What is magical about round number batch sizes.

[phepner]

Is there anything magical about round number batch sizes.? I’ve seen people encouraged to sell what they have and move up to much larger and more expensive kettles just because a standard batch size might boil over … etc. Seems to be the tail wagging the dog to me. Why not optimize the batch size to the equipment available. What am I missing here?

 

[Clonefan94]

I just think it's because most kits and recipes are based on the 5 gallon model. Plus, if you are going to take the time to brew 3 gallons, might as well brew 5. I have a friend who thinks I'm crazy for brewing batches for 5 gallons. For him, it doesn't take any longer to brew 10 gallons than it does 5 gallons.

 

[Foosier]

This is a good question. I tend to agree a huge kettle is not required, however I tend to think of my 10 gal pot as not that big. I do adjust my process to make sure my intended batch fits my equipment.

That being said, it take almost the exact same time to brew a 5 gallon batch as it does a 10 or 15 gallon batch. As a result, if you like/need more beer a bigger kettle setup definitely will improve your GAL produced / Hour spent ratio.

 

[brokebucket]

If they made a 4.32 gallon keg, that's how big my batch would be. My keg is 5 gallons, so I aim to fill that.

 

[kh54s10]

It also has to due with fermenter size. Most buckets and carboys are suited to 5 gallon batches. So 5 gallons into one bucket/carboy or a 10 gallon batch into 2 fermenters. But you are forgetting those that brew one gallon batches and others that do 2.5 or 3 gallon batches.

 

[phepner]

Ok thanks! All the reasons I assumed. I don't plan on buying kits so not restrained there. Not interested in maximizing my time/gallon either. I have too many hobby’s taking up garage real estate but carved out a small area. Was thinking electric 1/4 keggles to keep a small foot print and I have some available. Scale a final batch size from a 7.5 gallon BK. So the only vessel I need to size is the fermenter. Might even get away with 120v since such low volume. AND if I decide I want to get bigger I can scale to 1/2s and reuse all the fittings .... any holes in my plan?

 

[myelo]

I don't think there is anything magical about a 5 gallon batch, although at least in the US that's been a typical size since at least the 1920s. During prohibition, a lot of the breweries starting making malt extract, since they could no longer make beer. This extract often came in a 3 lb can to make a 5 gallon batch (roughly 4 cases beer).

For example, one of these, Blue Ribbon extract made by the former Pabst brewery, was sold in grocery stores, ostensibly for baking ... you know, for all those times you want to make hop-flavored cookies. The can had an address you could mail to and they would send you the beer recipe.

 

[TastyAdventure]

I brew whatever size my system can handle depending on the Desired OG. I can mash a max of 24 lbs at 1.25 qt/lb in my 10 gal mash tun, so that equates to 6.2 gal of the RIS I am about to brew at 1.087. I can brew 10 gal of a 1.050 beer.

 

[Braufessor]

5-10-15 gallons = 1-2-3 Kegs is some of it.

Room in fermenter for head space...


I brew 6.5 gallon batches to account for deadspace and loss in transferring in my particular system.... My goal is 5 gallons into the keg, so I make 6.5 gallons to make sure that happens.

 

[Flboy]

I don't think there is anything magical about a 5 gallon batch, although at least in the US that's been a typical size since at least the 1920s. During prohibition, a lot of the breweries starting making malt extract, since they could no longer make beer. This extract often came in a 3 lb can to make a 5 gallon batch (roughly 4 cases beer).

For example, one of these, Blue Ribbon extract made by the former Pabst brewery, was sold in grocery stores, ostensibly for baking ... you know, for all those times you want to make hop-flavored cookies. The can had an address you could mail to and they would send you the beer recipe.

HEMP Flavored cookies???? OOPS a misread!
Adult Coloradans consume roughly 121 metric tons of BLANK a year!

 

[ArkotRamathorn]

I think a lot of home brewers are obsessive compulsives to a certain extent. Nice round numbers are pleasing to the eyes, if I'm going to start doing 7 gallon batches, why don't I just upgrade my equipment to be able to do 10 gallons.

Same thing when you buy a muscle car. I could buy this 4 liter V8, but I know in a year I'll wish I bought that 8 liter V8 Dodge Viper.