Hello from south Louisiana

[slobot1]

New brewer in humid, hot, south Louisiana. This is my second dive into homebrewing. 15 or so years ago, I got a homebrew kit and made some decent stout. Fun hobby, but that took a backseat to life and that was my one and only brew from that kit. Got tossed after sitting for a year in the loft. Now, for Father's Day, my wife got me a 5-gallon kit from Northern Brewer and my first batch of amber ale was easy and great. Already onto my second (Schnockflowberfest) and planning my next two batches.

We're not big drinkers so going through 48 bottles will take quite some time, possibly months. But we love the flavor and aroma of beer. Who wouldn't?

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

Welcome to the group!

I'm with you except I brew ten gallon batches and have no problem plowing through that plus the other brews I have on tap. It's a great hobby no matter how much you enjoy.

Welcome.

 

[wallyLOZ]

Welcome from Missouri!

Have you considered dropping down to 2 1/2 gallon batches? When it became a struggle to lug around a full fermenter, switched to 2 1/2 and haven't looked back. But I haven't sold my brew pot and fermenters just yet. You never know. LOL!

 

[ncbrewer]

Welcome from Missouri!

Have you considered dropping down to 2 1/2 gallon batches? When it became a struggle to lug around a full fermenter, switched to 2 1/2 and haven't looked back. But I haven't sold my brew pot and fermenters just yet. You never know. LOL!

Same here. the smaller batches can be really practical depending on how much you are drinking. I use a 5 gallon bucket for the fermenter.
Welcome.

 

[slobot1]

Welcome from Missouri!

Have you considered dropping down to 2 1/2 gallon batches? When it became a struggle to lug around a full fermenter, switched to 2 1/2 and haven't looked back. But I haven't sold my brew pot and fermenters just yet. You never know. LOL!

I've never really considered that and I don't know why. Is it as simple as reducing any 5-gallon recipe amounts to half of the original, but keeping the same times? If I can keep using my 6-gallon equipment that'd be great! And I could have the option to do full boils, too, I guess!

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

I've never really considered that and I don't know why. Is it as simple as reducing any 5-gallon recipe amounts to half of the original, but keeping the same times? If I can keep using my 6-gallon equipment that'd be great! And I could have the option to do full boils, too, I guess!

Cutting things in half is about it. I would watch out for 2.5 gallon recipes or perhaps search here. Lots of folks are going that route.

I reduced my batch sizes not long ago, from 15 gallon to 10. I have considered some five gallon batches but so far haven't, seems like I cheating myself.

 

[ncbrewer]

I've never really considered that and I don't know why. Is it as simple as reducing any 5-gallon recipe amounts to half of the original, but keeping the same times? If I can keep using my 6-gallon equipment that'd be great! And I could have the option to do full boils, too, I guess!

Cutting the recipe in half works to a point. For hops, you might be boiling at a different gravity, so you would need to do the bitterness calculations and possibly adjust the quantity to get the target IBUs. And for yeast, I generally used one dry packet (11 gms more or less) for a 5 gallon batch. After going to 2.5 (maybe 2.7 or 2.8) gallon batches, I stayed with a full packet of dry yeast - there are multiple ideas about the optimum pitch rate. Also, I'm a little uneasy with saving an open yeast packet, but that's just me.