Dividing 5 gal kit

[JohnSant]

I'm going to make a run to my local supply store today and was thinking of getting a 5 gal. kit and use two LBK's. My question is how dose a person divide the wort and yeast and all the other goodies you may use. I can see using a scale on weight and measuring cup for small liquids (can you buy a one gal measuring cup). But wort and yeast Dose not compute. maybe my old brain is starting to ware out like my granddaughter has been trying to tell me for years. Any help on this issue would be grateful.

[Beer-lord]

Just take the finished, cooled wort and put equal amounts in each LBK using the marks on the side. I wouldn't worry about splitting the yeast as I would add a full pack in each.

[Crazy Climber]

What B-L said. I just swap back and forth between the two LBK's, so that each one is getting some "early"/clear wort and some of the cloudier wort from the bottom of the kettle. Amounts won't be exact across the two LBK's, but will be close enough.
For yeast, you can either pitch a full packet (or vial) into each, or use a small scale to split a packet in half when rehydrating. In other words, put a small bowl with sterilized water on the scale, and then measure out half the packet into that bowl, for LBK #1....then empty the rest of the yeast into a second small bowl, for LBK #2.

[RickBeer]

Here's what I do.

I put 1 gallon of cold water in each LBK.

I use a 1 quart measuring cup, which I fill from a 1 pint measuring cup that I dip into the wort. I pour it through a strainer (hops are commando) into the 1 quart cup until full, then pour it into LBK#1. I then do it into #2, then alternate until it's all gone. Then I top off with cold water.

I take a coffee filter and tear it in 1/2 and split the yeast as 11 or 11.5 grams is twice what you need. I both eyeball it and weigh it to get it reasonably equal, then dump it in.

[JohnSant]

Thanks guys I've jotted the info down and plan on using it soon when my LBK's are empty.

[Trollby]

I have done what is listed above but what I really like doing is making two different beers 1 kit.

Lets say you have a brown ale kit, it came with US-05 yeast, I will pickup a US-04 or some other English style yeast and BOOM I have an American brown ale and and English brown ale.

Also done it with one Ale and second Lager/bock beer

[DaYooper]

If'n you are making the same beer in both LBKs, and if'n you have a 5 gallon bottling bucket, I would siphon both into the same bucket to let them blend. However, when I use two LBKs for a similar batch it is usually to experiment with hops and yeasts, in which case blending them would sort of defeat the purpose....

On the other hand, if the LHBS puts together their own kits you could ask them to split them so you can make them one at a time. Mine will do that no problem.

[John Sand]

You can also just judge by eye. Brewing is as much art as science. When I brewed half batches, I folded the yeast pack in half before cutting it open.

[JohnSant]

thanks Trollby only have LBK's need to get a large batch sys maybe after new year. DaYooper and John will keep your ideas in mind when I buy my kit. Thanks Guys