1-Gallon Brewers UNITE!

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

So I'm going to start my first 1 gallon in the next few months and want to start gathering supplies. I already have an extract kit so I have things like a 4 gallon kettle, autosiphon, tubing, bottle filler, 6.5 gallon bottling bucket, 6.5 gallon fermenting bucket, hydrometer, thermometer, etc. I know that the bottling bucket and fermenting bucket will be largely a waste, but I was wondering what would you recommend I still get?

I've looked at a handful of things, I've looked at Austin homebrew's 1 gallon starter and I like it because it has the 2 gallon pail and the bottle so I coudl run 2 batches at once.

For 20 bucks brooklyn brewshop has a glass jug with an airlock, screw cap, tubing and sanitize, which seems like a better deal than their whole kit since I have no need to racking cane and can get cheaper ingredients.

But is there better cheaper options or should I go with one of these?

 

[rawkstar320]

I love Porters...love coconut and wow a coconut porter sounds great. Love Amarillo in IPA's so

If you are up for it, I have a porter fermenting right now with a centennial ale and a Santiam SMASH. I have never done a coconut porter and would so a small batch if you send me your recipe and ill trade you 2 bottles of coconut for 2 bottles of Amarillo! I have room in my fermenter next weekend. Could work? Lol

For sure!
The amarillo is basically a blonde, but I haven't decided on ibu level yet. The porter should be cool, lots of C60 to get color and body, with some chocolate malt - because coconut and chocolate were made to be together. Not sure about hops though, probably fuggles or Kent goldings...hmmm

 

[cheesecake]

So I'm going to start my first 1 gallon in the next few months and want to start gathering supplies. I already have an extract kit so I have things like a 4 gallon kettle, autosiphon, tubing, bottle filler, 6.5 gallon bottling bucket, 6.5 gallon fermenting bucket, hydrometer, thermometer, etc. I know that the bottling bucket and fermenting bucket will be largely a waste, but I was wondering what would you recommend I still get?

I've looked at a handful of things, I've looked at Austin homebrew's 1 gallon starter and I like it because it has the 2 gallon pail and the bottle so I coudl run 2 batches at once.

For 20 bucks brooklyn brewshop has a glass jug with an airlock, screw cap, tubing and sanitize, which seems like a better deal than their whole kit since I have no need to racking cane and can get cheaper ingredients.

But is there better cheaper options or should I go with one of these?

Northern brewer has amazing kits. And here is there extra fermenter. Sure beats the 20 from Brooklyn

http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/small-batch-1-gallon-fermenting-jug.html

 

[divrguy]

Today is the third day of fermentation. Air bubbles were coming through the airlock prior to me adding the water but now has stopped. Should I be concerned?

Oops! I should have mentioned it but didn't. I guess there's a chance it won't start again?

Anything else I should do at this point? Increase the ambient temperature? It's currently about 65°.

Well, it's getting tough now.. Lol

Now, its time for one of the heavy hitters like Yooper or Dads or Revvy or Cheese to weigh in.. We need to know a little more about what you were brewing, what yeast you used and all the steps that led you to where you are.

My first reaction is that the fermentation stalled and I might just snatch a sample, check the gravity and let it ferment for a few days to see if it rousts back up. A slight swirl of the wort may help but you may not want to knock the krausen back into the wort. If your brew stalled and you are not at your expected FG, then I might pitch a little yeast and see if I can let it finish otherwise you have some additional fermentable wort that screws up your bottle priming and the final result of the beer.

You could warm it up a couple degrees but not above 68 or the top end of whatever yeast you used fermentation temp. That's why it's important to know a little more.
It might be time to relax a little and have a homebrew and stop thinking about it for a day or two to see what happens.

 

[Leadgolem]

I got a six gallon wine kit for Christmas- as soon as I find a bucket big enough I'll make it- but it'll take a year to age. Planting a small vineyard this spring- Zinfandel, Cab Franc, and Malbec

Awesomeness, just awesomeness.

I've got grapes ordered for spring planting too. I'm going to end up with 2 seedless concords and 2 seedless white concords.... Somebody wanted jam. I got my 4 thornless blackberries though.

 

[muleskinner90]

Well, it's getting tough now.. Lol

Now, its time for one of the heavy hitters like Yooper or Dads or Revvy or Cheese to weigh in.. We need to know a little more about what you were brewing, what yeast you used and all the steps that led you to where you are.

My first reaction is that the fermentation stalled and I might just snatch a sample, check the gravity and let it ferment for a few days to see if it rousts back up. A slight swirl of the wort may help but you may not want to knock the krausen back into the wort. If your brew stalled and you are not at your expected FG, then I might pitch a little yeast and see if I can let it finish otherwise you have some additional fermentable wort that screws up your bottle priming and the final result of the beer.

You could warm it up a couple degrees but not above 68 or the top end of whatever yeast you used fermentation temp. That's why it's important to know a little more.
It might be time to relax a little and have a homebrew and stop thinking about it for a day or two to see what happens.

Lol! I like the relaxing and having a homebrew advice!dont have any homebrew because I'm a noob. Having a Hudepohl amber lager as we speak. Irish red ale is what I'm brewing. The yeast was a Nottingham Ale brewers yeast. Can't take the gravity because I don't have a hydrometer. Don't even know how to use one! Lol!

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

Northern brewer has amazing kits. And here is there extra fermenter. Sure beats the 20 from Brooklyn

http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/small-batch-1-gallon-fermenting-jug.html

I'm not interested in NB's kits simply because I don't want to do 1 gallon extract, I want to do all grain (probably BIAB just for ease) so paying the extra 40+ for a recipe kit I don't really want, and lots of things I already have like a capper, filler, and auto siphon. maybe I'll talk to my brother and see if he would pay for the stuff I don't need like the capper and auto-siphon, and filler but I think I'd rather go cheap.

Thanks for that link, that beats the crap out of brooklyn brew shop's since it's 13 bucks. cheaper. Though I did just look and my LHBS has the same jug (or similar enough) for also 5 bucks, only difference is they don't seem to have the screw cap but they have this

http://www.love2brew.com/6-Drilled-Rubber-Stopper-p/cb008.htm

Which they say works with the jug, I'll have to go check it out.

Anything else you think would be a good idea to have if I were to go out and buy the fermenter tomorrow? Cause if not I may be going out soon to get that and some grains.

 

[BorealBrewer]

Muleskinner: did you aerate the water after you boiled it to sanitize it? Might have knocked the oxygen levels down a bit, causing the yeast to slow down a bit. I've had this problem with wines I've made. If this is the case - fermentation will start up again soon.

If you don't see activity in two or three days, try pitch more yeast. Did you use a full packet of Nottingham in the one-gallon batch? If not, how much did you start with?

I'd get a hydrometer ASAP - they're are really easy to use, and knowing what's going on with the gravity makes brewing a lot easier. If you find you like 1-gallon brewing, a refractometer is helpful, and uses smaller samples.

Good luck! Keep updating - this community is awesome, and more than willing to help!

 

[cheesecake]

I was talking just about the ingredient kits. Not there full 1 gallon kit. Im not a fan of the rubber stoppers I prefer the caps. The stoppers work fine. I would just buy a fermenter and then plan some brews. Most brew shops sell 5 or 10 lbs of base grain. And 1 lb of specialty grain. Just plan 3 or 4 brews buy the full lb of grain and use what you need and save the rest then just start building up your selection of specialty grain

 

[cheesecake]

I also reccomend the mini auto siphon. Way easier to use with the tiny jug

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

I was talking just about the ingredient kits. Not there full 1 gallon kit. Im not a fan of the rubber stoppers I prefer the caps. The stoppers work fine. I would just buy a fermenter and then plan some brews. Most brew shops sell 5 or 10 lbs of base grain. And 1 lb of specialty grain. Just plan 3 or 4 brews buy the full lb of grain and use what you need and save the rest then just start building up your selection of specialty grain

Awesome thanks for the advise. I think I may pickup the mini auto-siphon since it's only 9 bucks. A wine theif is another thing I will probably pick up as well.

When you bottle, do you just use an auto-siphon and bottling wand?

 

[JollyIsTheRoger]

Awesome thanks for the advise. I think I may pickup the mini auto-siphon since it's only 9 bucks. A wine theif is another thing I will probably pick up as well.

When you bottle, do you just use an auto-siphon and bottling wand?

That's how I do it, the wine thief may be more trouble than its worth for one gallon batches.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

That's how I do it, the wine thief may be more trouble than its worth for one gallon batches.

How do you take hydrometer readings? Or do you just let it sit?

 

[Leadgolem]

I guess I'm the only dork face who uses a funnel then? If it isn't in use, I have a 2 gallon drink dispenser I use as a bottling bucket. I let the brew sit in that for a week or so, then bottle from that. I've also got a 1 gallon bucket for margarita mix that is destined for either bottling bucket, or dispensing home brew from the fridge.

 

[Leadgolem]

How do you take hydrometer readings? Or do you just let it sit?

I wash my hydrometer in really hot water, and then stick it in the fermentor.

 

[BorealBrewer]

+1 LeadGolem. Really hot water, then a dip in high-proof neutral spirits, then into the jug, then back into hot water and spirits - that's how I treat my hydrometer for one gallon batches.

I'm currently loving a new refractometer for OG/FG readings. I've read a bit on here about the alcohol content messing with refrac readings - however, on two batches, the hydrometer and the refractometer have agreed within .001 points. Good 'nuff for me, and I worry less about infection/wasting precious beer!

 

[JollyIsTheRoger]

+1 LeadGolem. Really hot water, then a dip in high-proof neutral spirits, then into the jug, then back into hot water and spirits - that's how I treat my hydrometer for one gallon batches.

I'm currently loving a new refractometer for OG/FG readings. I've read a bit on here about the alcohol content messing with refrac readings - however, on two batches, the hydrometer and the refractometer have agreed within .001 points. Good 'nuff for me, and I worry less about infection/wasting precious beer!

Until you are at 80% alcohol you won't sanitize and even then its about a 5 min contact time. And refractometers will give you very off readings after fermentation. Mine are usually off by 3 or more Plato until I do the conversions.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

I wash my hydrometer in really hot water, and then stick it in the fermentor.

Ok I guess that makes sense I'd have StarSan and sanitize it that way.

 

[muleskinner90]

Muleskinner: did you aerate the water after you boiled it to sanitize it? Might have knocked the oxygen levels down a bit, causing the yeast to slow down a bit. I've had this problem with wines I've made. If this is the case - fermentation will start up again soon.

If you don't see activity in two or three days, try pitch more yeast. Did you use a full packet of Nottingham in the one-gallon batch? If not, how much did you start with?

I'd get a hydrometer ASAP - they're are really easy to use, and knowing what's going on with the gravity makes brewing a lot easier. If you find you like 1-gallon brewing, a refractometer is helpful, and uses smaller samples.

Good luck! Keep updating - this community is awesome, and more than willing to help!

I did not aerate after the boil. Used half a pack of yeast.

 

[bellmtbbq]

Awesomeness, just awesomeness.

I've got grapes ordered for spring planting too. I'm going to end up with 2 seedless concords and 2 seedless white concords.... Somebody wanted jam. I got my 4 thornless blackberries though.

Very cool! Yeah I'm going to do four rows of eight plants, Cab F, Pinot, Zin, Malbec. Should be fun

 

[divrguy]

I did not aerate after the boil. Used half a pack of yeast.

A one gallon batch with half a pack of yeast is plenty. Give it a little time.

 

[BigRock947]

Today is the third day of fermentation. Air bubbles were coming through the airlock prior to me adding the water but now has stopped. Should I be concerned?

A one gallon batch with half a pack of yeast is plenty. Give it a little time.

+1 with divrguy. I find that fermentation is very active the first 3 days and then slowly tapers off. Give the yeast time to work and finish making beer. The toughest part is having patience.

 

[jwalk4]

Woot, brewing right now.

 

[cheesecake]

Woot, brewing right now.

Jealous......im rodding poop drains. ....great fun

 

[jwalk4]

Jealous......im rodding poop drains. ....great fun

Ouch!

I'm making a larger batch since I'm back in full time classes on Monday, it's a 3.5 gallon Cascadian IPA. I'm feeling creative today*, so I've been snapping some photos. Maybe I'll post em', supposing that no one gets upset that its a 3.5 gallon batch and this is the 1 gallon thread. I would post it elsewhere, but this is really the only thread on here that I follow!

* - Read: had a few beers

 

[divrguy]

Ouch!

I'm making a larger batch since I'm back in full time classes on Monday, it's a 3.5 gallon Cascadian IPA. I'm feeling creative today*, so I've been snapping some photos. Maybe I'll post em', supposing that no one gets upset that its a 3.5 gallon batch and this is the 1 gallon thread. I would post it elsewhere, but this is really the only thread on here that I follow!

* - Read: had a few beers

Post em. I'm jealous because I'm down to one bottle left of my black IPA. I didn't know I would like this style that much!

 

[cheesecake]

Yeah post them u p

 

[cheesecake]

Post em. I'm jealous because I'm down to one bottle left of my black IPA. I didn't know I would like this style that much!

I think I have one bottle left of my black ipa too. Ill have to brew another batch

 

[divrguy]

I think I have one bottle left of my black ipa too. Ill have to brew another batch

Did you get the new brewer dialed in? If you get time one of these days post a video. I'd love to see it in action.

 

[divrguy]

I just popped open ( i'm off today ) one of Yoopers oatmeal stouts! Wow is this a great smooth stout! If you guys haven't tried it I highly recommend it!