Brewing back-to-back this morning

**Lil' Sparky** · 06-20-2007, 01:59 PM

I'll be brewing back-to-back batches this morning - first time. Anyway, there's been some discussion lately about how long it takes to brew AG and a thread a while back about back-to-back batches, so I thought I'd keep track of how long everything takes. I'll update this post as the morning goes along. I'm shooting for < 6 hrs start to finish for both batches.

The first batch will be an English Pale/Bitter (not sure exactly, I just threw it together w/ some maris otter, crystal, and some english hops). The second batch will be a Belgian Wit.

6:45 - start dragging things out
7:00 - start heating strike water
7:15 - dough in
7:50 - mash out
7:55 - begin sparge (initial + 2 batches)
8:15 - sparge finished
8:20 - boil started
8:25 - MLT cleaned out, heating 2nd strike
8:40 - dough in 2nd batch (protein rest) and start heating 2nd infusion
9:05 - 1st batch, 2nd hop addition / 2nd batch, water infusion addition, started heating sparge water
9:15 - 1st batch, 3rd hop addition
9:20 - start cooling 1st batch
9:40 - 1st batch chilled, yeast pitched, cleaned kettle
9:45 - mash out 2nd batch
9:55 - begin sparge
10:20 - sparge finished
10:25 - boil started
10:35 - RDWHAHBing

11:25 - start chilling 2nd batch
11:40 - 2nd batch cooled, pitched onto prev yeast cake
12:05 - all equipment cleaned and put away

Total time: 5 hrs 20 mins, not bad!

Some things I'm doing to shave time:
- use a kick-@$$ homemade 3-tier brew stand

- heating sparge water, so it's ready at end of mash
- heating kettle during sparge (5 mins from end of sparge to boil)
- sanitizing equip during boil
- cleanup as you go when possible

WOP31 · 06-20-2007, 02:46 PM

I know for a fact that you can do 9 AG batches in less than 24 Hours. good luck with your brewing and try not to get distracted that will really eat up the time.

Cheers

**Lil' Sparky** · 06-20-2007, 03:03 PM

Thanks. Does posting all this count as a distraction? Holy crap, I'm about to miss my hops addition!

Oh, and is 9 am too early for a beer?

**FSR402** · 06-20-2007, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil' Sparky

Thanks. Does posting all this count as a distraction? Holy crap, I'm about to miss my hops addition!

Oh, and is 9 am too early for a beer?

nope... drink up.

**Lil' Sparky** · 06-20-2007, 03:30 PM

Thanks, I think I'll pour 1 (or 3) during the 2nd batch's boil. I'm pretty busy right now.

**Lil' Sparky** · 06-20-2007, 03:54 PM

1st batch efficiency only 70% - I really need to get my own grain mill!

Edit - 2nd batch 73%, still need a grain mill.

Rhoobarb · 06-20-2007, 04:08 PM

My gf and I did a back-to-back AG brew about a month ago. We were beat by the time it was over. We didn't start until ~10am and finished ~8pm.

After we were done and had everything cleaned up, she told me, "That was interesting to have done, but never again - it was just too much. Let's order pizza, eat and go to bed!"

**BierMuncher** · 06-20-2007, 04:09 PM

This is almost as good as streaming video at work.

Brew on bro....

**Lil' Sparky** · 06-20-2007, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BierMuncher

This is almost as good as streaming video at work.

Brew on bro....

Now if someone would have a way to stream live video of their brew mornings, that would be the shiznit!!!

Calling Bobby_M...

**Lil' Sparky** · 06-20-2007, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhoobarb

My gf and I did a back-to-back AG brew about a month ago. We were beat by the time it was over. We didn't start until ~10am and finished ~8pm.

After we were done and had everything cleaned up, she told me, "That was interesting to have done, but never again - it was just too much. Let's order pizza, eat and go to bed!"

I could see that. My SWMBO would be toast after about 30 mins. She never brews with me.

Now, I think the way to do this would be to do back-to-back batches w/ a brew buddy. Do 10 gal batches, each of you get 5 gals of the 2 different beers and have a great time together. THAT's the way to do this.