1-Gallon Brewers UNITE!

[bobeer]

I've been brewing with a close friend for a little under a year now. We usually do 5 gallon batches and split them but this past weekend he was out of town. We hadn't brewed since April and I was itchin' to brew. We always borrow a pot from his restaurant to do the 5 gallon batches so I couldn't get it. I went over to my Aunt's place and saw she had a 3 gallon pot that she never uses. I borrowed it from her and did a 2.5 gallon batch of some pumpkin honey porter. I am amazed at how much easier it is to do 2.5 gallon batches. I was able to do everything I needed to in my house, on my stove, and ice bathed in the sink. Getting the boil was quick on my halogen stove and clean up was a breeze. I can still use all my current equipment and the ingredients are obviously half the price. As stated on here previously I also dig the fact I can have a wide selection of brews to choose from once I get my pipeline going again. I'm half tempted to brew 1 2.5 gallon batch when my friend isn't around and do 2 2.5 batches when he is around. If something comes out really well we can always brew it up with a 5 gallon batch.
I was intending on doing a 1 gallon batch this past weekend but decided to do a 2.5 gallon brew instead. I'm still thinking about doing something really special in a 1 gallon batch though. Maybe a barely wine that I age for a year. The sky is the limit! All I know is I'm really into this small batch idea atm!

 

[gwdraper4]

They look like really cool kits but why can't anyone release some lager kits? AHS, Brooklyn, or you guys don't make a single one. I'd love to try a lager kit for once instead of building one for myself.

The only reason we have not done any lagers is most people would not have a dedicated mini fridge to maintain proper lagering temperatures. Standard fridge temperatures are a little too cold (at around 40 deg F) to maintain healthy fermentation. That being said, it has become apparent that there are several folks that have been requesting lagers, so we intend to release some within the next several months and see how they sell. Let us know your favorite styles or something you would like to see. Cheers!

 

[bellmtbbq]

The only reason we have not done any lagers is most people would not have a dedicated mini fridge to maintain proper lagering temperatures. Standard fridge temperatures are a little too cold (at around 40 deg F) to maintain healthy fermentation. That being said, it has become apparent that there are several folks that have been requesting lagers, so we intend to release some within the next several months and see how they sell. Let us know your favorite styles or something you would like to see. Cheers!

Sounds awesome! I would be a buyer. People could always just use a cooler, I can maintain 51 F easy with frozen water bottles. I think a Lite American, cheap to produce on your end, would be popular, and quick to lager. I'd personally love to see a Bohemian pilsner. Buy a lot of w-34/70 and split the packets in half for each gallon kit, IMO.

 

[TimpanogosSlim]

This is the closest I've seen to a 1-gal keg.
http://www.williamsbrewing.com/175-GALLON-NEW-BALL-LOCK-CORNELIUS-TYPE-KEG-P3049.aspx

There are the 5l (1.3g) party-star systems, but it's hardly the same as a corny.

 

[jwalk4]

How do you guys measure out your hops for a one gallon batch? Divide the hops amount by 5 when scaling down a 5 gallon recipe? Can you find scales that measure that small?

I'm super curious since I'm thinking of doing some gallon brews myself.

 

[bleme]

How do you guys measure out your hops for a one gallon batch? Divide the hops amount by 5 when scaling down a 5 gallon recipe? Can you find scales that measure that small?

I'm super curious since I'm thinking of doing some gallon brews myself.

Dividing by 5 will get you close enough. My scale measures a tenth of a gram and was pretty cheap - $11 shipped if I remember right.

 

[Gixxer]

Do you use beersmith? I use that to figure out hop weights by changing the AA of the hop I am using in beersmith to match the pack I have on hand. Then I look at what IBU I want at a certain boil time and adjust the amount till I get the right IBU for that addition. Also changed my hop weight units to grams in beersmith. I mainly use pellets so I can readily use my reloading scale. I convert grams to grains (measurement unit for weighing smokeless propellant) and press on with business. I am sure some folks have made recipes by just cutting the hop additions in fifths but what if your current batch of hops has a different AA than last time you purchased the same hop? Won't be the same if you just cut the amount in fifths. But like mentioned above it could be close enough...

 

[TimpanogosSlim]

Yeah, you need a gram scale to measure hops for most 1 gallon recipes. And you'll find that you keep a lot of extra hops in the freezer.

The scale need not be expensive. Ironically the problem is finding a 1/10th gram scale that doesn't look like drug paraphernalia. I spent $25 getting one that looks like lab equipment. Just because.

I recommend learning about hop substitutions and aau/ibu math. Also using brewing software - brewtarget will do all the math for you, just plug in the 5 gallon recipe and ask it to scale it for you.

It'll also do the hop math, but what you need to look out for is most recipes tell you how much of some hop at a given AAU, but they don't tell you how many IBUs they are adding with that addition. If you plug the hops into brewtarget and add the AAU from the recipe it will tell you how many IBUs are being added at each step, and you can then figure out how much hops to use based on the IBU target rather than an arbitrary quantity and time.

Oh, and you can use any hop as a 60 minute bittering hop. the flavor and aroma boils off anyway.

 

[Johnnyhitch1]

How do you guys measure out your hops for a one gallon batch? Divide the hops amount by 5 when scaling down a 5 gallon recipe? Can you find scales that measure that small?

I'm super curious since I'm thinking of doing some gallon brews myself.

gram scales off ebay or amazon
its always good to be precise

 

[UnderThePorchBrewing]

How do you guys measure out your hops for a one gallon batch? Divide the hops amount by 5 when scaling down a 5 gallon recipe? Can you find scales that measure that small?

I'm super curious since I'm thinking of doing some gallon brews myself.

http://www.harborfreight.com/digital-pocket-scale-93543.html

this is the scale I use. we have a store nearby so was easy to get. is close in accuracy. if you check the reviews it is +/- 0.1gm so a variance of .2gm

 

[Yesfan]

Man, I wished I had seen this before I bought my starter kit.

Northern Brewer 1 Gallon Small Batch Starter Kit


The only downer is the limited supply of 1 gallon recipe kits compared to 5 gallon extract/allgrain kits. If one wanted to move on to bigger batches, it looks like you wouldn't have to add much (ferment buckets, etc.). Looks like a good starter for the compete noob as they wouldn't have to sink a lot of upfront cost in brewing equipment.

 

[gwdraper4]

Man, I wished I had seen this before I bought my starter kit.

Northern Brewer 1 Gallon Small Batch Starter Kit


The only downer is the limited supply of 1 gallon recipe kits compared to 5 gallon extract/allgrain kits. If one wanted to move on to bigger batches, it looks like you wouldn't have to add much (ferment buckets, etc.). Looks like a good starter for the compete noob as they wouldn't have to sink a lot of upfront cost in brewing equipment.

We've got a wider selection of small batch kits and we plan on adding a few more over the next couple weeks. Check us out: www.smallbatchhomebrew.com

 

[Yesfan]

We've got a wider selection of small batch kits and we plan on adding a few more over the next couple weeks. Check us out: www.smallbatchhomebrew.com

Bookmarked!


Thanks very much for the link. I'll definitely check it out.

 

[Halbrust]

What's everyone using for there carboy, fermentor/secondary?
I'm thinking I'll use the same 1 gallon water bottles I do for mead (with a blow off tube)

 

[Calichusetts]

What's everyone using for there carboy, fermentor/secondary?
I'm thinking I'll use the same 1 gallon water bottles I do for mead (with a blow off tube)

The one gallon carbons are great, I use the 38mm screw tops which fit amazing and I prefer them to bungs

 

[gwdraper4]

What's everyone using for there carboy, fermentor/secondary?
I'm thinking I'll use the same 1 gallon water bottles I do for mead (with a blow off tube)

2 gallon buckets with air-tight sealing lid.

 

[doc_rob]

I learned to brew with this beautiful book:

http://beercraftbook.com/book/

Look at this! The hops/malt guides alone are worth the price of the book.

It has great info, and great illustrations. It's also oriented around 1 gallon all grain. The thing that's interesting about 1 gallon all grain is that it removes pretty much every process complication that good all grain brewing typically introduces. It's more like a casual cooking experience than a macho brew day operation.

- zero need for yeast starters
- BIAB mashing is basically equivalent to steeping grains (you can even hold temp in an oven)
- Getting a rolling boil on a stovetop is trivial
- Ice bath chilling is actually effective
- Whirlpooling and aerating can be replaced by pouring through a strainer on the way to the fermenter
- Ferment in any old 1 gallon jug
- Temperature controling your fermenter is easier
- Bottling day goes fast!

Equipment costs go way down, ingredient costs go way down, and you still get great beer.

I do 5 gallon batches because I don't get to brew often and want enough beer, but I totally see the appeal of 1 gallon batches.

 

[DPBISME]

So all that time for one night of drinking?

We do "pints and there would only be eight beers.

I mean last night I had two friends over. we had 6 pints of beer and only because one guy had a BUSH when we started.

I upgraded to 11 gallon batches because 5 was not enough..

I have even tied doing two batches at the same time (All-Grain)... the time difference is not that great you are just busy.

I mean I don't look down on you I just think it would be a waste of time and effort. Of course you explaned yourself well so if it works for you fine, it just would not work for me...

 

[Revvy]

So all that time for one night of drinking?

We do "pints and there would only be eight beers.

I mean last night I had two friends over. we had 6 pints of beer and only because one guy had a BUSH when we started.

I upgraded to 11 gallon batches because 5 was not enough..

I have even tied doing two batches at the same time (All-Grain)... the time difference is not that great you are just busy.

I mean I don't look down on you I just think it would be a waste of time and effort. Of course you explaned yourself well so if it works for you fine, it just would not work for me...

So you just HAVE to share your wisdom or opinion about this in a thread where people clearly are ENJOYING brewing one gallon batches, and talking about it?

Does the thread title say "What's your OPINION about one gallon batches?" Or is the theme of the tread, people who are INTERESTED in and non-judgmental about it to get together?

How would you like it if one of us came in and peed in your living room....Does pissing in a thread like this make you feel somehow SPECIAL?

Do you think anyone really CARES whether or not you want to make 1 gallon batches or not? Are we suddenly going to bow down to your whims and wishes and make bigger batches?

What if anything constructive is you posting here contributing to this discussion? I dunno but it sounds pretty judgmental to me....

 

[Sippin37]

I just recently purchased a few 1 gallon jugs along with a 3 gallon carboy. I was going to use those for secondarying (is that a word?) a 5 gallon batch and experimenting with dry hops and oaking and all that. But now I may just start using those 1 gallon carboys for some small batches during the winter when I really dont feel like sitting outside here in Chicago come January. I already BIAB so I could see this being a lot of fun. I love brew days, so I wouldn't consider making a small batch to be a waste. But rather a safe way of experimenting and if the beer does come out undrinkable then you are only dumping a gallon and not 5.

 

[DirtyHaus]

1 gallon batches? sounds more like a glorified yeast starter...

kidding, i brew 1 gallon batches for experimental beers. works great!

 

[blaster_54738]

I just brewed my first 1 gallon batch today but have a feeling there will be many more to come as 5 gallons will be difficult at the new place I'm moving to. Brewed some Caribou Slobber

 

[2ned-up]

In process of brewing my first gallon batch! With my own homegrown hops too!

I've been brewing 5 gallon batches for a while and there is a learning curve scaling down to 1 gallon batch!

 

[Manny_E]

is there a drawback of using a 5 gal carboy as fermenter vessel for 2 gal batch?

 

[jonmohno]

is there a drawback of using a 5 gal carboy as fermenter vessel for 2 gal batch?

Headspace not so good. Get a 2-3 gallon carboy/bucket.

 

[jonmohno]

1 gallon batches? Sounds more like a glorified yeast starter...

Kidding, i brew 1 gallon batches for experimental beers. Works great!

or almost a 12 pack. ! mAYBE possibly a good experimental batch? Dumping or having a mediocre 5 gallon batch would be terrible comparably.

 

[bleme]

is there a drawback of using a 5 gal carboy as fermenter vessel for 2 gal batch?

Check your bakeries around town. They usually have 2-3 gallon food grade buckets they throw away on a regular basis.

 

[Leadgolem]

1 gallon batches? sounds more like a glorified yeast starter...

kidding, i brew 1 gallon batches for experimental beers. works great!

I usually do this in 2 quart fruit juice bottles. I usually brew in some cheap 4 gallon water bottles I found at Sam's Club. That gives me a 3.5 gallon batch.

 

[Revvy]

I've been brewing 5 gallon batches for a while and there is a learning curve scaling down to 1 gallon batch!

What's the learning curve? The process is the same, the ingredients are the same....the ONLY difference is that there's only 1/5 of them.....and the fermentor's smaller....

 

[2ned-up]

What's the learning curve? The process is the same, the ingredients are the same....the ONLY difference is that there's only 1/5 of them.....and the fermentor's smaller....

The learning curve for me is the "in the kitchen" I started brewing on my 3 tier gravity system doing 5 gallon batches. I brew on that really efficiently so the transition to the kitchen had me a bit turned around....