6 replies to this topic

[porter]

Since switching to indoors/electric brewing, things are really streamlined and it is much easier to find time to brew. Usually I am at about 3.5 hours (spend just a few minutes the night before filling the rig with water and setting the timer). If I measure and mill grains the night before it saves an additional 20 minutes, but that's really just shifting part of the day to another. But still, I can get it to 3 hours if needed, so not a problem to be done by 9 AM and I've done this before.

I do 45 minutes mashes and boils.

Also with the electric system, and having the mini kitchen space, I can do other things while brewing. Mainly while the mash pipe is draining or during the boil, I can go take a shower or whatever. I won't usually leave the system during the mash due to the recirculation pump, and concern of a fitting loosening and spraying 5 gallons of beer all over the basement, but have left before. I could use one of those water sensors to step away, I suppose.

Overall, brew day entails only about 1 hour of actual work.

[positiveContact]

At least 5 hours, maybe more.

[Gusso]

Probably 4-ish. It would be shorter but I tend to mash really long. I usually plan a bike ride around it.

[positiveContact]

Probably 4-ish. It would be shorter but I tend to mash really long. I usually plan a bike ride around it.

This is part of it for me. The other part is it takes a while for me to heat 10+ gallons.

[porter]

I was 5-6 hours when I did 10 gallon batches, turkey fryer burner outside, etc. Notwithstanding that I don't need or want 10 gallon batches anymore, this is fast and I brew better and can do more styles with smaller more frequent batches. Also with kids and a busy schedule, 3.5 vs 6 hours is a big difference.

[denny]

3.75 hours for most beers, including cleanup.

[gnef]

I am in the 3.5 hour range too on my electric rig, sometimes more, sometimes less, especially depending on the beer. If I am doing a relatively small beer, I'll do a 30 minute mash, a 30 minute boil, and I'll be closer to 3 hours total. Cleanup does take quite a bit longer now, but it is worth it for me. My dual stage counterflow chiller that I made can chill a 5 gallon batch down to 58F in about 6-7 minutes or so, which has also helped quite a bit.

 

Now, when I'm doing a big beer, like my barleywine, I'll still be up there in time, because I typically boil down from 9ish gallons to 4.5-5 gallons, and that just takes time, even with my 5500 watt element at 100%.