So, having some issues with the final yield or total amount of beer I'm getting out of a batch.
First, I suppose I should describe my process:
Steep/Boil using a 16 quart stock pot on the stove, using a 5-gallon kit from my local brewing supply store (I know, I know, but I haven't gotten to the point where I'm ready to try my own mix of malts and hops. I'm the paragon of n00b here, folks.)
Pour the wort into a 5 gallon bucket (the finest bucket that Home Depot sells, I should add) and top off to within an inch of the rim.) Put on the lid, into which I drilled a 1 inch hole to accept my air lock.
After X days (X is usually 3-4 days, or when vigorous bubbling slows), I siphon to a 5 gallon carboy as secondary fermentation.
I try to keep the bottom swill from the bucket OUT of the siphon... dead yeast there, no?... and the carboy typically ends up about 80% full... maybe.
Week and a couple days in carboy, and it's bottling time. Priming sugar boiled, chilled, poured into carboy, and allowed to diffuse. Then siphon into bottles using racking cane, hose, etc.
Last batch I bottled, this past Friday, was a Vanilla Coffee Stout, and in the end I had about 7 six-packs. That seems low, as I've read that a 5 gallon batch should yield about 50 bottles or so.
Input or ideas are welcome. I'd offer a couple bottles of beer for any help, but, well, I just don't HAVE a heck of a lot of home beer to offer, as you might have guessed.
Thanks and cheers,
JRB
First, I suppose I should describe my process:
Steep/Boil using a 16 quart stock pot on the stove, using a 5-gallon kit from my local brewing supply store (I know, I know, but I haven't gotten to the point where I'm ready to try my own mix of malts and hops. I'm the paragon of n00b here, folks.)
Pour the wort into a 5 gallon bucket (the finest bucket that Home Depot sells, I should add) and top off to within an inch of the rim.) Put on the lid, into which I drilled a 1 inch hole to accept my air lock.
After X days (X is usually 3-4 days, or when vigorous bubbling slows), I siphon to a 5 gallon carboy as secondary fermentation.
I try to keep the bottom swill from the bucket OUT of the siphon... dead yeast there, no?... and the carboy typically ends up about 80% full... maybe.
Week and a couple days in carboy, and it's bottling time. Priming sugar boiled, chilled, poured into carboy, and allowed to diffuse. Then siphon into bottles using racking cane, hose, etc.
Last batch I bottled, this past Friday, was a Vanilla Coffee Stout, and in the end I had about 7 six-packs. That seems low, as I've read that a 5 gallon batch should yield about 50 bottles or so.
Input or ideas are welcome. I'd offer a couple bottles of beer for any help, but, well, I just don't HAVE a heck of a lot of home beer to offer, as you might have guessed.
Thanks and cheers,
JRB