Anyone starting brewing smaller (2-3g) batches & then go back to 5g batches or lrgr?

When I started brewing, I did a couple of the std 5g extract kits. After 3-4 of those, I've moved to BIAB and continued on with 5g batches. Being all excited in this new hobby, I was brewing several times per month and suddenly I had 2 kegs and cases and cases of bottles filled and realized I had too much beer.

So in this time, I realized with all grain, I could now move down to smaller batches, so I've slowed down a bit, to drink some of my stash and doing 2-3g batches. For the most part, it's been working well.

I was thinking about a SS fermenter and came across the new little SS BrewTech 3.5g Brew Bucket Mini's. They seem perfect and would save on $$ and space. However, then you're of course locked into smaller batches.

Just curious - has anyone else moved to smaller batches and then found they wanted to go back to the 5-10g std size batches?

 

I'm at the beginning of the "brew every weekend" phase but... we've done 3 5 gallon batches... and then 2 1 gallon batches with my gf and 2 2.5 gallon batches myself.

I think it's basically if I have anyone going in on costs with me or not that determines my batch size... or if I'm experimenting or doing something I know I love.

 

That's why you just buy more equipment, rather than trade what you have for new stuff. If you can already accommodate 5 gallon batches, keep your larger kettle and fermenter. Just get a smaller fermenter if you really need one.

I have a 6 tap keezer with four 3 gallon kegs and two 5 gallon kegs. I much prefer smaller batches for most things - geez, 3 gallons is still a case and a half of beer! I save the 5 gallon batches for stuff I know I really like, and/or beers that will stand up to aging (since it takes a long time to drain those 5 gallons at my house).

I also keep a few Tap-a-Drafts for experiments (about 1.625 gallons per bottle).

Finally, just a thought, but while that SS Mini is super slick and I'd love to have one, it certainly doesn't save any $$ over a simple Ale Pail. A 3 gallon batch fits just fine in one of those, too.

 

Thanks for the thoughts. Yeah, I used buckets now, and while there's nothing wrong with them, I'm lusting over something stainless. I was going to buy a couple of the newer Brew Buckets until I saw they had the smaller ones.

But you're right, worst case is that you sell it later on if it doesn't fit your needs anymore and buy something else. I guess that's the fun of it. And the little 3g ones would be nice for some mead or whatnot.

 

This is BLASPHEMY!!

At one time I had an average of 20 bottles of 12 different beers = 240+ bottles of beer.... Not nearly enough.

I brew smaller BIAB batches mid winter inside when it is too cold (for me) to brew on my porch.

But no, I don't brew smaller batches for any other reason.....

 

Wifey doesn't mind the 2.5 g brown plastic Brewdemon conicals on the kitchen counter. But I do most of my 3 g batches in a 5g corney. The Mini SS brewtech is sharp though.

And no I have no interest in going back to 5g. I have six 2.5g (and one 1.75 g) kegs to serve from. My 5s, 10 & 15 g are for fermenting.

 

I've only got 2 kegs, but both are the AEB 2.5g's. I really like them. Very manageable size.

 

I'm really enjoying brewing 3 gallon biab batches. The main downside to that volume I have found is brewing for events or brewing beers both my wife and I enjoy. For certain beers (family favorites or lagers) I always do 5-10g batches on my 3 vessel system.
I have 6 3g kegs and 10 5g and it would be nice to trade some of my 5's in for more 3's

As for the brew bucket. I think it's to expensive. If you wan stainless for that volume you could convert a pin lock keg for a third of the cost I would think.

 

I've been using 1 gal and 2 gal batches for my experiments using 1 gallon cider bottles or 2 gallon plastic buckets. Been using my 5 gallon equipment for everything else.

 

I do the same thing, as I don't enjoy sitting around a kettle in the garage when it's single digits. Of course, since the OP lives in Florida, that's not going to be an issue.

However, it's nice to do 2.5 gal BIAB batches on the stove top just to experiment a little. I can do a couple batches back-to-back and yield a case of bottles from each. And sometimes, there are beer styles that I don't really need 5 gallons of.

 

Luckily swmbo brews with me!! Always warm in our kitchen.
Almost just bought a burner for 23 bucks to brew outside but she said no...

 

She'll change her mind when you have a massive boilover on the stove.

 

I have done about 9 5 gallon batches and 1 2.5 gallon batch (sour, extra .5 gallons was for the dregs to chew on).

I don't understand why someone would do less than a 5 gallon batch (unless space is an issue), cause it's pretty much the same amount of work and cleaning when I did my 2.5 gallon batch.

Hell, it was actually more work when I did the 2.5 gal batch, as I had to clean and sanitize 2 1 gallon fermentors..

Don't drink enough to justify a 5 gallon batch? Simple solution, drink more, save some for later, or give it away and start racking up IOUs. It's a win/win in my book.

 

This comment has always puzzled me.

More beer=more better.

I've had people ask me 'do you really want 5 gallons of an imperial stout or ipa?'; uh yeah, why not? No one is forcing ypu to drink it within an alloted time frame... granted, an imperial ipa should usually be drank as fresh as possible, but don't imperial stouts and barleywines get better as they bottle condition?

 

I started doing 2.5 gallon batches awhile back due to space constraints but now I prefer it. I went the stainless route by using a 5g keg to ferment in. The Brew Bucket looks nice but the keg was only $55 used and I can transfer to my 2.5 gallon kegs with CO2.

 

When I've done 2.5 gallon batches it's been when I take a 5g kit, split it, and experiment with one and follow (mostly) the recipe on the other 2.5g

 

For me, it's space that is the issue.

 

I have been brewing 5g batches, but did a 1g stovetop biab batch this last weekend. Fun to do, but still a lot of work for just a few bottles, especially difficult keeping mash temps. Maybe should have used my immersion chiller instead of an ice bath in the sink. But I still think I can pull off a small batch in the evening, no sparge biab (fly sparge for larger batches because I can), boil times and clean up are much quicker for me. Might try a 2g batch next time, bought a bucket and lid from HD today

 

I started out doing 2.5-3 gallon BIAB batches, really enjoyed it, and thought I would stick with that size or smaller because brewing was (and is) fun and wanted to be able to do it more often. My other driving force was wanting to make all of my in home consumed beer because the price of good beer in NYC is insane. The problem was, between myself and my girlfriend, I wasn't able to keep up without brewing every couple weeks which wasn't really possible long term because of other weekend responsibilities and interests. Add that to wanting to have enough on hand to share with friends if I were to have the over or maybe even have a party and I had nowhere near the capacity. I still enjoy having the ability to make smaller batches to try some new stuff out but I am currently working on upsizing to having the ability to make 5-10 gallon batches for stuff I really like and to be able to have events once in a while.

 

I started off with canned kits, then stovetop 5g all-grain. Then decided that I wanted to take things to the next level and go with a dedicated electric kettle. After not too long I decided to go with 10g capabilities. This way I can make large batches of things I like, and still make the smaller ones when the mood strikes.

To this day, the mood has not struck. Probably been almost a year and 20+ batches. The first run through was a 5g, then the next a 10g. The amount of extra time and effort it took to end up with double the results was unbelievable. I have never thought about dropping down. I do plan a RIS and belgian quad upcoming, those will be 5g due to tun limitations.

 

honestly, I do 2.5g batches and love it. everything is easier to move and I get to have a lot of variety (brew more often) without taking up a lot of space for bigger equipment. I enjoy the process of brewing so to me it isn't a drawback.
i have one mini fridge for fermenting/aging/cold-crashing and one for serving from a 2.5g keg (low cost to purchase and to run).
I can bottle a batch in a case of 22oz bombers and it is quicker to do this than for 5gallons.
everything cost so much less due to the size and is much more manageable for me to lift (my aeration technique consists of pouring the wort into the fermenter through a large funnel...works great, but only if you can lift the kettle (not very feasible at a 5g size).
pros and cons, more beer would definitely be better, but if it's just for your personal consumption then sometimes it's your waistline and liver to think about. ; )

 

Old thread, but.... was just thinking of something similar. I have a 7g Chronical and am looking to add 2 of these mini buckets. Been thinking of brewing a 5 (or more likely 5.5g) batch and splitting into two of these buckets and then using different yeast strains. Christmas is coming and I really don't want or need anything, so this is a good want! I have a GF and enjoy the easy brew days (inside unless its really nice out) and I have room in my ferment chamber for these and my Chronical. OP, have you gone the 2.5g route and mini bucket yet?

 

I scaled down to 3 gallon batches and then back up again to 5 because I found my process was more awkward with 3.