is it possible to extract brew in small batches so I can use a large stock pot and avoid having to buy any other equipment? This would also mean I could sample different recipes without having to bottle large quantities, until I find some I really like. For example, if I was gonna do 1 gallon instead of 5 would I simply just divide all the ingredients by 5?
Cheers.
small batches
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JohnJeye
You can but you'd be sorry when your licking the barrel clear as you've run out !
A FV is only about a tenner and the ideal solution for cheap storage is empty PET bottles. I don't drink fizzy drinks myself but I have managed to collect a few 2l coke / lilt / sprite bottles for keepin left over TC in that doesn't fit in my half barrel. As long as you carefull with pouring they are ideal for saving money.
A FV is only about a tenner and the ideal solution for cheap storage is empty PET bottles. I don't drink fizzy drinks myself but I have managed to collect a few 2l coke / lilt / sprite bottles for keepin left over TC in that doesn't fit in my half barrel. As long as you carefull with pouring they are ideal for saving money.
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tomU
I'd say that if the purpose of the excercise was to learn the basics of extract brewing and decide whether its something you want to get in to then small batches like this are a decent intro. You wont get much to drink in the end though, and if you decide you do like the beer you make you'll be wishing you had made more...
Losses are a much greater proportion of a small batch than a bigger one - I tried a 1gallon batch a while back and ended up with less than 5 pints of beer. I'd say go for slightly larger batches than 1 gallon - if you do 2 gallon batches you dont neccessarily need a 2 gallon stockpot - you can dissolve the extract into a gallon or so of water, boil with the hops and then top this up with water afterwards. As JohnJaye has said, fermenters are pretty cheap - a 3 gallon one will set you back £6/7, and PET bottles are fine as long as you keep the beer out of the light.
Losses are a much greater proportion of a small batch than a bigger one - I tried a 1gallon batch a while back and ended up with less than 5 pints of beer. I'd say go for slightly larger batches than 1 gallon - if you do 2 gallon batches you dont neccessarily need a 2 gallon stockpot - you can dissolve the extract into a gallon or so of water, boil with the hops and then top this up with water afterwards. As JohnJaye has said, fermenters are pretty cheap - a 3 gallon one will set you back £6/7, and PET bottles are fine as long as you keep the beer out of the light.
yeah pretty much, but it's very difficult to divide a can of liquid malt extract by 5, and I dont think the rest would keep very well. If you want to do small batches I'd suggest swapping liquid malt extract (if the recipe calls for it) with slightly less dry malt extract.For example, if I was gonna do 1 gallon instead of 5 would I simply just divide all the ingredients by 5?
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PeteH
Cheers for the replies.
The reason for wanting to try small batches is solely to avoid having to buy a boiler and chiller at the moment. So if I can do 2 gallons without investing then I'll probably try that. I've already got the other stuff and plenty of brown beer bottle from kit brewing. I realise that if i did a good un I'd wish i'd done a bigger batch, but that happens every time I've finished a 23l kit anyway.
The reason for wanting to try small batches is solely to avoid having to buy a boiler and chiller at the moment. So if I can do 2 gallons without investing then I'll probably try that. I've already got the other stuff and plenty of brown beer bottle from kit brewing. I realise that if i did a good un I'd wish i'd done a bigger batch, but that happens every time I've finished a 23l kit anyway.
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Dave J
I've done that a number of times I bought a stainless steel casserole pan from Argos, it holds just over a gallon.
I then brew 2 gallon batches. All you do is divide the ingredients up.
It's a good idea for experiments, if you try a new recipe and it turns out rubbish you only have 16 pints to drink not 40.
Once you have a nice recipe scale it up 5 gallons.
I then brew 2 gallon batches. All you do is divide the ingredients up.
It's a good idea for experiments, if you try a new recipe and it turns out rubbish you only have 16 pints to drink not 40.
Once you have a nice recipe scale it up 5 gallons.