How often do you brew?

[roger_tucker]

I've been brewing for about a year. I have probably have close to 10 batches under my belt at this point, the last few all grain. I think if I had my way I might brew every weekend. I just wouldn't know what to do with the beer. In reality I get maybe once a month, a little less than that mostly. How often do you brew?

 

[kombat]

I just checked my spreadsheet, and I've brewed 27 batches so far this year (6 1-gallon batches, 1 10-gallon batch, and 20 5-gallon batches). We're 6 months into 2014, so that averages out to 4.5 brews/month, or almost exactly once a week, I guess.

 

[mtnagel]

About once a month.

Or more specifically, 37 times in the last 2.8 years, which is 1.1 batches per month or 13.2 batches a year.

 

[Hello]

I was brewing every other weekend but in the last 2 months it has slowed just a bit.
I have three brews planned and one will happen next week, the other the following week since it needs some time to age and then another the week or two after which will be an IPA.

 

[Mike_kever_kombi]

I brew every other week, usually 2 batches at a time. 5-10 gallon batches, depending on what fermenters are freed up.

 

[roger_tucker]

For those of you who are brewing more than once a month. This means you @kombat. What do you do with all that beer. It takes me about a month to drink a 5 gallon batch. I've got two on tap right now and another I just bottled. Do I just need to learn to drink like a man or just throw bigger parties?

 

[unionrdr]

Ideally,once or twice per month. I've got two batches in bottles carbing & conditioning with both fermenters full. So I'm all in for the moment. ESB is almost ready for fridge time. Irish red just went in bottles a few days ago. Saison's almost done fermenting & dampfbier just got going good. Can't think of what to brew next,as nothing's come to mind...

 

[kombat]

For those of you who are brewing more than once a month. This means you @kombat. What do you do with all that beer?

6 of them were just little 1-gallon batches, from which I only get 7-8 330mL bottles of beer. These are really just experimental batches, trying out new ingredients or recipes.

To be fair, my brewing schedule has been more frequent than usual in the past couple of months because I've been ramping up for a BBQ party for my wife's co-workers that's happening this weekend. Her co-workers know I'm a homebrewer, and many of them enjoy craft beer, so I want to make a bit of an impression by having a good supply of a variety of homebrew on tap. I currently have 10 kegs of beer ready to go, most of which are almost completely full.

I also plan on entering several competitions this year, and the deadlines generally run from May to September (I've already submitted entries for 2 competitions, with 3 more planned between now and September), so some beer goes for that. I also bottle some up to give away to co-workers for feedback.

And yes, I typically enjoy 1 or 2 glasses of homebrew each evening.

 

[Fenduh]

I'm trying for once a week. I enjoy the process and get to sit in the sun on my deck doing it. I've been doing 1.5 gallon batches and like to keep a variety on hand and experiment with different styles.

I only started last October and have tweaked my technique to one that I'm comfortable and confident with. Once the cool weather hits I'm sure I won't want to be outside as much and will probably slow to once...maybe twice a month.

 

[JonM]

I try for once a month,but that doesn't always work out.

If I see that there will be a gap in the pipeline, I'll make a small batch of low-gravity, quick-turnaround cider to keep things a' flowin'.

 

[Braufessor]

I brew.... a lot.... about 25 batches (5 gallon finished product) so far this year. I brew a lot in the summer (as I am a teacher). Quite a bit in the winter. less in spring and Fall as I also coach and that takes up even more time.

I host a number of "events" each year where friends/family will consume 1-2-3 kegs in a day or weekend. I give beer away to anyone interested. I enter a fair amt. in competitions. And, I drink 1-3 pints 5-6 days per week. My wife drinks 1 most/many nights and she will have 3-4 once a week maybe. I sometimes brew 5 gallon batches and split them into a 3 gallon and a 2 gallon keg and just give one of the two kegs to friends who have kegerators.

I love drinking a good beer, but I love brewing it more. Brewing beer is one of the most relaxing and enjoyable things I do, so I like the process and try to do it as much as possible.

 

[mbbransc]

Not as much as I'd like since I'm married with two small children. But I'm averaging once a month. I do two 5-gal batches at once and split it with my brew partner.

 

[j1n]

1-2 times a month. i do 5-6 gallon batches.

 

[DaNewf]

Every three or four weeks. My fermentation chamber can only hold one full size fermenter but there's always something in there. Either a batch of beer (3 weeks) or a wine kit (usually 4 weeks). Sometimes there will also be a gallon jug or two of apfelwein in there as well.

I am thinking about adding a cold crash step to my beer brewing process (except for porters and stouts) but unless I reduce my time in primary fermentation this will mean one or two less batches of beer a year. Still mulling this over.

 

[Clonefan94]

For a while I was brewing at least twice a month. This year has been a real bummer though, with the cold winter, family and business obligations, I think I've only brewed about 6 times since January. This seems to be a year of craziness for me. Where every weekend something unexpected pops up and I can't get to brewing.

 

[Beer-lord]

I brew about every 2-3 weeks though I've got quite a pipeline and have slowed a bit on my consumption (trying to lose a few pounds).
I just enjoy brewing so much, it's hard not to brew.

 

[Goolsbymd]

Twice a month, although I currently have two empty corny kegs in the keezer. My family hosts a AAA baseball player who brings his friends over after a day game to enjoy the pool, bbq, and beer.

 

[roger_tucker]

I really like the idea of brewing a smaller batches once in a while. I guess I'd never really thought about that. I've got a couple of things I'd like to try but I start bumping up against my keg and bottling capacity.

 

[guldalian]

I do once a month 5 gal batch, which seems to keep my pipeline up and running, but I do an extra one around this time of year and late fall just cuz more beer gets consumed around those times.


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[dobe12]

Every three or four weeks. My fermentation chamber can only hold one full size fermenter but there's always something in there. Either a batch of beer (3 weeks) or a wine kit (usually 4 weeks). Sometimes there will also be a gallon jug or two of apfelwein in there as well.

I am thinking about adding a cold crash step to my beer brewing process (except for porters and stouts) but unless I reduce my time in primary fermentation this will mean one or two less batches of beer a year. Still mulling this over.

I'm kinda in the same boat as you, but know that your primary doesn't need to stay at pitching/fermentation temp the entire three weeks. My SOP is to hold at pitching temps for 5-7 days then raise the temp to about 68-70F and hold another 2-3 days. After that I just pull the fermentor from my fridge and let it sit at rooms temps. This frees up my fridge about every 2 weeks. Some beers come out of the fridge after only a week. And when the fridge is tied up longer on bigger beers or lagers, I brew Saisons and ferment at room temp.

I like to brew every other week, but with a family that can be challenging. I may go a month without brewing, but then I'll try to brew 2-3 weeks in a row if I can. In 4-1/2yrs I've brewed 100 batches, but that pace is slowing down now that I have a son (2yrs old). But like I said, I shoot for 2 a month. Sometimes that goes down to 1 or none. Sometimes it goes up to about 3.

 

[Spartan1979]

I probably average a little over once per month. Probably about 15 batches a year.

 

[MollyHatchet]

I brew twice a month and my goal is to fill several kegs, so when it gets really hot out, I won't have to deal with a hot brew kettle.


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[Heavywalker]

I go in streaks, I don't typically drink beer in the winter time, I usually drink wine or Scotch in the winter so I don't brew anything after the end of August. My weekends are pretty full around that time with hunting season anyways. But since I also rarely drink wine or Scotch in the summer I start brewing in about April once the weather starts getting nicer, and brew maybe once or twice a week until I get my pipeline filled up. Then maybe once a month through the summer to keep the pipeline full. Ends up being about 6 to 8 batches a year.

 

[beeber]

Man I don't know how you guys move the stuff. I brew 5 gallons once every other month, it takes that long to finish it all. I guess I have to spread it around more.

 

[NickTheGreat]

I probably do 5 or 6 batch a year. It's just me drinking, and I like rum, whiskey, gin, also.

I'd like to say my kegs never run dry, but that isn't true. One of the worst feelings in the world to empty a keg, and not be ready to refill it.

 

[Phunhog]

I brew 2-3x a month....at least 11 gallon batch size. A lot of friends have empty growlers that need filling

 

[m1k3]

I've been brewing about once a month for the last couple years.

I can drink 5 gallons per month on my own. So, I give away 5 gallons to family and friends.

The last two months I've done 15 gallon batches and gave my buddy 5 gallons of wort (keeping 10 gallons). He bought all the ingredients.

I have 3 taps (with room for 3 kegs in the keezer).
I have 2 extra kegs that can hang out on CO2 in the ferm fridge until needed.

At the moment there is one empty keg. As, soon as a keg gets kicked I can brew again.

 

[stu4stew]

15-20 gal a month normally 3 brew days. May start to do 3 gal experimental batches so hopefully some week day brew session in my future !!!

 

[CorwinGraves]

Not as much as I'd like since I'm married with two small children. But I'm averaging once a month. I do two 5-gal batches at once and split it with my brew partner.

Early morning brew sessions are your friend. I have three small children and I try to mash in by 5:30 a.m. when I brew, which means I'm all cleaned up before 10:00 a.m. It's so nice to brew when the house is quiet and I can concentrate on everything while enjoying a cup of coffee.

 

[Beergnomes]

As soon as the conical is empty I do another so usually one 10-12 gal batch every three weeks.

 

[UWDawg13]

I'm overdue for brewing and this thread has me itching to brew again soon. I was going every other week until the nice weather started showing up in the PNW. I have two kits sitting around waiting to be made and I'm dying to do both of them. Have a session IPA that I just know will be great for summer and a Pliny kit - cant wait to see how it tastes. Between a girlfriend, golf, sports, and the rest of life I'm having a hard time finding a brew day. Plus I don't have a ferm chamber yet, I'm wary about brewing and not making a good beer.

 

[ChelisHubby]

Trying to get a pipeline started but I drink or give away to much 5 gallons every 3 weeks or so. I am still new at this and only have 5 brews done.

 

[skw]

About once a month.

 

[tally350z]

I try to brew at least once every two weeks. I have been slacking though over the past month, so I have a few empty carboys that need filling.

 

[sputnam]

been brewing for 8 months and starting my 24th batch (AG) this weekend. i do 3 gallon batches and so far my schedule is about 3 brews a months

 

[DaNewf]

I did a little math and brewing one five gallon batch every month would provide a single person with about 1 3/4 12oz bottles per day. If your spouse likes beer as much as you do then it works out to less than a bottle each.

Currently I have a batch of Centennial Blonde and a batch of Common Room ESB that are drinkable (conditioned, carbed and tasting good). My wife likes both these beers and while neither of us drinks every night we are going through it quick enough that I am in danger of depleting my stock before my next batch is ready to drink. I did a six week wine kit a couple months back and it's thrown off my entire schedule. I will attempt to beef the pipeline up again by making stouts for the next batch or two. The wife can't stand them, won't drink them and I usually go easier on them myself.

 

[jabba11]

id say I average about once every 10 days or so. I have moved some of my brewing to ten gallon batches though and that can help keep things filled up..

 

[hunter_le five]

Once a month if I'm lucky. Wish I could do it once a week.

 

[NathPowe]

Usually do about every other Sunday. Sometimes there's a 3 week gap in there though. It's about right for us. By the time I take some beer to parties/give to friends it's the right amount. Also, brewing on that schedule is often enough that it keeps me wanting more/looking forward to brew days as opposed to doing it too much so that it becomes a chore.

 

[nitz146]

Early morning brew sessions are your friend. I have three small children and I try to mash in by 5:30 a.m. when I brew, which means I'm all cleaned up before 10:00 a.m. It's so nice to brew when the house is quiet and I can concentrate on everything while enjoying a cup of coffee.

I have two small kids and this sounds like something for me to try. Sounds relaxing.