Want to make smaller batches

I am just starting to brew beer. My first batch is fermenting now with an ale pale kit. It is a 6 gallon batch. I would like to maybe do 3 gallon batches so I can continue to make new batches. Making multiple 5-6 gallon batches would make more beer than I could drink, and will build up fast. Plus I could save on bottles.

I know I just started, but I am already addicted, and want to start a new beer. Can I brew 3 gallon batches with the ale pale? I don't think it would matter having a larger primary to use as long as I don't use a large secondary (for oxygen reasons). Should I have appropriate equipment for small batch brewing? Also, would I just divide regular recipes to accommodate the size of the batch, like using 3/5 of the ingredients? What is the best way to go about doing this? Thanks in advance for any posts!

Yes you can. The November 2009 BYO magazine has a few articals this month about that very topic. Check it out. You can use programs like Beertools to scale any recipe down to the size you want to brew.

Yep. It is not a problem. All I do is 2.5 or 3 gallon batches. I primary in a 5 gallon BB and secondary in a 3 gallon BB. Software like Beertools or Beersmith(what I use) help immensely when scaling or creating recipes.

I have noticed that beersmith only works for pc, and I have a mac. That, why I was wondering if I could just divide recipes. Plus I didn't want to pay for a site right now.

Brew_man said:

I have noticed that beersmith only works for pc, and I have a mac. That, why I was wondering if I could just divide recipes. Plus I didn't want to pay for a site right now.

Click to expand...

Check out Beer Alchemy:

http://www.kentplacesoftware.com/products/BeerAlchemy.html