Scaling recipes

[FLNavyVet]

I've started brewing and tried my first all-grain recipe. I am planning to move to a larger system very soon, either 5 or 10 gallons. My question is for the 1 gallon all-grain recipes I have, do I just multiple up for the large batch? So, can I take my recipe for a 1 gallon brew and multiple by 10 to get the 10 gallon recipe? Hope it's that simple, but wanted to ask before I jumped in. Thanks!

 

[55x11]

I've started brewing and tried my first all-grain recipe. I am planning to move to a larger system very soon, either 5 or 10 gallons. My question is for the 1 gallon all-grain recipes I have, do I just multiple up for the large batch? So, can I take my recipe for a 1 gallon brew and multiple by 10 to get the 10 gallon recipe? Hope it's that simple, but wanted to ask before I jumped in. Thanks!

Not everything scales linearly but for the most part it will be close enough.
Download beersmith or other similar software. It can make scaling recipes as simple as pressing a button.

 

[FLNavyVet]

Thanks!

 

[whovous]

I think the main thing you're unlikely to want to scale up 5 or 10 times is the yeast.

 

[meatcleaver]

I use this calculator. it has a handy scaling feature.
http://www.brewersfriend.com/homebrew/recipe/calculator/

 

[Morrey]

I don't think 55x11 or I either one have a financial interest in BeerSmith per se, but I never brew anything without running my recipes thru the BS program. The scaling feature is great and I use it often.

If or when you do high gravity beers where efficiencies are low, this program is a must especially when scaling.

 

[Biscuits]

If you wanna go down the rabbit hole with recipe scaling, a simple multiplication x 5 or 10 is not going to work. You have to consider that each system is going to have different losses and efficiencies which will effect your overall grain weight. The best thing to do is scale by percentages of each grain until you are at the right amounts to get the desired OG. I have never used BS or any other commercially available program, but I imagine they work decently at doing this provided you have accurate system profiles set up.

That being said, the rule of thumb of multiplying by 5 or 10 will make beer. Will it make the same beer you brewed at 1 gallon? Probably not...but it might be close.

 

[Morrey]

If you wanna go down the rabbit hole with recipe scaling, a simple multiplication x 5 or 10 is not going to work. You have to consider that each system is going to have different losses and efficiencies which will effect your overall grain weight. The best thing to do is scale by percentages of each grain until you are at the right amounts to get the desired OG. I have never used BS or any other commercially available program, but I imagine they work decently at doing this provided you have accurate system profiles set up.

That being said, the rule of thumb of multiplying by 5 or 10 will make beer. Will it make the same beer you brewed at 1 gallon? Probably not...but it might be close.

You are 100% correct in that w/o good data from knowing your equipment and your losses, not much of any program will help. To really get the most from any commercial program with variables like volume losses, you need good values to input.

 

[FLNavyVet]

Looking at this thread, and the many others, sounds like an investment in getting BeerSmith may in order sooner than later.

 

[violinguy]

Looking at this thread, and the many others, sounds like an investment in getting BeerSmith may in order sooner than later.

Beersmith or Brewer's Friend. Those seem to be the two big ones right now. I haven't tried Beersmith yet, but I've used Brewer's Friend a few times (free to a point) and it's really good.

 

[PADave]

Beersmith or Brewer's Friend. Those seem to be the two big ones right now. I haven't tried Beersmith yet, but I've used Brewer's Friend a few times (free to a point) and it's really good.

I'll second Brewers Friend. I tried it out, and decided to go the paid route. I tried the trial of Beersmith and found the interface too complicated, just didn't like the interface. I found Brewers Friend much easier to use. Now that I got my system dialed in, I hit the numbers right on.

 

[Morrey]

I'll second Brewers Friend. I tried it out, and decided to go the paid route. I tried the trial of Beersmith and found the interface too complicated, just didn't like the interface. I found Brewers Friend much easier to use. Now that I got my system dialed in, I hit the numbers right on.

I'll agree with Dave on this one being that BS does take some time to warm up to. Another program, Bru'n Water, is possibly a bit difficult to get a handle on...at least it was for me.