1-Gallon Brewers UNITE!

[BongoYodeler]

Last Saturday I brewed my first 1 gallon batch. Actually two one gallon batches - a pale ale and a porter. Active fermentation is now over and I'm going to let them sit for another couple weeks before I take gravity readings. That got me thinking - I only have a hydrometer and gathering a couple samples from each is quite a draw off the gallon.

Question - Would it be worth looking into a refractometer at this stage of the process for these brews? I've read they're not really meant for calculating final gravity, but I know there is some conversion you can do. I'd just hate wasting the amount of beer a hydrometer would use.

 

[ba-brewer]

Last Saturday I brewed my first 1 gallon batch. Actually two one gallon batches - a pale ale and a porter. Active fermentation is now over and I'm going to let them sit for another couple weeks before I take gravity readings. That got me thinking - I only have a hydrometer and gathering a couple samples from each is quite a draw off the gallon.

Question - Would it be worth looking into a refractometer at this stage of the process for these brews? I've read they're not really meant for calculating final gravity, but I know there is some conversion you can do. I'd just hate wasting the amount of beer a hydrometer would use.

A refractometer does need an calculator to figure out actual gravity once fermentation begins but if you are just looking for a final stable gravity you can take the reading at face value and look for when it stop changing.

.

 

[DownstairsBrewing]

Last Saturday I brewed my first 1 gallon batch. Actually two one gallon batches - a pale ale and a porter. Active fermentation is now over and I'm going to let them sit for another couple weeks before I take gravity readings. That got me thinking - I only have a hydrometer and gathering a couple samples from each is quite a draw off the gallon.

Question - Would it be worth looking into a refractometer at this stage of the process for these brews? I've read they're not really meant for calculating final gravity, but I know there is some conversion you can do. I'd just hate wasting the amount of beer a hydrometer would use.

For one gallon batches, I just keep a gallon jug of Starsan, sink the hydrometer in it before putting it in the gallon jug of wort/beer.

 

[BongoYodeler]

Both sound like reasonable suggestions. Thanks.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

For one gallon batches, I just keep a gallon jug of Starsan, sink the hydrometer in it before putting it in the gallon jug of wort/beer.

Where did you find a hydrometer that's short enough to float in a typical one gallon carboy available in the US?

 

[DownstairsBrewing]

Where did you find a hydrometer that's short enough to float in a typical one gallon carboy available in the US?

You know, I had not thought of how close that is (I have the Alla hydrometer from France), I probably could not get a wort measurement with a lower PABV beer - I do use the typical 1g. It is not short enough to do a measurement of the beer for a lower ABV with the trub at the bottom. I had neglected to note that, but I am less fussed about taking a hydrometer tube worth of beer at bottling, then pouring it back into the last bottle.

 

[ba-brewer]

I would be nervous of the hydro breaking if it hit the bottom of a glass jug too hard or possible while trying to fish it out the skinny opening.

 

[AZCoolerBrewer]

I just wait long enough and look at my beer to see if it is done. This has worked great for me until my last batch. I did a partigyle and the big beer had quite a high FG when I bottled, but I think it was because the yeast couldn’t tolerate the high ABV.

 

[Druman07]

I typically don't do any gravity checks in the fermenter, it seems like too much of a hassle, there's not a lot to spare in a 1 gallon batch for sampling, and i don't want to drop a hydrometer into the a glass carboy. Based on my experience 14 - 21 days seems to work before bottling.

 

[DownstairsBrewing]

I would be nervous of the hydro breaking if it hit the bottom of a glass jug too hard or possible while trying to fish it out the skinny opening.

Not much of an issue, setting the hydrometer rather than dropping it is not hard, and the tip has been just outside the jug.

What does not always work well is the visibility to where you need to see for an accurate reading.

 

[Ronald C Gregory]

I plan on doing mostly 2 gallon batches when I make my own recipes. And mostly 2 gallons so i can experiment with hops or another single ingredient.
I have the ability to do 5 gallons and kit pricing makes more sense for me to do 5 gallons while using only kits right now

 

[Mothman]

Did my first go at a 1.5 gal batch yesterday, trying a recipe that I'm not sure I'll like.

I was able to get a few 3 gal frosting buckets from a bakery, and I'm using one as my fermenter.

Even for my typical brews, I do smaller-than-standard batch size, I scale recipes to 3.5 gal, but even so, what a big difference in the ease involved with doing extra-small batches like this.

Everything weighs less, way less time to reach strike temp and boil, way quicker to chill, etc.

One thing I've noted is, it seemed to take several hours longer than usual for my airlock to show signs of activity, and this morning it's not nearly as active as my standard batches are the morning after pitching.

I know airlock activity doesn't really mean much, but I found it interesting that there is a noticeable difference.

Whether it's just this particular brew, or a case of less wort = less CO2, therefore less bubbles, I don't know.

I always ferment in buckets so I never really know what the wort is actually doing, visually.

 

[surista]

Quick question - how do you guys bottle from a one-gallon glass carboy?? I can't figure out a quick, clean and easy way to do it - especially since the auto-siphon I have doesn't fit inside... I have four or five one-gallon glass carboys that I'd love to use (including for hop experiments and such)....

 

[treacheroustexan]

Quick question - how do you guys bottle from a one-gallon glass carboy?? I can't figure out a quick, clean and easy way to do it - especially since the auto-siphon I have doesn't fit inside... I have four or five one-gallon glass carboys that I'd love to use (including for hop experiments and such)....

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/threads/1-gallon-brewers-unite.311884/page-160#post-8329824

Buy a 2 gallon food grade bucket, drill a hole for spigot, ferment/bottle directly out of it. But if you really want to ferment in the carboys you already have, you're just going to have to buy a smaller siphon that fits.

 

[z-bob]

Quick question - how do you guys bottle from a one-gallon glass carboy?? I can't figure out a quick, clean and easy way to do it - especially since the auto-siphon I have doesn't fit inside... I have four or five one-gallon glass carboys that I'd love to use (including for hop experiments and such)....

I use a plastic racking cane, cut short so it's the right length for a gallon jug. I wash my mouth out with vodka or whiskey first then suck-start the siphon.

I have an autosiphon but I don't use it. Not sure why I haven't thrown it out yet. It leaks air at the joint and I don't want it aerating my beer

 

[AZCoolerBrewer]

Quick question - how do you guys bottle from a one-gallon glass carboy?? I can't figure out a quick, clean and easy way to do it - especially since the auto-siphon I have doesn't fit inside... I have four or five one-gallon glass carboys that I'd love to use (including for hop experiments and such)....

My auto-siphon is a gallon sized one and fits into my glass carboys fine. You could also start your siphon by submerging a tube in the beer or first filling it with water.

 

[Leezer]

I have a mini-auto siphon, much smaller than the regular size. It fits into my one gallon jug or Little Big Mouth Bubbler no problem.

 

[Spikybits]

Heck yes for 1 gallon batching - i favor the Fast Ferment 3g - FFs are bomb and if you take care of the valves, they take care of you, no leaks. put them together wet each time with starsan and you will have 0 mold/infections in the valve. you can rack out the bottom to a keg or bottle bucket. i typically let 2-4 ounces run then it clears up. i do not swap yeast collection balls; i prefer to let it rest on the yeast with no secondary. Best part, not afraid of broken glass.

racking out of glass jugs or little big mouths(i have 2 for wine) i use a short/mini auto siphon like Leezer - works great, no leaks or bubbling through the line. picked it up on azon for under 10$

shooting gravity i use a refractometer - you can pick up 100 count bag of pipettes for 6$. this way you can shoot gravity with less than a few drops and you get a few to taste. SANITIZE YOUR PIPETTES ! please note that you will need to factor in corrections for FG or the alch will make your refractormeter reading useless - https://www.brewersfriend.com/refractometer-calculator/. i got a cheapy refractometer off of azon, and with the calculator, it matches my hydrometer. YMMV

 

[Druman07]

Quick question - how do you guys bottle from a one-gallon glass carboy?? I can't figure out a quick, clean and easy way to do it - especially since the auto-siphon I have doesn't fit inside... I have four or five one-gallon glass carboys that I'd love to use (including for hop experiments and such)....

I use the mini siphon which works perfectly for this size.

 

[InspectorJon]

Regarding a couple questions above: Google can be your friend.

@surista I found an auto siphon pretty quickly that fits in in a common 1 gallon jug.

@BongoYodeler I also found a 100ml glass graduated cylinder that works good for gravity samples and only uses about 3 oz of wort. If you are careful and sanitize it and the hydrometer you can return the sample. I just drink it. It does not work for final gravity near zero because it is not tall enough but it works fine for beer.

 

[Mitch S]

After doing a few 5 gallon batches before taking a break due to moving, I came back with the decision to start with 1 gallon extract kits. I've done 4 so far with good results. I like seeing a thread here for those that enjoy 1 gallon, or maybe can only do 1 gallon (2 or 3 as well not to leave y'all out). I am looking at expanding back to 5 gallon batches one I build a keezer, and going to all grain if I can get the space in a new house someday.

 

[Bubman]

I normally brew 2.5 gallon batches but just brewed a 1 gallon extract kit and loved it. Went smoothly and clean up was a breeze. Went with an extract kit to work thru the process wit a new kettle and fermentor. Next will be biab, just received 2 Wilser bags just waiting on grains.

I think I am going to stick with 1 gallon with the occasional 2-3 gal of my favorites ( there are many ) but love trying new recipes and having a large selection to choose from.

 

[AZCoolerBrewer]

I’m bottling an Imperial IPA this weekend and am considering my next brew. I want to do a winter warmer, but not a Christmas beer since it won’t be ready until the New Year. I’m considering a rosemary, a gingerbread, or a peppermint. Really gingerbread is my third choice, but the others seem so experimental. Last year I experimented with cinnamon and vanilla and the beer was good, but tasted more like horchata (cinco de mayo) than The holidays. A little encouragement one way or another would go a long way?

 

[RPh_Guy]

I’m considering a rosemary, a gingerbread, or a peppermint.

Funny you mention that.
I started planning too late but I'm making a series of beers to give as gifts.
Tripel, gingerbread ale, peppermint porter, standard Christmas ale (honey, cinnamon, ginger), spiced wheat (voss kveik and nutmeg), and maybe a cider to round out a six-pack.

I really like rosemary but never considered using it in a beer. Not sure where it would fit?

I now realize this probably doesn't help you at all. Sorry.
... Peppermint seems the safest option. I'm going to use peppermint extract.

 

[Jon Eduardo]

I cannot brew more than 1 gallon because of limited space in this apartment I am staying in. But I am still brewing nonetheless. Just finished racking to secondary my first mead, and I have started another. With my limited time off work, this is a big plus for me. All done brewing in an hour and cleaning after is a breeze.

I still cannot condition my housemates with my brewing hobby. They get squeamish at the sight of me washing a huge chunk of glass in the sink.

I really have to clear that mead very soon, thinking of getting them drunk first before I do my growler clean-up.

Things that we do for alcohol, I mean the hobby... cheers guys!

 

[treacheroustexan]

I've been doing small no boil 1 gallon extract "hop sampler" batches with inspiration from the Basic Brewing podcast. I changed a little from their recipe but it's pretty similar.

1 gallon of RO water, 1 pound Pilsen DME, bring to boil and kill the heat. Add hops for 30 min hopstand. Chill and pitch.

Takes maybe an hour? I have three batches going right now. One with pacific jade, one with falconers flight and another with green bullet. Going to bottle the pacific jade one Saturday.

 

[r4dyce]

I've been doing small no boil 1 gallon extract "hop sampler" batches with inspiration from the Basic Brewing podcast. I changed a little from their recipe but it's pretty similar.

1 gallon of RO water, 1 pound Pilsen DME, bring to boil and kill the heat. Add hops for 30 min hopstand. Chill and pitch.

Takes maybe an hour? I have three batches going right now. One with pacific jade, one with falconers flight and another with green bullet. Going to bottle the pacific jade one Saturday.

Wow that's pretty cool. A little while ago I made a "leftovers" IPA with some DME and some spare hops I had sitting in the fridge. I was surprised how well it turned out. I really like your idea though to test out particular hops.

 

[bernardsmith]

1 gallon of RO water, 1 pound Pilsen DME, bring to boil and kill the heat. Add hops for 30 min hopstand. Chill and pitch.

How many grams or ounces of hops do you add for those 30 minutes?

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

I've been doing small no boil 1 gallon extract "hop sampler" batches with inspiration from the Basic Brewing podcast. I changed a little from their recipe but it's pretty similar.

As I understand it, the standard "Hop Sampler" process is to toss the hops in at flame-out and let them sit for a while. In place of flame-out hops, have you tried a "hop steep", say at 180* F for 20 minute. I did this (both ways) with an ounce of Citra T90 pellet hops. Two very different beers.

 

[treacheroustexan]

As I understand it, the standard "Hop Sampler" process is to toss the hops in at flame-out and let them sit for a while. In place of flame-out hops, have you tried a "hop steep", say at 180* F for 20 minute. I did this (both ways) with an ounce of Citra T90 pellet hops. Two very different beers.

Sorry, let me clarify. I still brought the DME up just to a boil and then killed the heat, tossed in the hops and let them sit for 30 min before I chilled. I have not done any 180 yet. All of these hops were thrown in at boiling temp.