Wheres the 2.5 Gallon Brewer'$???

[lefty96]

I am wanting to get to 2.5 gallon eventually - sticking to 5 as I learn for the ease of extract kids - what size fermenters do you use for a 2.5 g batch?

 

[wobdee]

I am wanting to get to 2.5 gallon eventually - sticking to 5 as I learn for the ease of extract kids - what size fermenters do you use for a 2.5 g batch?

I use the Speidel 3.2 gal fermenter from Morebeer. I don't even bother with an air lock, just leave the lid on loosely.

I also tried out the 3 gal Brewdemon but the spigot is a bit low and sits in the yeast cake.

You can also go with the 3 gal better bottles or carboys.

 

[Weezy]

<---raises hand.

Though I doing 3 gallons moreso now, with a bit less going into the fermenter and a bit less than that making it into 2.5 gal kegs.

I also do 1 gallon experimental stuff and for blending.

 

[madman960]

2.5 and 5 gallon AG.

 

[Owly055]

The best fermenter I've found is a 3 gallon ice tea dispenser from Walmart. It is clear with a pale green tint, and the lid fits into a taper on top and seals very well. It comes with a vent hole..... You can't open one if the vent is plugged due to the tight seal. I drill the vent out and attach a fermentation lock using clear silicone. Acrylic is considered the most food safe of all plastics. I rack into my cold crash / bottling container using the spigot, and also use it to take samples. It's a superb fermenter for about $20, and extremely easy to clean, unlike the Brew Demon which I also have a copy of. The Brew Demon has internal "features" such as the letters and the threads for the lid that make cleaning it a bit of a pain. This is absolutely smooth. It also makes top cropping the krausen extremely easy. I top crop with a boiled ladle, and the top crop yields extremely high quality yeast, ready to go, Below is a link to a photo on Dropbox......... For some reason I can't insert an image today.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ls2pz97xphr9bam/beveragedispenser.jpg?dl=0

H.W.

 

[phug]

What size pot is needed for a 2.5 gallon BIAB? Full volume mashing

 

[Owly055]

What size pot is needed for a 2.5 gallon BIAB? Full volume mashing

I use a 24 quart stockpot....... I've used a smaller one, but had to sparge. My smaller stock pot was pressed into service recently as a fermenter when I broke my favorite fermenter.

H.W.

 

[EJay]

What size pot is needed for a 2.5 gallon BIAB? Full volume mashing

I've been getting away with a 20 qt / 5 gal for normal Gravity brews.

 

[phug]

my math had been telling me 5 gallons.

 

[hannibalmdq]

my math had been telling me 5 gallons.

Yeah. I had a 4.5 gallon and it was a squeeze. 5 would've been a little more comfortable. But you won't be able to do BIAB at that size (if you're interested at all in BIAB).

If you are planning on doing BIAB, go for 6.5 gallon or greater. That's what I have now and I like it.

 

[z-bob]

I used to do 5-gallon partial mash brews, many years ago. When I got back into brewing, I started doing 3 and 4 gallon all-grain BIAB. I was planning to step that up to 5 or 6 gallons, but 3 gallon strong beers and 4 gallon "normal" gravity beers seems to be a good size, and I won't need to buy a bigger kettle.

I might even do a few 1-gallon beers if I try anything weird. (like a creeping charlie gruit)

 

[Owly055]

Yeah. I had a 4.5 gallon and it was a squeeze. 5 would've been a little more comfortable. But you won't be able to do BIAB at that size (if you're interested at all in BIAB).

If you are planning on doing BIAB, go for 6.5 gallon or greater. That's what I have now and I like it.

I do BIAB all grain 2.5 gallon batches in my 24 quart kettle all the time and have plenty of room..........

 

[hannibalmdq]

I do BIAB all grain 2.5 gallon batches in my 24 quart kettle all the time and have plenty of room..........

So you're saying a 6 gallon kettle is as doable as a 6.5 gallon kettle for 2.5 gallon batches. I'm fine with that statement.

But to comment I replied to, a 4.5 or 5 gallon kettle would be pushing it for BIAB in my opinion. Especially if the grist was particularly large or if you have a large boil off rate. You may be able to mash some grists in it, but you could definitely run into problems. Of course there are work arounds for everything. Spending a few extra dollars on a slightly larger kettle to have some flexibility down the road is the path I would choose.

For what it's worth I normally end up racking 2.75 gallons into my 3 gallon fermentor and packaging about 2.5 during bottling. I'm never sure if when people say X gallon batches what volume they are actually referring to. Ending kettle, ferementor, or packaging volume.

And I'm big fan of brewing at the 2.5ish gallon size. It's significant enough to last for a while, but small enough to encourage brewing often for variety.

 

[joe_four_strings]

My 2.5/3 gal fermenter setup.

 

[sumbrewindude]

3gal AG brewer.

Love the size, plenty to drink, and equipment is cost effective/easy to store.

 

[sputnam]

i do 3.2 gallons...is that close enough? I realized that if i do 3.2 gallons in 5 gallon fermentor I can leave the racking cane unattended and balanced on the hump (in better bottles) never get any trub and get the keg FULLLLLL...i have some 2.5's and a few 3 gallons. Plus in 5 gallon ferm, i NEVER worry about blowovers

 

[HK823]

2.5 gl for brewing a AG recipe for the first time and you don't know what it is.
5 gl for tastier stuff (including liquid kits).

Luckily my fridge allows for my 5 gl fermenter + 2 gallon bucket

 

[brewprint]

For those who keg their 2.5 gallon batches; does it carb in half the time as a five gallon keg? I have both sizes.

 

[HK823]

No it takes just as long. I have both sizes too.

 

[Gish]

I like to use a 2.5 gallon BIAB batch as a big starter and repitch my yeast into a 10 gallon batch. I like to make Smash beer to understand all my malts hops and yeast. This size of batch works out perfect for pitching 1 vial of yeast and then into a 10 gallon according to Mr. Malty.

 

[brewprint]

No it takes just as long. I have both sizes too.

Thanks for the tip. I just cranked up the keg to 25 and will leave it there for at least 24 hours. Should be nice by Friday.

 

[SnakeRidge]

I like to use a 2.5 gallon BIAB batch as a big starter and repitch my yeast into a 10 gallon batch. I like to make Smash beer to understand all my malts hops and yeast. This size of batch works out perfect for pitching 1 vial of yeast and then into a 10 gallon according to Mr. Malty.

I do this too. I hate pouring out the starter beer so why not make something worth drinking?

 

[watermelon83]

I usually brew two 2.5g batches and then just mix them together in the same fermenter.

 

[HK823]

Boil up 2 batches of 2.5 gl each? Hopefully at the same time otherwise you must have some really really long brew days.

 

[Weezy]

Besides fermenting in 5 gal corneys, I really like my brewdemon. Top crops easy and the spigot is above the trub line. It'll ferment 2.5g plus a little just fine.

https://www.brewdemon.com/equipment/all-equipment/fermetation-equipment

I like it better than my 3g better bottle with rotating spigot.

 

[Calder]

My norm is 6 gallons, but I experiment with 2.5 gallons.

In jan I split 11 gallons in to 4 x 2.75, and pitched 4 different yeasts - they were starter yeast for my next 4 full size batches.

At bottling, I often take 2.5 gallons to add extras to it. Such as, coffee, oak, vanilla, liquor, etc, even a different or extra dry hop.

 

[ericbw]

2.5 or 3 is a great size batch. I have 2 2.5 gal kegs and 2 3 gallon. 4 tap kegerator with one shelf that still fits.

 

[paul_111]

I am wanting to get to 2.5 gallon eventually - sticking to 5 as I learn for the ease of extract kids - what size fermenters do you use for a 2.5 g batch?

I've been brewing 2-3 gallons, fermenting in either 3 or 5 gal better bottles.

 

[divrguy]

Correction 2.75 .

2.75 here too! Cheers!

 

[CUrchin]

2.5 to 3.5 gallons here. 5 gallon pot, 5 gallon buckets, 5 gallon paint strainer bags. Very cheap way to do this hobby. I did one gallon batches for awhile but that wasn't enough. I like to experiment, but 5 gallons is too much to have for a mediocre beer.