2.5 gallon batches

I've been reading different books on brewing, all of which have recipes and suggestions. Some books recommend that for a 5 gallon batch using 2 cans of Prehopped LME instead of a 1 can/3lbs DME ratio. My question is would it be ok to make a 2 1/2 gallon batch with only 1 can of prehopped LME and boil with 3 gallons of water to compensate for evaporation?

If the original recipe was 2 cans for 5 gallons, you could do 1 can for 2.5 gallons.

Assuming of course that all of the cans are the same volume!

sure, no problem, as long as you have the right size fermentation vessel

The original recipe calls for 5-6lbs of prehopped LME. Since most come in 3.5lb size, I figure that would work perfectly. I have some smaller 3.5 gallon plastic pails with lids that came from a bakery, I believe they held glazes, etc. I figure they would be perfect for doing smaller batches. Of course they are cleaned out well and sanitized.

Sounds like a good idea ,i would like to make up smaller batches and just more of them. But what about the yeast would i half it ? or just get more and add a sachet per 2.5 gallons?

ps. good luck with your brews cardiac,deathbrewer and wetodd.

Inglebrew said:

Sounds like a good idea ,i would like to make up smaller batches and just more of them. But what about the yeast would i half it ? or just get more and add a sachet per 2.5 gallons?

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I do this all the time. Add the full pack of yeast, having more active yeast is not a bad thing.

If you split up a 5 gal recipe and use 1/2 the malt watch your hop rate. Make sure its 1/2 too. Or do as follows;

3.5lbs / 6lbs = 58% : Use 58% of the hops : (Example: 1 oz of cascade x 58% = .58 oz)

3.5lbs / 5lbs = 70% : Use 70% of the hops: ( Example .50 oz of cascade x 70% = .35 oz)

The 5-6 lb malt suggestion can make a difference if its lightly hopped. For example, if you make beers once with 5lbs and 2nd time with 6lbs and do a side by side comparision. You will see a big difference in taste if you hopped & boiled at the same rate. The 6lbs will be less bitter if not noticably sweeter.

I learned this after being told you can substitute DME & LME pound for pound. Not so true without effecting the flavor.

Since you are using prehopped it shouldn't be too big of a deal. I imagine your hop additions are late (after 15 min) so they will mostly affect flavor and arroma, not bitterness.