Ok, so this might sound stupid, but wth

[Tactical-Brewer]

Ok, as the title explains, this may sound stupid, but I don't really care.

As I'm getting into home brewing, As usual, I jump in head first. Unfortunately, at this point in time, I do not have the money, nor space to set up for 5 gallon batches. Never to let those two things keep me from doing what I want to do, I've decided to go with 1-2.5 gallon batches at a time.

However, like the little engine that could, I'm not satisfied with mashing, then pouring the grains out in a strainer over another pot, and sparging through the strainer, blah blah blah...

So, to play like the big boys and hone my skills, I will be making a complete mash tun out of a small 2 gallon cooler. I will vorlauf my batches, as well as fly sparge.

As soon as I can get my hands on a cheap little, adequate, pump, I will try to set up a herms system.

Make fun of me all you want (kidding), but seriously, I want to do it and go as close to perfect as I can until I can get my 5+ system set up. But actually go into 5+ gallon set up "Good" at brewing. I'd rather make the mistakes on a smaller scale and say, "Well, that's not necessary" or "Ooh, I better get this figured out" on a scale and budget I can handle first as opposed to putting a ton of time and money messing up a big system.

Not to mention, with such a small grain bill, and ease and inexpensive as 2 gallon buckets are, I can have a boat load of different experiments going at once.

Anyways, love to hear your guy's thoughts and opinions on the matter of going all out on such a small scale. You won't hurt my feelings. Cheers

 

[Gavin C]

I think it's a needlessly complex setup when for a fraction of the cost and much simpler setup you can mash, vorlauf, sparge (batch or fly) to your hearts content with 1-2.5 gallon batches.

This does not need to be done using a strainer like you describe.

A pump and recirculation is rather pointless for the size batches you are planning.This year's Ninkasi winner brews these type of batch sizes. Quality and excellence in brewing are not correlated with batch-size. Lose that idea right away.

I'd focus on recipe/process/flavor rather than do-dads and save my cash for the gadgets till such time as your batch sizes increase allowing you to see the benefits of their use in making brew day easier.

Small batches open up a whole lot of options unavailable to brewers of bigger batches. You plan is to lose all of these and add time and cost to your setup, break-down and cleanup.

Pass.

 

[Tactical-Brewer]

That's pretty much exactly what I was hoping would be implied by my post, but may have misled, or didn't explain it quite right.

My whole purpose in starting with small batches is to perfect my style and art of brewing long before I waste money on a big system.

Where I may have lost or misled you was where I was talking about the mash tun and what not. It's ridiculously inexpensive to create all of what I was talking about on that small of a scale. May not be necessary on such a small scale, but also, inexpensive and a great way to learn so I can have all the kinks worked out when I move to a larger set up.

Not arguing your point in the slightest, but it's exactly what I was trying to convey. I want to produce awesome results on a small scale so that when I move up to big boy toys I can hopefully replicate it with precision.

 

[Bilbo1usa]

Go for it man.
You've got the right idea.

Sounds like space is your inhibitor, I like your proposed solution.
I've found myself wishing at times that I could brew a smaller batch without issue.

One item to note is batches don't always scale down mathematically.
Do yourself a favor and get a good brewing software you're comfortable with to scale down batches.

You're well on your way to bring a grunt, Recruit!

Good luck.

 

[mrdail87]

I wouldn't go all out just yet. I've had my opinion changed on fly sparging. It's more efficient if you have the right setup, but it doesn't really change your brew quality.

I'd go with the BIAB method, and get one of these:
http://www.morebeer.com/products/bag-29-brew-biab.html

In a pinch, I've stuck one of these in a cooler and mashed that way. It works surprisingly well. You might get some extra starch, but it'll usually drop out after fermentation anyways.

 

[Tactical-Brewer]

Go for it man.
One item to note is batches don't always scale down mathematically.
Do yourself a favor and get a good brewing software you're comfortable with to scale down batches.

You're well on your way to bring a grunt, Recruit!

Good luck.

Haha, awesome reply bud! Read my signature :rockin:

On the brewing software, I saw that I could get the brewmaster app for 7.99 vs the actual software for closer to 30. Is there a major difference between the two? I'll be using my phone primarily (who doesn't anymore) for my recipes, etc. Just curious. Doing it right, I have no qualms about spending the 30 bucks on the actual software over the app, but then again, if it's not needed and the app works fine, I'll just do that.

Thanks for the input guys!:rockin:

 

[Subdivisions]

Why not just do 2.5 gallon BIAB now and save your money for the 5 gallon system? The only thing you'll learn by doing what you're planning is that you could have used that money better on the 5 gallon system. You're going to have a learning curve with it no matter what size it is.

Good Luck!!

 

[Tactical-Brewer]

Why not just do 2.5 gallon BIAB now and save your money for the 5 gallon system? The only thing you'll learn by doing what you're planning is that you could have used that money better on the 5 gallon system. You're going to have a learning curve with it no matter what size it is.

Good Luck!!

The money part is kind of miniscule as I'll be able to cannibalize a lot of the parts (Ball valves, hoseclamps, wort chiller, etc) as I move up to a 5 gallon system.

I'll be getting a free 2 gallon cooler and taking the 10 dollar one I bought back, so that'll get me the ball valve. Couple bucks to buy the mesh dishwasher hose. Eventually buy some copper tubing to make my own wort chiller which can/will be used for both big and small batches. Already have a big enough kettle for 5+ gallons, and a couple smaller 3ish gallon kettles to use.

My primary function is to get good at all the steps on a smaller scale, that way when I do make the jump, I'm at least ahead of the curve and making good beer from day one.

It'll let me learn about all the little things, yeast starters, harvesting yeast, cold shocking, re-racking, and all the other things I can't think of, just on a smaller scale. I'll learn how to get things organized and get a good order of things on a more palatable scale financial wise before making the jump.

I guess I should have said, I've got most of the stuff to do everything I'm talking about so every extra dime I get, I can save towards setting up my 5+ gallon system exactly the way I want it and know what I'm doing when I finally get there. Basically the only thing I really "need" to do 5+ gallons at this point is a 10 Gallon (I know I don't need it that big, but plan for the future right?) cooler. Going to go with the igloo/Rubbermaid cylinder type, then I'll just cannibalize parts I've already got or made for my little set up, or just get new and keep my small set up for test/tweaking batches.

Anyways, I'm digging the thought processes going on here and getting some different ideas rolling around. As far as the BIAB, I presume it's Brew In A Bag. I don't have anything against it or anything like that, don't really know much about it really, but I'm excited to try a bunch of different stuff and it may be on the path down the road.

I'll be doing video updates of every brew and all of this from the perspective of someone such as myself, absolutely new to brewing. I'll post the youtube channel here soon. Got some editing to do first and a slew of other things that actually make me money I have to focus on first

 

[Subdivisions]

The money part is kind of miniscule as I'll be able to cannibalize a lot of the parts (Ball valves, hoseclamps, wort chiller, etc) as I move up to a 5 gallon system.

I'll be getting a free 2 gallon cooler and taking the 10 dollar one I bought back, so that'll get me the ball valve. Couple bucks to buy the mesh dishwasher hose. Eventually buy some copper tubing to make my own wort chiller which can/will be used for both big and small batches. Already have a big enough kettle for 5+ gallons, and a couple smaller 3ish gallon kettles to use.

My primary function is to get good at all the steps on a smaller scale, that way when I do make the jump, I'm at least ahead of the curve and making good beer from day one.

It'll let me learn about all the little things, yeast starters, harvesting yeast, cold shocking, re-racking, and all the other things I can't think of, just on a smaller scale. I'll learn how to get things organized and get a good order of things on a more palatable scale financial wise before making the jump.

I guess I should have said, I've got most of the stuff to do everything I'm talking about so every extra dime I get, I can save towards setting up my 5+ gallon system exactly the way I want it and know what I'm doing when I finally get there. Basically the only thing I really "need" to do 5+ gallons at this point is a 10 Gallon (I know I don't need it that big, but plan for the future right?) cooler. Going to go with the igloo/Rubbermaid cylinder type, then I'll just cannibalize parts I've already got or made for my little set up, or just get new and keep my small set up for test/tweaking batches.

Anyways, I'm digging the thought processes going on here and getting some different ideas rolling around. As far as the BIAB, I presume it's Brew In A Bag. I don't have anything against it or anything like that, don't really know much about it really, but I'm excited to try a bunch of different stuff and it may be on the path down the road.

I'll be doing video updates of every brew and all of this from the perspective of someone such as myself, absolutely new to brewing. I'll post the youtube channel here soon. Got some editing to do first and a slew of other things that actually make me money I have to focus on first

In that case, have at it!

 

[Tactical-Brewer]

Thanks man! I'll keep everyone updated!

 

[bucfan1234]

Haha, awesome reply bud! Read my signature :rockin:

On the brewing software, I saw that I could get the brewmaster app for 7.99 vs the actual software for closer to 30. Is there a major difference between the two? I'll be using my phone primarily (who doesn't anymore) for my recipes, etc. Just curious. Doing it right, I have no qualms about spending the 30 bucks on the actual software over the app, but then again, if it's not needed and the app works fine, I'll just do that.

Thanks for the input guys!:rockin:

I am not familiar with brewmaster, but I use both versions of beersmith. Its about the same price point.

I have both the beersmith app, and the beersmith program. I prefer the program, mainly due the fact that I do not like my phone.

I will say the phone app is fairly robust, and I used it to formulate and brew several batches with successful results. It will do most things you need it to do for less money than the full program.

 

[UndeadFred]

You do know that a 48qt Igloo Marine cooler and a voile curtain panel is like $30, right? And you can do up to 6-7 gallons in it, or 2 if you'd like... That and a 5 gallon Indian Stainless (or cheap aluminum even) pot could work perfectly fine as a 2 vessel 3-ish gallon setup....

Fred

 

[Tactical-Brewer]

@ Bucfan1234, Sorry bout that, I meant Brewsmith. Thanks for the heads up! I'll probably just try out the app for now. Right now, I'm using one called "wort" on my android which seems pretty cool. Honestly, at this point though, I still don't really know what I'm doing so it's all kind of mumbo jumbo to me, but I'm getting there.

@ UndeadFred, Man that's awesome on the Igloo Marine Cooler! That will probably be taking the place of the cylinder cooler I was thinking! Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Bilbo1usa]

Beersmith is a great choice.
Both the desktop and the app versions are really good.

I keep both the Wort app and another called Brew Shop (both freebies) on my Android.
I use some of the calculators from the Wort and use the Beer Shop for my recipes and hop inventory.

UndeadFred's advice about the cooler is right on.
I love mine

 

[Duke145]

My first thought would be wait for the pump and use that money for a DIY mashtun and a wort chiller but that's just me. There are many ways to skin a cat.

I use to have a program called promash but after a long break in brewing I ended up getting beersmith and it's working out just fine.

Brew on.

 

[Paps]

My first thought would be wait for the pump and use that money for a DIY mashtun and a wort chiller but that's just me. There are many ways to skin a cat.


Brew on.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/12V-Solar-H...497?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item58b5b1ffc9

 

[Tactical-Brewer]

Thanks for the info Duke, that's awesome!

Paps, you da man man!!! That's exactly what I'm looking for! :rockin:

 

[madscientist451]

Nothing stupid about small batches. Brewing takes time, and one reason brewers go with bigger batches is to get 10 or more gallons in the same time it takes to get 2 gallons.
You don't need a fancy "system" to brew good beer. My view would be to start with a simple brewing setup and put your focus on fermentation control. You don't need pumps, a herms or rims setup, or many other things equipment manufacturers would like you to buy. All those things are nice to have and may (or may not) make your brewing day easier. Focus on what beer you want to make, how the different grains work together, what yeast and fermentation temperatures work best for your tastes.
Get some experience bottling and then tasting your finished beer.
Your question is a good one, good luck and happy holidays.