AG Average Brew Time

[Rubberband]

4 hours almost every time (batch sparger)

batch sparger, 4 to 5 hours.

 

[Scut_Monkey]

Takes me 4-4.5 hours including everything from setup, weighing water additions, grain crush, mash, boil, yeast pitch and clean up. It use to take longer but I've been saving time with a heat stick, hot tap water (tastes the same) and having my process down.

 

[Palefire]

A pretty consistent 4.5 hours from start to finish, including all set-up and clean up. I keep trying to shorten it, but I can't really figure out how. But there's still a lot of down time in the middle (first while mashing, then while boiling) so I usually try to do stuff around the house to keep SWMBO happy.

 

[beerjunky828]

3.5 to 5 hours

 

[hal2814]

3 hours seems to be my magic number. Most of my cleaning/sanitizing happens while waiting for water to get up to temp in various stages. So for example, I get my kettle cleaned and as soon as that's done, I start getting water up to temp while cleaning the mash tun. I have my sparge water ready for batch sparging right as it's needed and start getting the runnings up to boil as soon as they're collected. I do a no chill so I collect my starter wort right at the end of the boil and pitch the starter either after an ice bath or the next day.

Not counting chill time, it looks like my process is on par or only slightly faster than the 4 hour processes I see. I don't rush but I do always look for what I can be doing during any downtime. The only real time I'm doing nothing is in the middle of the mash and the middle of the boil. Keeping time at 3 hours makes it possible for me to do weekday brew sessions which is what I prefer.

 

[-TH-]

I have to do my brewing after my young kids (3,4,5,&7) go to bed so I have streamlined my process as much as possible. Here's some things I've done:

1. I have a checklist hanging in my brew room. I load a bucket with everything on the list and head outside.
2. I used to double batch sparge but now single batch sparge. No loss in eff. (at least for me).
3. I clean up things when I can during the brew process to prevent from having to do it later.
4. I started using a hop sack so that after I cool, I can just pour the wort into the fermenter through a funnel and strainer. This way the strainer aeriates beautifully and its much faster than siphoning.

Doing these has gotten my process down to 4 hours flat for 5 gallons including setup and clean up.

 

[flyerwire]

5-6 hours for 60min mash, fly sparge, 90min boil

 

[joety]

5-6 hours for 60min mash, fly sparge, 90min boil

Ditto, more like a solid 6 incl. cleanup.

 

[wcarter1227]

Just did my first ag the other day did a BIAB stovetop and went from mash to cleanup in 5 hours. 90 min mash and 90 min boil gave me time to get a lot of things done. I was always afraid of going AG but compared to extract its a lot less to worry about especially not having to worry about a boilover. Cant wait to brew again

 

[Ketchepillar]

I am constantly moving around and brewing under different conditions so it varies a lot. Anywhere from 4-6 hours, usually pretty close to 5. Hoping some increased preparedness , a new plate chiller, and a new burner will get me consistently around 4.

 

[eggbeater59]

4 to 4 1/2 hr with single infusion mash, double batch sparge and 60 min boil w/ propane.
this includes cleanup- if you clean and utilize your free time well during mash and boil, then the brewday doesn't seem to take nearly as long from start to finish. since i just built a hop strainer to sit in my brewpot, i'm looking forward to not having to whirlpool. i'm expecting as good as 3 1/2 hrs next brewday *joy*

 

[gmtech825]

around 4 for 5 gallons

 

[IrregularPulse]

right at 5 hours yesterday from dragging stuff out till it was all put away.

 

[twoodward15]

3 hours and 15 minutes consistently. The first thing I do is start my water heating, then weigh and mill grains. When I'm done the only thing left to do is clean my CFC and boil kettle. That's for 5 gallon batches

 

[boogyman]

I'm at 5 hours for 5 gal & batch sparge.

 

[Jud]

4 to 5 hours for me. 5 gallons batches, 2.5 gallon test batches seem faster though.

 

[Kirbster]

About 6 hours from heating up strike water on stove to cleaning up kitchen after the chill and pitch. I actually prefer the longer time it takes for me. The more time I spend brewing the better.

 

[wscott823]

From the time I start pulling equipment out to after I've sanitized and put away, 4-4.5 Hrs for a 6 Gal batch. Single infusion, double batch sparge, 60 min boil - brewhouse efficiency is 78%.

I usually try to sanitize everything as I get finished with it along the way. Shortest brew session ever was 3.5 hrs

 

[thelorax121]

4 hours if I am not distracted or doing something else (baking, cooking etc. which often happens), and around 41/2-5 if I am

 

[pkeeler]

It took me 6 hours on the nose on Sunday from strike water heating to cleaning the last piece of equipment. However, this brew had its last hop addition 60 min. before the end, so I could have cleaned then since boil over was not an issue any longer. But, I had to put training wheels on the son's new bike. So, maybe I could have reduced it to 5.5 hours for this brew. But, 5 or 6 or 7, what is the difference. Block out the day and have fun.

I have been surprised (being new to this forum), that so many are doing 60 min. boils only. I'll have to search through to find some threads about that (don't want to hijack this one).

 

[ILOVEBEER]

5-6 hours from cleanup to cleanup

 

[uechikid]

I always do two ten gallon batches when I brew. From the time I walk out to the garage to start setting up to the time I pull the last vehicle back in and close the door is between 8-9 hours. I've never gone over 9 hours.

 

[Chuck_Swillery]

Well... brewed AG for the first time yesterday and time from alarm going off to I sat down w/clean up being done... 9 hours. LOL! I know this will get better as I learn. I also didn't want to rush the process and really took my time... had a slow sparge (probably nearly stuck but it trickled so I went with it), etc. 9 hours will be worth it all in experience and hopefully a great IPA.

 

[LVBen]

I just did one in 4 hours. Would've been quicker if my gas stove worked a little better!

Edit:
It took some time getting my mash water up to temperature.
60 min. mash.
15-minute single-batch sparge.
It took a LONG time to get my wort boiling.
60 min. boil.

 

[jagg]

It takes me 5 to 5.5 hours to make 17.5 gallons.

 

[budbo]

5-6 hours includes prep and cleanup(I mash 90 min and fly sparge)

 

[uechikid]

It takes me 5 to 5.5 hours to make 17.5 gallons.

Is that all one batch? 17.5 gallons?

 

[motobrewer]

5-6, batch sparger.

wish it were less. i usually don't plan very well and end up having to do some cleaning before i start tho.

 

[gallagherman]

5-6 hours, I'm on my stovetop and do a 90 min boil to drive off a full gallon.

 

[Synovia]

5 hours or so. I use the stove for mash water, and the burner for the boil. Could be much quicker if I used the propane for everything, but its expensive.


I usually have tons to do while the strike water is heating though, (like wash fermenters and such)