I'm having issues dialing in my carbonation level. I think it may be due to not having my volume known exactly.
Sometimes I get 6 bottles, once in a while I get 8.
Does anyone else have this problem? How have you dealt with it?
I'm pretty new to 1 gallon brewing, and have only actually bottled one batch so far, so take my advice for what it's worth.
Like you, I was concerned about accurately guaging my volume when doing my priming sugar calculation. So what I did was, I took an empty 1 gallon fermenter and filled it with water, then sat it next to my 1 gallon jug of ready-to-be-bottled beer and poured water out until the liquid levels were the same.
Then, I poured the water into my 5L Erlenmyer flask that I use for starters to get an accurate measurement of the total volume of the batch. Then, I poured the water back into the jug and dumped it until the water level was at the same level as the yeast/trub layer in the jug of beer. I then once again poured that water into the 5L Erlenmeyer flask to figure out how much volume that yeast/trub layer accounted for.
I simply subtracted the volume of the yeast/trub layer from the value I measured for the total volume, and used that number as my beer volume for priming sugar calculations. My total beer volume ended up being 2,250 mL. According to my research, a carbonation level of around 2.4 vols was appropriate for the style (American Brown Ale), and using the priming sugar calculator at Northern Brewer's website, I converted my volume to gallons and worked out exactly how much dextrose I needed. I weighed it out on the same little kitchen scale I use for weighing out my hops, boiled it with a half a cup of water, let it cool, then bottled as normal.
With S04 I've learned I need to up the sugar at bottling day if I want any kind of carb, most (using the calc) end up cask carbed and not US bottle carbed.
BikerBrewer - I never knew about those BrewDemon Conicals. Those look fun - a little pricy for what they are, but definitely an exciting option to play with for a small fermenter.
I sure like mine, usually use carb tabs when I bottle a batch and I bottle straight from the fermentor. Very quick and easy. Used a the bottling bucket on the Irish stout to get the carb level I wanted plus I added some sour stout to it as well.
Hey folks - thinking of trying out "BrewCrate" - anyone heard of them or used them before? They seem relatively new, but they are a monthly "box" service that ships a new 1 Gallon recipe to you every month. Starting next month they will have two different recipes to choose from?
Sounds kinda fun - think I will give them a try. Next months recipe is "Full Steam Ahead" a California common "steamer" beer.
Hey folks - thinking of trying out "BrewCrate" - anyone heard of them or used them before? They seem relatively new, but they are a monthly "box" service that ships a new 1 Gallon recipe to you every month. Starting next month they will have two different recipes to choose from?
Sounds kinda fun - think I will give them a try. Next months recipe is "Full Steam Ahead" a California common "steamer" beer.
I have brewed just one of their kits so far, and it's about two weeks from being ready to drink. However, I did have a good conversation with them prior to buying-in. They brew the kits themselves to make sure they can be consistent and to only sell kits that they like to brew and drink themselves.
The kit is packaged similar to the one-gallon Austin Homebrew kits...BIAB kit including just enough hops for the brew. They also throw twelve bottle caps in each box.
I plan to start my second kit tonight.
Sent using the Home Brew App.
$20 a month isn't bad either. I'm going to have to consider doing this!
This past weekend, I decided to scale up a 1 gallon recipe of centennial blonde (from hbt) to 2 gallons (first time attempt). I was about to ferment in my 2-gallon bucket, but I had used (for the first time) bleach to clean it. It smelled like a swimming pool even after several rinses, so i didn't dare put my wort in there. i fear it might be shot (used my old mr beer keg instead). Any tips on how to rescue a chlorine-laden bucket?
Also, tried out BIAB...anyone have any quick tips on how to clean the bag afterwards? There are still pieces of grain hanging out on it...
Thanks guys!
Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew
I surprised that WB06 didn't get stressed from underpitching. What temp did you ferment at? I've been told that over 73-4 get you bubblegum, but under 65 gets you clove. I personally dislike bubblegum and banana, so I usually ferment low.
With S04 I've learned I need to up the sugar at bottling day if I want any kind of carb, most (using the calc) end up cask carbed and not US bottle carbed.
Exciting news for me - I got tired of playing around with bottle carbing, so I broke down and got three 3gal cornie kegs. Hoping to get the regulator and tank next paycheck, so I can start to get a good handle on carbonation - the one weak point I've been struggling with.
Took my ESB in for a tasting at the local HB gathering, got a ton of positive reviews. Really made me feel good, like I almost know what I'm doing.. LOL
Thank you for the insight with the S-04. I just brewed a ESB (specifically, the "common room" ESB recipe found in the recipes section of this forum) and pitched some S-04 for the first time. I've had my fermentation at a consistent 63 F so I'll be looking for some clover influences.
How much do you up the sugar on bottling day? I want to avoid cask carb.
Sent from my iPad using Home Brew
I'm tired of hearing all you big boy 5-Gallon brewers telling us 1-Gallon brewers to step up. A lot of us brew 1-Gallon batches because that's all we have room for right now, not because we're afraid of stepping up our game. Trust me, if I could, I would, but in the meantime I'm actually really feeling the 1-Gallon game. Here's why:
Brew Day takes me about 3-4 hours, which includes cleanup.
I know one of the main points from 5-Gallon brewers is that "if you brew something amazing, you only have 10 bottles of it." My response- "Yea? So?" If I brew something amazing, chances are I'll brew something else amazing, and then perhaps I'll go back and brew that amazing beer again. And again.
5-Gallon brewers are always so quick to tell me- "Why put all that work in for just 10 beers." I'm not sure about you guys, but I don't consider my brew days as "work." I'm an insurance underwriter by day, but thoroughly enjoy cooking and now, brewing. I love the processes, and feel that it actually calms me. So work? I think not...
And lastly, I love the fact that I always have new things coming out of my pipeline. Yea, I just finished up drinking a really great IPA kit, but as sad as I may be to see it go, I can't wait to crack open my Weinstephaner Dunkel clone next! I'd rather have a few of LOTS of things than 50 of the same thing for 3 weeks.
So to all you big boy 5-Gallon + brewers out there, don't be so quick to hate on us 1-Gallon brewers. While eventually we'll graduate to your status, in the meantime, we're totally feeling what we've got going right now, and it's just as enjoyable for us, as it is for you. :rockin:
*Disclaimer*
This thread is not meant to pick a fight or evoke negativity. It is simply in jest, although, steeped in believed truths
IMO, Hard part comes when you make something really good, and then have to decide how to ration the few bottles you have, but hey - it's only beer.
I hear you, Scout001.
I've got two 4gal carboys (that I'm using with 1.5gal right now for fun and headspace games) that are destined for 3gal batches once it warms up a bit. I still need to figure out why the burner is acting stupid and bypass the timer on it - but it's stinkin' cold out in the garage and I could just as soon whip out another two batches on the stove.
Come summer I hope to have a few "keepers" I'll scale up, I've already got a few pokes for the ESBee I did but I'm not totally happy with the recipe yet so I've got to tweak it.
Not to mention looking into an induction system so I can get off the coil top and into something with some boil power!
I hear you, Scout001.
I've got two 4gal carboys (that I'm using with 1.5gal right now for fun and headspace games) that are destined for 3gal batches once it warms up a bit. I still need to figure out why the burner is acting stupid and bypass the timer on it - but it's stinkin' cold out in the garage and I could just as soon whip out another two batches on the stove.
Come summer I hope to have a few "keepers" I'll scale up, I've already got a few pokes for the ESBee I did but I'm not totally happy with the recipe yet so I've got to tweak it.
Not to mention looking into an induction system so I can get off the coil top and into something with some boil power!
Enter your email address to join: