Anyone ever do 15 gallon batches?

I'm planning on brewing the Haus Ale this weekend and since I have a 20 gallon kettle, I'm thinking I should be able to squeeze out a 15 gallon batch.

I'm figuring on starting with 18 gallons and boil down to 16 to split between 3 bucket fermenters.

Anyone else try this?

I have someone in my brew club that brews 15 gallon batches almost exclusively. His brew kettle is 20 gallons as well. I can't speak to your volumes cause I could boil off 2 gallons in an hour doing a 5 gallon batch but my equipment is different, obviously, from yours.

My next upgrade will be a 20 gallon kettle to replace my 15 gallon keggle. This will give me some wiggle room for longer boils without worry of boil over and larger batches. I was thinking about trying some 13 gallon batches. That is probably pushing it in a 14.5 gallon fermenators and a blow off tube will absolutely be required. But if it works, I can get two 5 gallon kegs and a 3 gallon in one shot. I happen to have five 3 gallon kegs...

That is a big brew pot! I never have, but I have a keggle I am planning on doing big batches. I will keep you posted...

Yuri does doesn't he??

I have a 30 gallon kettle, usually do 20-25 gallon batches, but some smaller also if its not a house session brew.

Not intentionally. I have a cobbled sanke system.

On my last brewday, after filling my kettle to the 14 gal mark, I still ended up with 3 gallons of 1.031 wort from the sparge before I hit 1.018. I set that aside in the chest freezer to cool it thinking I'd use it for starters or something.

After a 90 minute boil I discovered I still had 12 gallons of 1.069 wort in the kettle. So, I tossed caution to the wind and blended the boiled with the non boiled. Pitched yeast and dubbed it "Blender Beer" (a stretch I know).

I haven't bothered to calculate the SG of the dilution. I expect it comein around 4%ABV and it tastes wonderfull.

I do 12 gallon batches but boil 13 gallons in a keggle. That's as close to 15 as I can get. It works well, too. I'd say do it.

John Beere said:

My next upgrade will be a 20 gallon kettle to replace my 15 gallon keggle. This will give me some wiggle room for longer boils without worry of boil over and larger batches. I was thinking about trying some 13 gallon batches. That is probably pushing it in a 14.5 gallon fermenators and a blow off tube will absolutely be required. But if it works, I can get two 5 gallon kegs and a 3 gallon in one shot. I happen to have five 3 gallon kegs...

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Yeah, the Blingmann 20 gallon works great for 10 gallon batches with absolutely no worry for boil overs, but since my fermenter freezer got upgraded from 10 to 14 cu. ft., I believe I can fit 3 buckets in there.

Bigger grain bill, but an extra keg from each batch. That will be nice.

I'm gonna do on Sunday. 1 batch of Haus Ale and there goes half a bag of Pale 2 row. Woot!

Thanks for the feedback!

I do 11-13 gallon batches with a keggle and a 17 gallon capacity fermenter.

Edwort,
Go for it. As long as you can get them all in the cooler.
I have been doing all my fermentation refrigerated in my conical and Sanke kegs (no mods) just a big stopper with a 3/4 blowoff and I catch the yeast for the next batch in a sanitary container vented to a water lock container. I just love the space I have now. It makes brewing a pleasure.

Yup, I'm a 15 gal brewer. I use a single conical, though, rather than splitting the batch across smaller fermenters. I use a 20 gal kettle, and even with 17.5 gallons in it, I've never even approached a boil over. Better have a hell of a burner, though...and a pump.

I had a hard time squeezing 15 gallons out of my old system. . .12 was about the tops. . .although, I do 20 + gallon brews now. . . :rockin:

I do 2 13 gallon batches every brew day. Fill to 14 gallons, boil 90 min and top off to 13 with water.

Using dry yeast Ed?

B-Dub said:

I do 2 13 gallon batches every brew day. Fill to 14 gallons, boil 90 min and top off to 13 with water.

Using dry yeast Ed?

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For my Haus Ale, yep. Nottingham...:rockin:

It pays to buy a few at a time.

i get 14 gallons even in my 15 gal keggle. For a 34 pound grain bill i have about 8 1/2 gallons of water for mash out. and i fill my hot L tank to the top. ( 15 gal ) at 175. at the end i get 14 gal even.