Small batch

[Bravo79]

I’m really new to all of this. I’ve decided to make small 1 gallon batches till I find a beer I like. Can I ferment a one gallon batch in my 5 gallon fermenter or should I use the 1 gallon fermenter

 

[Miraculix]

What's your favourite type of beer atm?

If you like dry Lagers and ipas, it is fairly hard to mess up a single malt single hop ipa or apa (smash). But it does not take much more time to brew 3 or 4 gallons compared to one... I did start with several smash recipes I made up on my own and would recommend everybody to start the same way. Easy to make, high learning factor and the result is nice to drink. My friends liked it to.

So in short, you cold do the one gallon in the huge fermenter, but there is no real reason not to size it up a bit to 3 or 4 gallons. Same work to do, more beer to drink

 

[Parrothead01]

I agree. Any base malt with a reasonable amount of IBU’s from a single hop is going to be a good beer., as long as you have good sanitation and a steady fermentation temp. Very helpful for creating recipes too. It’s hard to be sure what is contributing what until you change things one item at a time

 

[dmtaylor]

I make batches of 1-2 gallons. I use 3-gallon carboys but if I found 2-gallon ones I might get those to use instead.

 

[chris_the_goat]

I would recommend using a smaller fermenter or sizing the batch up a bit.

1 gallon in a 5 gallon fermenter leaves a lot of headspace, I'm not sure the yeast will generate enough CO2 to displace all the air. You might have issues with oxidation. I've done lots of 3 gallon batches in a 6.5 with no issues. I would aim to fill any fermenter at least halfway.

Another thing to consider with batch size is loss to transfers and trub. If you brew 1 gallon of wort, you won't bottle a full gallon of beer. Be sure to add a little extra volume to account for that.

 

[Griffin495]

I would either use a one gallon glass carboy or pick up a 2 gallon bucket at Lowe's and drill a hole in the lid for an airlock. For a one gallon batch, you're going to get 8-10 120z bottles. Bump it up to a 1.5 gallon batch and you'll likely get around a 12 pack.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Letica-2-Gallon-Residential-Bucket/50434788

Another option is to swing by the deli/cake making area of your grocery store and ask politely if they have any buckets. I've gotten a few there ranging in size from 2.5 to 4G. Might take a little scrubbing when you get home.

I do a lot of small gallon batches to try stuff out and I usually don't want 5 gallons of something sitting around.

 

[Bravo79]

Than you everyone for your advise. I’m very new to all this and I appreciate all your advice

 

[Leezer]

I started with one gallon batches and used 2G buckets I bought from a homebrew supply store. A one gallon fermenter would not provide any headspace for the krausen that forms and the effects of an especially vigorous fermentation.

 

[Owly055]

I've been up and down on batch sizes, starting at 2 gallons, and bumping it upward to 3 and eventually 5 gallons at times, but I'm back to small batches.... 2 gallons. The reason is that I like to brew more than I like to drink.
I can easily handle 2 gallon brews on the kitchen stove, and the batches are small enough that I'm planning the next batch almost as soon as I've brewed a batch. I like to experiment with various combinations, and I don't want to be drinking the same thing for a month. Some folks want to find "the beer I like" and go into what amounts to production, pumping out 5 or 10 gallons.....I'm just not wired that way.

I have a 7 gallon fast ferment...... that I'm not using at the moment. Currently all my fermentation is in 2 gallon Walmart glass ice tea jugs with spigots. I've brewed well over a hundred brews, mostly in these with very little problem. I currently have three beers in fermentation.

Small is OK............ Don't feel pushed to brew big. It just means that you get to brew less often, and it's that much longer before you can try something else.

H.W.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

I'd use a 2 gallon bucket for a fermentor for a one gallon batch. You'd have room to produce a little more than 1 gallon so you can yield a full gallon without worrying about over flow. There is a water company that sells 2 or 2.5 gal water in glass carboys, but buckets are much easier to get and they don't break very easily. Have fun discovering you favorite recipie.

 

[Bravo79]

Owly how did you add an airlock to the glass ice tea jugs?

 

[RM-MN]

Owly how did you add an airlock to the glass ice tea jugs?

I don't know how Owly55 does it but I'd just stretch a piece of Saran wrap over the top and hold it in place with a rubber band, then poke a pinhole in the Saran wrap to let out the excess CO2. I'm old enough that I don't need to see bubbles.

 

[dmtaylor]

I don't know how Owly55 does it but I'd just stretch a piece of Saran wrap over the top and hold it in place with a rubber band, then poke a pinhole in the Saran wrap to let out the excess CO2. I'm old enough that I don't need to see bubbles.

I use jars sometimes too and I do the Saran wrap thing, and also place the jar lid on top very loosely to prevent any cats or dropped objects from getting through the Saran wrap while still allowing gases to escape.

 

[madscientist451]

I found 2 Mr. Beer fermenters at my local Goodwill store, both were never used, $1.99 each. I've used them for experimental batches, its somewhat of an open fermentation though, no real airlock.
For someone starting out they're great because you can put them in your regular refrigerator to cold crash and there's a spigot for bottling, so you don't need a siphon.
But a 3 gallon better bottle is only about $20, and you could do 1 to 2.5 gallon batches in that.
To the OP, go ahead with 1 gallon batches if you'd like, but that's only about 10 beers. If you bump it up to 2 gallons its the same amount of time/effort except the bottling.

 

[MyQuL]

I don't know how Owly55 does it but I'd just stretch a piece of Saran wrap over the top and hold it in place with a rubber band, then poke a pinhole in the Saran wrap to let out the excess CO2. I'm old enough that I don't need to see bubbles.

I do this too but dont bother putting a pin hole in the saranwrap/clingfilm. I've never had a problem with the C02 escaping. All that happens is the clingfilm balloons up a small amount

 

[shoreman]

I found 2 Mr. Beer fermenters at my local Goodwill store, both were never used, $1.99 each. I've used them for experimental batches, its somewhat of an open fermentation though, no real airlock.
For someone starting out they're great because you can put them in your regular refrigerator to cold crash and there's a spigot for bottling, so you don't need a siphon.
But a 3 gallon better bottle is only about $20, and you could do 1 to 2.5 gallon batches in that.
To the OP, go ahead with 1 gallon batches if you'd like, but that's only about 10 beers. If you bump it up to 2 gallons its the same amount of time/effort except the bottling.

I have two of them (got them for $10 each on sale at their site). I've also been doing a lot of experimental or small batches on them - just made a smoked porter that I'll bottle. I wasn't really interested in 5 gallons of that beer yet. I like to make higher abc beers that I'm going to bottle. Just simple BIABasket but started with a bag.

You can also fit them in a cooler easily to control ferm temps with ice bottles.

I just go 2 week and straight to bottle or keg (just picked up a 2.5 gallon keg for these).

These things are great for the price.

 

[Owly055]

Owly how did you add an airlock to the glass ice tea jugs?

I have one with an airlock....... I simply cut a hole with a holesaw. I don't bother with the other two...... I don't seem to have any trouble normally. The one with the airlock is for my long term high gravity fermentations, and also has a grommet through which I have a plastic line with an airstone on one end, the other end connected to an oxygen regulator. I use electrical tape on the lid to seal it.

At least for me, there is little problem with unwanted microbes. I've also fermented in a stock pot.

Fast Ferment is now advertising a soon to be released smaller conical..... I forget the size... 2.5 or 3 gallon?? I really like the design, and may buy one when they come out if they are reasonable.

H.W.

 

[Bravo79]

Again thank you all, I think I’m going to get some 3 gallon food grade buckets. I also want to try different recipes. 1-2 gallon batches is what I’m thinking I’ll be trying for a while

 

[Bonkurz]

I've been up and down on batch sizes, starting at 2 gallons, and bumping it upward to 3 and eventually 5 gallons at times, but I'm back to small batches.... 2 gallons. The reason is that I like to brew more than I like to drink.
I can easily handle 2 gallon brews on the kitchen stove, and the batches are small enough that I'm planning the next batch almost as soon as I've brewed a batch. I like to experiment with various combinations, and I don't want to be drinking the same thing for a month. Some folks want to find "the beer I like" and go into what amounts to production, pumping out 5 or 10 gallons.....I'm just not wired that way.

I have a 7 gallon fast ferment...... that I'm not using at the moment. Currently all my fermentation is in 2 gallon Walmart glass ice tea jugs with spigots. I've brewed well over a hundred brews, mostly in these with very little problem. I currently have three beers in fermentation.

Small is OK............ Don't feel pushed to brew big. It just means that you get to brew less often, and it's that much longer before you can try something else.

H.W.

I've been doing a lot of research to prepare for my foray into home brew and have landed on 1-2 gallon batches myself. I rarely buy the same beer twice in the same year as I like trying so many different things. I think I'll enjoy having a small amount to drink before moving on to the next batch.

What do you bottle in? At this point I'm leaning towards 16oz swing top bottles. Have you kegged your small batches?

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Sometimes swing tops have not held a carb for me... One needs to check the rims and sealing rings carefully, as you know it is the preferred method for several international brands. You could also use a mini keg around $15 or a 1.75 gallon ball lock around $99 (I'm getting one on sale for $70 today at AIH)if you want to keg rather than bottle.

 

[Northern_Brewer]

I’m really new to all of this. I’ve decided to make small 1 gallon batches till I find a beer I like. Can I ferment a one gallon batch in my 5 gallon fermenter or should I use the 1 gallon fermenter

I wouldn't do 1gal in a big bucket, it will oxidise - I've got a really nice example at the moment, I'll try and take a photo. Same wort into 1gal and 5gal buckets - the former were lager-coloured, the latter was probably closer to dunkel than bitter!

I also have the problem that I can brew more than I drink, but I don't like being inefficient either. It helps that I have access to lots of exotic commercial beers, so at home I'm quite happy drinking variations on a SMASH-ish golden ale, which allows me to really concentrate on refining my process. At the moment my sweet spot is to make 3 gallons of wort, and split it into 3x1gallon buckets for fermenting with different yeast, dry hops etc - you could even boil up some hop teas to allow variation at the late-kettle stage.

It's sensible to have 2-3 batches worth of bottles, that way you're not waiting to drink all of one batch before starting another, and you can see how it ages over a longer period.

 

[Bonkurz]

Sometimes swing tops have not held a carb for me... One needs to check the rims and sealing rings carefully, as you know it is the preferred method for several international brands. You could also use a mini keg around $15 or a 1.75 gallon ball lock around $99 (I'm getting one on sale for $70 today at AIH)if you want to keg rather than bottle.

Wow, I didn't know they made kegs that small. I like the idea of the 1.75 gallon ball lock.

 

[ecam]

Wow, I didn't know they made kegs that small. I like the idea of the 1.75 gallon ball lock.

I have the 1.75g torpedo keg and it has been nice. That being said, bottling 12-20 bottles really isn’t that bad.

 

[Owly055]

I have lots of excellent EZ-Cap swing tops........... I refuse to buy crown caps. The EZ-Cap bottles are rated over 100 psi, and are far stronger than ordinary beer bottles. They also will relieve at high pressure. I don't think bottle grenades are possible with these. I'm a bit sloppy........ I don't take FG readings, I taste small samples. Hydrometers consume too much beer in small batches, and I'm too lazy to do refractometer corrections for FG........ and don't trust them anyway. Thus far in about 120 brews, have yet to have a batch develop excessive carbonation.
Awhile back I went to the 1.75 gallon kegs from Williams Brewing......... not the "torpedo keg", and I pressurize with CO2 from my welding bottle initially, then using a paint ball tank, which I now keep disconnected except occasionally to "bump" the pressure. This system works very well for me. These kegs are also rated about 100 psi, and have a relief, but I'm in the fridge right away anyway. They were money very well spent, as bottle cleaning is largely a thing of the past.
The one problem I have with EZ-Cap bottle is getting people to bring them back....... they are such nice bottles that people want to keep them, and they aren't cheap. My rule is "if you don't bring my bottles back and clean..... you don't get anymore beer". I've found who my real friends are. People who are thoughtless and inconsiderate are not people I want as friends!! The cost of a few bottles is cheap......... You soon learn who you can rely on, who cares, who will be there when you need them....... I's a very cheap test of human nature. Perhaps a superficial way to judge people, but it actually tells you a lot more than you might give it credit. When I need help putting a roof on the barn, or someone to help me get a broken down vehicle down, or a place to stay in bad weather, a load of a few bucks........... Guess who comes through...... The selfsame people who bring me back clean bottles!! They are the people I want as friends.

H.W.