3 gal recipes

[Sumo]

I am looking for 3 gallon recipes. I am new to brewing and I have a 5 gallon setup however I also have a 2.5 gallon fermenter and 3 gallon carboy I'd like to use. Simple is fine. I'd like to brew small test batches of beer. Any help is appreciated.

The 5 Gallon is currently in use making my first batch (Irish Stout) and wont be free for a few weeks. I got the brewing bug and wanna start something else asap.

 

[squeekysheep]

you can take any recipe and divide it by 5 then multiply it by 3 to get the correct measurement. sadly you will end up with some odd amounts of stuff. i would use teh left overs and make a random batch.

 

[Sumo]

Ok that was so simple I feel like an idiot.. :cross:

 

[hoplobster]

Software would help out too, although the above calculation is sufficient.

I do 3 gallon batches and I use Beersmith 'cause I'm lazy. It can scale recipes up or down automatically and while odd amounts are bound to come up, I just round to the highest quarter as long as it is within my target IBU/OG range.

 

[Sumo]

Yea I just looked at Beersmith. I just made my first brew so understanding all the little options is confusing as hell. None the less I will will try it.

I just chose a honey porter ale that was in the sample recipes. I how bad can it be? I mean if it doesnt come out exactly right after drinking the 5th or 6th one I wont know the difference....

 

[Ben25]

How are you going to do 3 gallon batches with a 2.5 gallon fermenter? Even if you fermented in the carboy, its still not enough room.

 

[Revvy]

I posted a couple of my 2.5 gallon recipe in the mr beer thread....

 

[Sumo]

How are you going to do 3 gallon batches with a 2.5 gallon fermenter? Even if you fermented in the carboy, its still not enough room.

I was going to fill up the fermenter to the 2.5 mark and dump the rest.

 

[Yuri_Rage]

Why would you do that? Just cut a 5 gallon recipe by half and brew 2.5 gallons...

 

[Sumo]

I thought about doing that, but I wasn't sure if that would work. i though by halving the recipe that perhaps it would be too weak. That you needed a minimum amount of grain and what not to make it work. Would I still use a full packet of yeast? I have been told that it doesn't matter if i use a full or half pack with such a small batch.

 

[Yooper]

I thought about doing that, but I wasn't sure if that would work. i though by halving the recipe that perhaps it would be too weak. That you needed a minimum amount of grain and what not to make it work. Would I still use a full packet of yeast? I have been told that it doesn't matter if i use a full or half pack with such a small batch.

Making 1/2 recipe doesn't change the texture or flavor- it just makes 1/2 of the amount.

You'd still use a full package of yeast, especially if it's liquid yeast. Dry yeast doesn't keep anyway once the package is opened, so might as well use it.

 

[Sumo]

Very Good. I will make it this Thursday or Saturday then. Honey Porter Ale.

 

[hoplobster]

Why would you do that? Just cut a 5 gallon recipe by half and brew 2.5 gallons...

Because 3 gallons > 2.5 gallons

 

[Revvy]

Because 3 gallons > 2.5 gallons

Three gallon batches aren't really that practical...there is no real 3.5 to 4 gallon fermenter...You need headspace in whatever fermenter you use for the krauzen to grow and the co2 to cushion the brew or else you get blowoff.

And you really don't want to use a 5 because that's a bit too much headspace

You can however do 2.5 gallon batches in a 3 gallon betterbottle or waterbottle with no problem...you can also brew them in that old mr beer fermenter gathering dust in the back of your closet...

 

[hoplobster]

Three gallon batches aren't really that practical...there is no real 3.5 to 4 gallon fermenter...You need headspace in whatever fermenter you use for the krauzen to grow and the co2 to cushion the brew or else you get blowoff.

And you really don't want to use a 5 because that's a bit too much headspace

You can however do 2.5 gallon batches in a 3 gallon betterbottle or waterbottle with no problem...you can also brew them in that old mr beer fermenter gathering dust in the back of your closet...

I disagree. I use 5, 6 and 6.5 gallon carboys for my 3 gallon batches and they turn out just fine.

 

[DeathBrewer]

i think a 5 gallon glass carboy would work fine for a 3 gallon batch.

 

[Sumo]

I have 3 gallon "better then glass" carboy that I picked up on Sunday. I halved a pumpkin ale reciepe the was on my Brew shops website. Looks pretty tastey I am going to make it tomorrow night. I'm making 2.75 gallons in the brew pot to allow for boil off. I filled the bottle with 2.5 gallons of water and marked it with tape. I think I should be alright. I will add the wort to that line and cap it. Should be ok. If there is blow off I'll just have to clean it up before the wife see's it =)

I am amazed at how many replies there are to this thread. I promise to up date it and let everyone know how it turns out. Everyone's comments have helped me make a well rounded decison rather than just guessing, and I appreciate it.

-Albert

BTW.. Mr. Beer is in use. I was given the Cowboy ale or whatever it was called as a gift. I am using real yeast and cooking it a little longer but there is no dust on it lol. I can give that away to fair weather friends and save the good stuff for the close ones!