Being a half gallon short shouldn’t make a huge difference as dry hopping is more of an art than a science anyway which is why they gave the 1-2 week range in the first place. In my experience most of the flavour and aroma from the hops passes to the beer by the end of the first week. One thing you could do is draw off a little of the beer and smell/taste it to see if you are satisfied, I’ve even added more dry hops later when I didn’t feel the first addition was enough. Remember as you have already found that adding carbonation will change both the aroma and flavour characteristics more.

In the future if you want to stay more true to the recipe you should adjust the hop addition to match the volume rather than trying to adjust the time, but like I said it shouldn't make a big difference at that volume.

Is being a half gallon short the same as not playing with a full deck?

Just out of curiousity, as I've never tried making my own beer, what kind of alcohol content are you generally talking about with home brewing?

Adrian, you can make pretty much any style at home. However, once you get to ~10% ABV, you have some additional challenges because most yeasts can't handle it. So, then you have to figure out whether to pitch a second fermentation with champagne yeast (or something) or just live with the amount of residual sugar.

The IPA I have in the fermenter now measured ~8% when I transferred it to secondary on Oct. 23. It can only go up the longer I leave it in secondary, but the yeast do most of their work eating sugars, pissing out alcohol, and farting CO2 during the first week, so I don't anticipate it going up by any more than a couple tenths from there.

It's amazing that we find beer so appetizing

My uncle asks for a cup full of ice with his beer.

Why? He pours the beer over the ice.

Then drinks it with a straw.

At least it's "Ice Cold"?

One night at Cheers, Cliff Calvin explained the" Buffalo Theory" to his buddy Norm:

"Well, ya see, Norm, it's like this. A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members! ; In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first.. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine! That's why you always feel smarter after a few beers."

My new favorite beer is Firestone Walker's 14th Anniversary Ale. It knocks your socks off, pulls off your head and hurls it out of the park.

It's also solid enough to stand up to an Acid Kuba Kuba cigar.

Hey, Tom! ChurchKey got recognized for having one of the 10 top new sandwiches in the country. I'll buy you one next time you're out here. (Scroll quickly to bottom to avoid excessive drooling.)

http://www.endlesssimmer.com/2011/01/20/americas-top-10-new-sandwiches/

It's a good thing they serve all that light beer so you you can order this guilt-free…