5 gal recipe to 2.5 gal

[Somerville]

I am planning on making a christmas ale but I think 50 bottles is way too much. How do you perfectly scale down a 5 gal recipe to like 2.5 gal? Thanks

 

[MrEcted1]

I think you just need to 1/2 everything.

1/2 the hops, 1/2 the extract...etc

 

[homebrewer_99]

Why don't you just give 1/2 away as presents?

 

[Somerville]

Why don't you just give 1/2 away as presents?

Haha, I dont know...I'm kind of intimidated to give them to people who don't know about bottle fermentation and good beers in general...they need me to hold their hand while they do it, not open a box and surprise your own your own. They'll end up with a stomach full of yeast and an excess in flatulence . So, 1/2 everything ey? That sounds easy enough...so I know there are 3 gal carboys right? Will I need 2...one for primary and one for secondary? Thanks

 

[Kaiser]

so I know there are 3 gal carboys right? Will I need 2...one for primary and one for secondary? Thanks

You only need a smaller Carboy as your secondary. During the primary fermentation, enough CO2 is produced to completely purge the headspace of a 5 gal carboy when you ferment only 2.5 gal.

Kai

 

[Genghis77]

Anything worth brewing is deserving of a 5 gallon or better quantity. 2-1/2 gallons runs out real fast. Like about the time you are really starting to like it and it's gone. I have gotten into doing 10 gallons at a time. Tried 15 gallons, but that seemed to defeat the purpose of being easy while achieving quantity.

 

[david_42]

On the other hand, if you brew five gallons of barleywine every two years it works out just about right.

 

[Somerville]

Anything worth brewing is deserving of a 5 gallon or better quantity. 2-1/2 gallons runs out real fast. Like about the time you are really starting to like it and it's gone.

Thats exactly it though. Its completely symbolic of Christmas--you like it and it lasts only a day. I would really only like to be drinking Christmas Ale during the season. After Christmas I'll be eagerly eyeing new recipes. But hey, when am I not? Thanks for the inputs guys--real helpful

 

[Schlenkerla]

That sounds easy enough...so I know there are 3 gal carboys right?

Check this link out!!! One of these will be my next carboy. 3 thru 6 gal.

http://www.better-bottle.com/products_master.html

They have some nice features that eliminate syphoning. The have a removable spigot. You can also raise and lower the spigot intake to get the most beer w/o getting into the sediment.

I thought the ideas for oxygen free syphoning was cool. The bottle has a open bottom so you can set it on a tennis ball to mix or aerate.

They also use a dry air lock. (Check valve)

I was pretty impressed!!