How long does brew day take you?

[daveooph131]

I do all all grain and with clean up am usually done in 4 hrs usually.

What's your process length?

 

[stevo4361]

Same for me, about four hours from setup to clean up.

 

[saxman1036]

I assume you guys have propane burners? If I'm running all-grain, working with my stovetop I end up @ 6-7 hours from start to finish.

 

[stevo4361]

Yep, SQ14 bayou classic. Batch sparge as well with usually a 60 minute boil.

 

[adiochiro3]

4 ish hours is about right.

 

[saxman1036]

Yep, SQ14 bayou classic. Batch sparge as well with usually a 60 minute boil.

Oh man. Time to take the dive.

 

[TANSTAAFB]

I am NEVER that efficient! I'm usually at 6 or more...if I'm brewing outside it's hauling out my rig and then clean up that gets me. If I'm brewing inside it's the longer boil & chilling time that gets me. I'm sure I could get it lower if I was very focused and organized, but alas, I'm not very focused and organized!

 

[TANSTAAFB]

Yep, SQ14 bayou classic. Batch sparge as well with usually a 60 minute boil.

Same here. Got it for $50 with free shipping to the store from Ace! Great burner. I have since cannibalized it to put the burner into my stand, but I'm about to put it back and install another burner on the stand.

 

[bennie1986]

I use to try to get done as fast as possible and was probably around 4hrs but now I would rather be lazy and now it takes me better part of the day. I weigh grain then chill then weigh hops and chill then measure water and chill and so on and so fourth till I finally finish lol!

 

[pumpkinman2012]

Between 4-5 hrs, All Grain on stove top. The key is to keep busy during any down time, I wash and sanitize everything as soon as I'm finished using it.

 

[thadius856]

Full 6-8 hours.

That includes developing the recipe on brew day morning, weighing and milling the grain, two sparges, and a 90-minute boil (sometimes 120-minute), transferring/pitching and all cleanup.

 

[Epimetheus]

Like Thadius, easily 6 hours from milling to cleanup and put everything away.

Today I am attempting 1.5 hours total with an extract recipe and no-chill. I will report back.

--- edit ---
Yep, it took almost exactly 1.5 hours for an extract batch from milling to clean up. The kettle is cooling in the 20F weather outside.

This extract stuff is fun! All my previous batches have been BIAB all grain, except for the first three Mr. Beer kits in the distant past.

 

[ido50]

I do BIAB, no-chill. Assuming a 60min mash and 60min boil, I would say 3-4 hours, sometimes more.

 

[Zuljin]

No telling. I'm always doing something weird. Smoking grain. Zesting fruits. Cereal mashing. Maybe 5-6 hours. Maybe eight or more.

 

[cluckk]

It depends on the batch I'm brewing. Most take right around four to five hours (grind to pitch), including clean up. However, when I partigyle it turns into closer to 8 hours--but I get two different batches from the same brew day. I have two burners and two kettles for those batches.

 

[mblanks2]

Grind to pitch typically 5.5 to 6 hours for 10 gallon batches. I fly sparge so this adds quite allot of extra time but it worth it to me.

 

[AnOldUR]

No telling. I'm always doing something weird. Smoking grain. Zesting fruits. Cereal mashing. Maybe 5-6 hours. Maybe eight or more.

Like Zuljin, there's always something to add to the time spent brewing. This isn't a job. I don't brew for speed or even necessarily for beer. Brewday is playday. The longer the better.

 

[mjdonnelly68]

I brew all-grain and my brew days typically lasts 6-8 hours.

My processed is pretty dialed in. I multi-task and clean during as needed. I have the Tower of Power with my Top Tier, so that adds about another 45 minutes to my cleaning regimen (recirculating PBW, Rinse and StarSan through the pump and such).

I see these "how long does your brew day take" threads pop up from time to time and I'm always puzzled. Would people ask "how long does it take you to fish?" or "how long did it take you to ski today?".

Brewing is a hobby and activity that I enjoy - so I'm not actively working to make it uber-efficient. I'd compare brewing to sex - I'm grateful when I get the chance to do it so I'm not interested in finishing quickly.

 

[JonM]

I try to wring efficiencies out of process, but I can never get below 6 hours from the moment I turn the flame in to the moment when everything is cleaned up and put away.

And that's when its warm out and the hose is usable so I can wash the mash tun, etc during the boil. This time of year, it takes even longer b/c I have to lug everything inside and wash it the laundry sink.

 

[boswell]

Depends how many beers I have.

 

[Flipadelphia]

4-5 hours from heating the strike water to shoving the carboy into my ferm chamber.

 

[TANSTAAFB]

I brew all-grain and my brew days typically lasts 6-8 hours.

My processed is pretty dialed in. I multi-task and clean during as needed. I have the Tower of Power with my Top Tier, so that adds about another 45 minutes to my cleaning regimen (recirculating PBW, Rinse and StarSan through the pump and such).

I see these "how long does your brew day take" threads pop up from time to time and I'm always puzzled. Would people ask "how long does it take you to fish?" or "how long did it take you to ski today?".

Brewing is a hobby and activity that I enjoy - so I'm not actively working to make it uber-efficient. I'd compare brewing to sex - I'm grateful when I get the chance to do it so I'm not interested in finishing quickly.

Bravo! You sir have made it into the HBT Official Memorable Quotes Thread!

 

[daveooph131]

I brew all-grain and my brew days typically lasts 6-8 hours.

My processed is pretty dialed in. I multi-task and clean during as needed. I have the Tower of Power with my Top Tier, so that adds about another 45 minutes to my cleaning regimen (recirculating PBW, Rinse and StarSan through the pump and such).

I see these "how long does your brew day take" threads pop up from time to time and I'm always puzzled. Would people ask "how long does it take you to fish?" or "how long did it take you to ski today?".

Brewing is a hobby and activity that I enjoy - so I'm not actively working to make it uber-efficient. I'd compare brewing to sex - I'm grateful when I get the chance to do it so I'm not interested in finishing quickly.

I agree but brought it up because if I'm more efficient (4 hrs or so per brew) I can brew more. If it takes me half the day there is no way I could brew more than every 4-6 wks due to SWMBO

 

[AnOldUR]

So, you have to ask yourself. Would you rather have really good sex once a week or go quickly through the motions every night?



Damn! That's a tough question. :cross:

 

[MaxStout]

I do BIAB and since I don't have a dedicated place to brew I have to haul gear up from the basement to the garage, and then back again afterwards. It makes for a 5-6 hour brew day. Which is fine as I'm not in any hurry and like to enjoy listening to tunes and having a couple brews while I'm brewing.

 

[Beernik]

Double decoction and a stuck mash yesterday. Ended up taking me 8 hours from start to finish.

Usual brew day is about 6 hours .

 

[bajaedition]

When I first started all grain brewing, I tried to keep it short as possible and would do 4 hour single infusion mashes.
Then I got into step infusions, the days got longer and I just went with the flow.
not being as anal as I once was, and enjoying myself a lot more, I would say 6 to 7 hours, but then now I am also doing other things during steps or the boil so I think it probably has gotten shorter when you compare time dedicated to being around the system.

 

[brettwasbtd]

I agree but brought it up because if I'm more efficient (4 hrs or so per brew) I can brew more. If it takes me half the day there is no way I could brew more than every 4-6 wks due to SWMBO

This, If I could consistently brew in 4 hours I would be able to fit it in on a weeknight! Between work and commuting I am away from my house 65+ hours during the week. My weekend time is precious. I probably average 5-6 hours. I have tried to get the elusive 4, and was on pace once, but my mashtun was poorly situated and fell causing a large mess!

People who can do all grain in 4 hours do you already have the recipe, grains wieghed out? How long does it take you to get your water up to temps? Do you have a stationary brew rig?

A HUGE part of my time issue is having to use the kitchen sink for cleaning - meaning carefully transport items which need to be cleaned upstairs. As well as setup/breakdown time. I think to get to the 4 hour mark I will need a utility sink and stationary brew rig, which I do plan on getting for my work in progress electric setup downstairs!

 

[thadius856]

I could trim my day down to 4-5 hours if I had my recipes built, grain pulled, wetted and milled ahead of time. Also, hop additions pulled and weighed out.

But I don't. I mean, I store 300-400# of grain at a time so I can build my own recipes on the fly. That's part of the fun.

 

[thadius856]

This, If I could consistently brew in 4 hours I would be able to fit it in on a weeknight! Between work and commuting I am away from my house 65+ hours during the week. My weekend time is precious. I probably average 5-6 hours. I have tried to get the elusive 4, and was on pace once, but my mashtun was poorly situated and fell causing a large mess!

Some of the eBrew guys have ridiculously short heating times. 20 minutes saved here, 20 minutes saved there... I think it probably adds up.