102 replies to this topic

[Brian72]

I wouldn’t mind someday getting back into the hobby but there’s no way I have the time right now to be doing full batches, all grain and all that jazz.

Would it be worth it to brew small batches here and there, like a gallon at a time? Looking at an extract kit that comes with all the ingredients and equipment id need to get started back up and then a 1.25 gallon mini keg that takes the CO2 cartridges. Initial buy in would be about $175 for everything and then after that just the cost of ingredients.

I could always expand later but that’s unlikely, this might be the way to go for me. What do you guys think?

[positiveContact]

The majority of my active time is cleaning and sanitizing. You'll save some time doing smaller batches I guess. I get that you can heat and cool smaller volumes more quickly but I usually just do other stuff while that's going on.

In any event maybe one of those table top automated systems is a good fit for you. Have you considered that?

[HVB]

I would look at brew in a bag even at that size. You will get more recipe control and the ingredients should be cheaper than extract. Batch time will be slightly longer but much. 2g would be as small as I really wanted to go before I decided it was not worth it.

Kettle, bag, fermenter is all you really need. Use kviek yeast and pitch at 100 and you will be finished fermenting in a couple of days.

[Brian72]

Really that quick?

[Brian72]

The majority of my active time is cleaning and sanitizing. You'll save some time doing smaller batches I guess. I get that you can heat and cool smaller volumes more quickly but I usually just do other stuff while that's going on.

In any event maybe one of those table top automated systems is a good fit for you. Have you considered that?

I didn’t even realize such a thing existed but I’ll look it up on the googles…

[HVB]

Really that quick?

Grain to glass in under a week.

[Brian72]

Grain to glass in under a week.

Nice

[denny]

I do 2-3 gal. AG batches in around 2 hours with a 20 min., mash and 20 min. boil

[jimdkc]

 My last 2-gallon extract batch:

 

20-Minute Hefeweizen

 

2.25 lb. Breiss Bavarian Wheat DME (65% Wheat/35% Barley)

0.75 oz. Tettnanger (4.5% AA) @ 20 minutes

 

20-minute boil in a 3-gallon stainless steel stock pot on a 1500W portable induction burner. Fermented with a half-pack of Danstar Munich Classic dry yeast. (Be sure to use Munich CLASSIC, not just Munich)

 

Approx. 20 IBU, Approx. 5% ABV.

 

Quick. Minimal equipment.

 

Next time (it's been a while, but I keep telling myself there WILL be a next time!), I'm going to try BIAB All-Grain and control the mash temp with a Sous Vide stick. Same pot and burner for the boil. 

[positiveContact]

I didn’t even realize such a thing existed but I’ll look it up on the googles…

 

I'm surprised Denny hasn't piped up on this already.

[Brian72]

This is good stuff guys. Keep the advice coming.

[jimdkc]

Anvil makes a 6.5-Gallon all-in-one system that brews 2.5-3 gallon batches.

 

https://www.anvilbre...com/foundry-6-5

 

(I think their prices are up since I last looked at it...)

Edited by jimdkc, 14 August 2022 - 12:45 PM.

[positiveContact]

Anvil makes a 6.5-Gallon all-in-one system that brews 2.5-3 gallon batches.

https://www.anvilbre...com/foundry-6-5

(I think their prices are up since I last looked at it...)

Looks around... Not just them!

[Hines]

Kettle, bag, fermenter is all you really need. Use kviek yeast and pitch at 100 and you will be finished fermenting in a couple of days.

 

100?

[positiveContact]

100?

Yes

[Hines]

100 what?  sorry, i've been out of the game and was never a good brewer when i was in the game!

[positiveContact]

100 what? sorry, i've been out of the game and was never a good brewer when i was in the game!

Degrees Fahrenheit, sorry.

[Brian72]

That seems awful hot.

[positiveContact]

That seems awful hot.

These types of yeast like it.

[Brian72]

Ordered a starter kit that contains the ingredients for an all grain one gallon Hefeweizen, 1 gallon glass fermenter and all the other little things and a one gallon growler keg with the faucet and CO2 inlet built in. I'm going to convert that to take the soda stream bottles. I'll run out to walmart and grab a small stock pot and try to find a small electric burner so I can brew out in my garage. I'm $150.00 in right now probably wont be more than $200 total by the time I'm done shopping.