Smaller Batches

[BrickBrewHaus]

First off, thanks to those who helped me out on my first brew about a month ago. My wife likes it, my mom (who has hated beer her whole life) likes it, my dad likes it, and most important I like it. And since then I've been able to help my dad with his first brew thanks to the abundance of knowledge on the forum.

I want to start brewing smaller batches. We don't have much room in our apt. to store ~2cases of beer each time I brew and I would like to brew more often to get a feel for trying different recipes, developing recipes, etc. I've done some searching and I'm pretty sure I can do it, but I'd like some reassurance from the Army.

When making smaller batches (say 2.5gal instead of 5gal), its simply a matter of cutting the ingredients in half? Pitching rates can simply be determined on the Mr.Malty calculator? Am I overlooking anything, any helpful advice?

[Sent From My iPhone]

[TheTodd]

Am I overlooking anything, any helpful advice?

Nope, you got it. Seems a shame to do the same amount of work for half the beer though. Maybe you should drink more

Sheen's right. It will take just as long. It sounds like the perfect opportunity to teach a friend to homebrew and get a brewing partner. If that won't work, and you want the learning experience, how about brewing 5 gallons and splitting it in two batches to learn how different yeasts affect your beer. Or, if you're doing a hoppy beer, you can split your primary into two secondaries and find out how different hops affect dry hopping.

Another option would be to store what you can at your dad's place if he has the space. If that doesn't work, you're just going to have to break down and put all your money aside to buy a house. It may seem like a lot just to brew, but you'll soon find that you can live without eating before you can live without brewing.

Good luck

[Spelt]

I'm sure Blichmann Engineering is working on a beer house. Complete with a false bottom bath tub and top tier bunk beds. Just wait until it hits his website and get out of that apartment. Never let space, finances, or good judgement get in the way of making enough homebrew to share with friends.

[nanofreak]

I am in the same situation as far as looking to make smaller batches. as far as when everyone says it is the same amount of work, well yeah so is 10 gallong but most people stick with 5 anyway right?

I want more variety, I want to brew more often, but I don't have the space or need for 5 gallons of everything I brew. Perhaps if I find a recipe I like, or brew something that will age (hopefully) exceptionally well I can see brewing in 5 gallons. For most things however I am like you and looking to brew in 2.5 gallon or GASP! smaller batcher.

Enjoy the brewing, and enjoy the beer.

[BrickBrewHaus]

I want more variety, I want to brew more often, but I don't have the space or need for 5 gallons of everything I brew. Perhaps if I find a recipe I like, or brew something that will age (hopefully) exceptionally well I can see brewing in 5 gallons. For most things however I am like you and looking to brew in 2.5 gallon or GASP! smaller batcher.

Like you, I enjoy the brewing process so the extra "work" doesn't bother me.

Nanofreak...have you noticed it is slightly more expensive to do half batches? I ordered extract, hops, etc. yesterday; compared to a similar style kit my stuff was a little more than half the kits price.

[nanofreak]

I have noticed it is more in any quantity when you piece together a recipe. If you went to northern brewer, and made one of their recipies by buying the grains and the pieces, it would cost you more than the recipe would. Kind of like buying all the parts of a car and putting it together yourself. They package a bunch of the same recipe at once and due to that they discount it some. Because they push certain things in recipes they also are able to buy and in turn sell them quicker.

I am lucky enough to be only a few miles from Brewmasters Wharehouse though, and I last time split my order into 2 2.5lb bags, and just picked up 2 yeasts. Worked out well. great place to shop.

[Brew Swillis]

Im doing the same thing. I just bottled my 3rd batch last week (a Wee Heavy) and only did 3 gallons. For me its a functions of:

1) Space, I live in a condo with my wife and 2 dogs
2)rate of drunk, I just dont drink that much and dont have the space to store whats not getting drunk. I have a brew parter-ish but its so hard to sync our schedules that Im basically on my own
3) enjoyment. I dont care about the work aspect because I enjoy it. If brewing a couple gallons less means I can brew a touch more often, then Im all for it. The more you do it, the better you get eventually lol.

When Ifind a recipe or kit I like particularly well I'll do a 5 gallon batch instead of a 2.5 or 3 and Ill treat the smaller batches as experiments and just sit back and enjoy the variety.