Smallest batch you ever brewed?

Saint Aardvark · Jan 11, 2010

I've been doing a bunch of 1 gallon AG batches recently. It takes a lot less time to heat up/cool down than a 5 gallon batch, which makes it easy to brew and still take care of the kids. I've got a 50-lb bag of grain and a Corona mill, so I can grind up whatever I like. And I like the experimentation -- I've got one batch going right now with bread yeast. When it's just one gallon, why the hell not try it and see what happens? :mug:

As for bottling, so far I've been racking to a pot, then using a length of tube and a bottling wand, then cursing myself for forgetting that I have an autosiphon that, you know, helps in times like this. But my father-in-law has just given me a home-made stainless steel siphon starter for 1 gallon jugs. Hard to describe...it's a U-shaped length of pipe with an air bulb that lets you start siphoning. Think of a cross between a bottle of perfume and an autosiphon and you've got the idea.

14thstreet · Jan 11, 2010

I just completed 2 small batches of 1.5-2 gallons in my new winter spell test setup. Tried open versus closed fermentation. Bottling was a disaster, my bottling wand had something in it preventing me from shutting off flow and the seal on my autosiphon is not tight so I might have oxidized some brew.

If I was to move to no-sparging, I'd be able to cut time down to make it worth it (over a standard 5 gallon batch). So far I've got to work out some kinks working on a smaller scale.

DavidSteel · Jan 11, 2010

So far, I've only done 4 batches and my lowest batch was 5.5.

UnderThePorchBrewing · Jan 11, 2010

I use the new 6liter brown Tap-A-Draft bottles. they stand up on end, a drilled stopper(forget what size) and an airlock and can do 1G and up to 1.25Gal batches. got them for dispensing and do not really like them so found another use. also since they are brown do not have to shield them from the light down in the basement.