1-Gallon Brewers UNITE!

[jongrill]

Bottling Rye ale in a few minutes

 

[divrguy]

Beeeeeeeeeer....

Going to bottle my barley wine and my ris tonight. Im also going to keg a founders breakfast stout kit I brewed like 3 months ago

Which R.I.S. did you make? Clone or yours? After having a Rasputin R.I.S. I'm thinking I have to clone that. It's fantastic!

 

[truekey]

Guys I caved in and got a three gallon carb and im looking to buy a 5 gallon brew pot. But my two one gallon carboys will always see some action.

I was getting bummed that I was only making 10-12 beers when they came out really well. 30ish beers is nicer once I've dialed it in

So now I can get REALLY experimental with my 1 gallons. Going to try some crazy brews soon!!

 

[BGBC]

Got my first small batch in primary on Sunday morning. The only issue was when I realized that my intended swamp cooler had a big leak :smack:. Smaller plastic container doesn't hold the same water volume, but replacing two thin ice packs 2x daily has the ferm temp fluctuating b/w 62-68. Still better than ambient I figure.

Planning my next brew for this weekend, a Honey Wit, using some mystery Belgian yeast harvested from a few Great Divide Orabelle tripels. I've stepped it up with a couple starters, and it's really taken off. Planning to use half and save half for future brews.

Thanks again to all on here for the small batch wisdom!

 

[bleme]

replacing two thin ice packs 2x daily has the ferm temp fluctuating b/w 62-68. Still better than ambient I figure.

I just set my homes thermostat to 61F all winter. It has nothing to do with brewing. I'm just not into paying a huge heating bill - not that I don't take advantage of the situation...

 

[thewhoner]

Just started doing it this way myself. There's an allure to washing yeast, bottling 10 bottles or so (or using this nifty little 5L keg I just bought). The time spent is so much more appropriate for a lazy bastard like me. I'll gladly brew bigger batches if I make something I like.

I'm excited to look through the thread for peoples set ups.... Quick question, is it worth making a metal mash for this?

 

[divrguy]

I just set my homes thermostat to 61F all winter. It has nothing to do with brewing. I'm just not into paying a huge heating bill - not that I don't take advantage of the situation...

Holy cow! 62! Wouldn't that be nice lol my wife would have a cow. Can't get ours below 68

 

[divrguy]

Just started doing it this way myself. There's an allure to washing yeast, bottling 10 bottles or so (or using this nifty little 5L keg I just bought). The time spent is so much more appropriate for a lazy bastard like me. I'll gladly brew bigger batches if I make something I like.

Lol.. Funny I'm laid back about brewing but such a anal bast*** about other stuff. I just harvest some trub some times. In a jar.. It works.

I'm excited to look through the thread for peoples set ups.... Quick question, is it worth making a metal mash for this?

What's a metal mash! a mash tun made out of metal? I'm confused lol

 

[hvtopiwala]

hey guys, been reading up on brewing 1 gallon beers for quite awhile now...i am looking to brew 1 gallon batches because i dont drink a lot, and i dont have a lot of space...i was looking at different kits, primarly the northern brewery 1 gallon kits and the brooklyn 1 gallon kits. which do you guys prefer? i definitely want to go All Grain and have more control over my brews. also, is there a reason a lot of 1 gallon brews i see done are with BIAB? can you use BIAB with the brooklyn or nothern brewery kits?

 

[Leadgolem]

Guys I caved in and got a three gallon carb and im looking to buy a 5 gallon brew pot. But my two one gallon carboys will always see some action.

I was getting bummed that I was only making 10-12 beers when they came out really well. 30ish beers is nicer once I've dialed it in

So now I can get REALLY experimental with my 1 gallons. Going to try some crazy brews soon!!

I do that all the time. My larger batches are usually in 5 gallon food grade buckets though. They are great for up to about 4 gallons.

If I'm going to make something I know I'm really going to like, and want some to age, I make larger batches. The same goes if I'm making a sessionable. I make really strong brew, and anything I'm not really sure about, in smaller batches.

 

[biggdaddymatt]

hey guys, been reading up on brewing 1 gallon beers for quite awhile now...i am looking to brew 1 gallon batches because i dont drink a lot, and i dont have a lot of space...i was looking at different kits, primarly the northern brewery 1 gallon kits and the brooklyn 1 gallon kits. which do you guys prefer? i definitely want to go All Grain and have more control over my brews. also, is there a reason a lot of 1 gallon brews i see done are with BIAB? can you use BIAB with the brooklyn or nothern brewery kits?

I got the small batch brewing kit from northern brewer. Comparing them I think its the better of the 2. They are about the same price but you get more with the nb kit. Other more experienced people can comment on the biab process but I don't see why you couldn't do it with both. As long as you got an all grain recipe or by the ingredients for one.

 

[hvtopiwala]

ok cool, one thing im a bit confused with, is why do a BIAB vs just doing a normal brew?

 

[Leadgolem]

ok cool, one thing im a bit confused with, is why do a BIAB vs just doing a normal brew?

Please define normal brew in this context? Are you referring to an extract brew?

 

[hvtopiwala]

sorry, i meant BIAB vs non-BIAB. like doing an all grain brew without using the BIAB method. (not sure if im wording it correctly!)

 

[Leadgolem]

Here is a good description of the three common mashing methods. I think you mean, why BIAB vs fly or batch sparge.
http://www.bagbrewer.com/mashing-methods.html

Simply put, BIAB is easy to do well. Also, with only 1 gallon of desired final liquid volume you can do it in a large cooking pot. No special equipment but the bag needed.

 

[hvtopiwala]

BIAB it is for now do you recommend using the northern brewers 1 gallon kit for that? and what size kettle shall i grab?

 

[Leadgolem]

BIAB it is for now do you recommend using the northern brewers 1 gallon kit for that? and what size kettle shall i grab?

I should probably get back to you after I've actually done it. I understand the mechanics of it, and the arguments for the different methods, but I'll let someone who has more experience provide you a better answer.

 

[cheesecake]

Which R.I.S. did you make? Clone or yours? After having a Rasputin R.I.S. I'm thinking I have to clone that. It's fantastic!

Ill post it up when I get time to get on my netbook where its saved.

 

[cheesecake]

BIAB it is for now do you recommend using the northern brewers 1 gallon kit for that? and what size kettle shall i grab?

Ive done biab and non biab. They both work. I would try to go with a 3 gallon pot. And are you refering to there 1 gallon equipment kit?

 

[lebucheron]

Go for a 5 gal pot for 1 gal batches, then you can do the no-sparge method with decent space left for stronger brews (I did a 2.5gal batch in one, but it's just baaaarely enough room in there for everything.)

 

[bellmtbbq]

As I move into 2-2.5 gallon batches, I'll probably pick up a 3 gallon better bottle. Works for one gallon batches too I guess

 

[hvtopiwala]

Ive done biab and non biab. They both work. I would try to go with a 3 gallon pot. And are you refering to there 1 gallon equipment kit?

yeah i was referring to this kit: http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/...er-kits/1-gallon-small-batch-starter-kit.html should i get a second 1 gallon jug for the second fermentation tank if i want to do that?

so if i get a 5 gallon pot, am i actually going to be boiling that much water? haha...if i am, my concern is how do you guys move your pot from your stove to the water bath without spilling it everywhere??

 

[biggdaddymatt]

With the nb kit doing extracts you are only boiling 5 quarts of water.

 

[hvtopiwala]

wut about doing all grain?

 

[brevity]

wut about doing all grain?

I've done a 2.5 gallon all grain batch with a full boil in a 5 gallon pot. Pre boil volume is about 3.5 gallons for me. Lifting and moving the pot with 2.5 gallons is no big deal for me.

 

[JollyIsTheRoger]

I have a 3 gallon pot that I do full volume biab mashes in and only topped it out with a 1.120 og barleywine

 

[jwalk4]

I have a 3 gallon pot that I do full volume biab mashes in and only topped it out with a 1.120 og barleywine

Really? 1 gallon Full volume No sparge BIAB in a 3 gallon pot? I have a 3 gallon pot and wanted to do BIAB for 1 gallon brews but wasn't brave enough to get my grain wet, fearing I would run out of space.

 

[jwalk4]

So, for a 1 gallon recipe calling for 2.25 lb of grain and 2.55 gallons of strike water to mash in, then according to the Greenbay Racker Can I mash it Calc? I should use up close to 2.71 Gallons of space in my pot.

Does that sound about right to you?

 

[bleme]

Really? 1 gallon Full volume No sparge BIAB in a 3 gallon pot? I have a 3 gallon pot and wanted to do BIAB for 1 gallon brews but wasn't brave enough to get my grain wet, fearing I would run out of space.

It really helps if you squeeze the grain bag like a boa with a nice juicy rat.

 

[hvtopiwala]

ok im about to pull the trigger on the 1 gallon kit from northern brewery, gonna find a 5 gallon kettle...should i get extra 1 gallon jugs for secondary fermentation and bottling?