 1 gallon wine jugs forsmaller increments. You'll figure it out but I always make enough tofill the carboy, whatever size that is or use gallon jugs for smallerbatches.

Doug Miller · Answer

I have 1-gallon jugs and 3-gallon carboys already; I guess that's what I'll wind up using.

Normally, I do try to make enough to fill the carboy, but I needed to set aside enough pears to make a pie, too... yummmmm!

Sam · Answer

I have several 1 gallon demijohns for the wine and I have two of those big plastic bottles that go upside down on an office water cooler for doing my beers in. They hold 5 gallons each, and you can pick them up second hand for mere pennies.

hap · Answer

You can get 1 gallon glass jugs of wine from most large chain grocery stores for around $10. You'll be hard pressed to find a wine shop with one gallon carboys for less than that, plus you get the wine to boot. Usually only a cheap Merlot or a Chardonnay will be the selection. Granted that these from the store have threaded bottle caps on them but you can still fit a bung in there. Good luck.

Sam · Answer

The 1 gallon ones are only £3 in our local brew shop, but I agree, it's far better to get them full and have the pleasure of emptying them yourself first :-)

2- or 4-gallon carboys?

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