Small batch brewing

[graemet]

Ok, as inspired by something a guy in my local mentioned, I've decided to try a few small batches of biab, making about a demijohn at a time.
I have a 9l pot, some voile and a free weekend soon. So, any pointers for recipes would be good.
I quite like the idea of a smash, to get an idea of how different hops influence taste. So, pointers of which hops work well with which grain would be greatly appreciated

[Brewtaster]

Hi graemet,
earlier this year I brewed mysterio's SNPA clone as a one gallon batch. I rounded up hops and malt a little as a user upper, biab on stovetop. Awesome just awesome - so much so that I will do my next SNPA in the same ratios. Great way to find out about a brew you may or may not like. Pros - easy and little trouble with space sterilising etc. Cons - Takes almost as much time as 23L batch, you'll also lose at least half a litre to trub etc. Good luck and keep us posted!

Iain

[darkonnis]

small batches are indeed a good way, but they don't scale up exactly. SO while you may be there or there abouts dont expect it to be bang on. That said, I've brewed the same thing 3 times and gotten slightly different things despite being about as close to as was possible with my rig so I wouldn't worry too much.
Get something like brewmate (or beersmith which is better) which should keep you there or there abouts, and as for grain, Worcester hop shop are epic for custom recipes, if you email with what you want they'll send it as recipe packs so you won't waste a 1kg of black malt for the sake of needing 20g. Prices are very very reasonable to, happy brewing

[graemet]

well, i got some grain and hops from the aforementioned block down the pub. and gave it a go. i've ended up with about ha;f the volume of beer i wanted, and ended up having to put the hops in the fermenter along with the wort, as my attempt to filter them out resulted in about one drip a minute passing through the hops. so, i expect it'll be far form the greatest beer ever made. but i have learned some things, such as "keep topping up the boil with boiling water" and "put your hops in a bag of some description" so another attempt will be made when this attempt has finished fermenting in a couple of weeks.
I'm now looking at ways to get my massive stockpot up and running as a boiler, so i can make sensible sized batches. got given a 100l pot as a pressie recently. it's a bit bigger than i need, but i could always make double batches and no chill cube half of it.