smaller batch help

[maestro]

Hey everyone,

Okay, so I've been brewing from cans for over 18mths now. I know what brands I like and thanks to help from Ed at Noble Grape Coldbrook, did some good hop additions to enhance what I bought.

But I'd like to try an all grain batch. However, I only have a small brew pot to use (11L I think it was). So maybe, instead of a full 5gal batch, I just do a smaller batch and try that. So, how do I do it? How do I make the calculations? I don't have access to brewsmith, but I wanted to know what some of you did for a smaller batch.

Looking to make a nice IPA or Pilsner. Someting on the golden side of beer really.

Thoughts/opinions?

Cheers for now!

[Halifax_Jeff]

I have been making extract brews for awhile and just did 2 one gallon all grain batches in a small pot on my stove. You can use online BIAB calculators to calculate how much water and what temperature you should mash your grains. I put my grains in a mesh bag and let it sit in the oven at its lowest setting (turn it off once it heats up and it should be able to keep the temperature consistent with the lid on your pot).

It seemed to go well they've been fermenting away. I'll know just how well it went in a few weeks. You basically just need a 1 gallon jug and your usual equipment. Also a thermometer is definitively needed.

Maybe someone else can chime in and make some better suggestions.

[LeafMan66_67]

I did some one gallon all grain batches on the stove top when I first started the transition from extract / steeping grain brewing. Halifax_Jeff seems to have nailed the process - use a mesh bag, use the oven to maintain mash temperatures, and use a one gallon jug for fermentation, fitted with a stopper and blow-off tube.

The biggest issue I had starting out was the amount of boil-off vs final volume, but once under control after a batch, everything was fine.

I have a book from Brooklyn Brew Shop that has a good number of solid recipes already scaled down to the one gallon size, written for beginning brewers, that I found to be a great resource. If you wanted to do your own recipe or scale an existing recipe, one of the free online brewing programs should do the trick.

Have fun with it, experiment. Remember, it's only beer!

[GasMD30]

I agree with Derek!

[dean2k]

I jumped right into brewing with 1 gal. AG batches. I'm still predominately an 3 gal. brewer. If you can make porridge and boil water, you'll do fine with brewing. ALso, lots of free online calculators to help you along which will do the scaling for you.

Have fun