BeerBorg

Does anyone brew small one gallon batches? I think I might do a few all grain 1 gallon batches so that I can try out different ingredients and beer styles.

I find that 5 gallons is way too much beer for me to drink.
Even the LBK size makes more than I can drink. My wife will occasionally have a beer but she is more of a wine drinker so it's up to me to finish it off.

I might just split a 2.14. batch in half and try different yeasts and hops.

I think measurments would be much more important in 1 gallon brew.

I have a one gallon fermenter. I did a 1 gallon AG batch from Brooklyn Brewshop (came in a kit I got for Christmas same time I got my MB). Then I mostly relegated that fermenter to ciders for SWMBO. But like you, I think I am gonna start doing 1 gallon batches AG BIAB. 1 drawback is that I only get about 10 12oz bottles out of a batch. So, it is a lot of effort for not a lot of beer. But that means if you try a new recipe and don't like it, there isn't that much to get rid of. I am planning on making a IIPA for this reason. I might not care for it, but it will be within my capabilities of choking down 10 of them.

I have 4 - 1 gallon carboys, they get used. When working up new recipes, trying different yeast, different hops and combos, they hit the spot. They might not fill many bottles, but like u said, makes it easier to drink down beer that just did not quite hit the mark.

I've done it in the past to experiment and try out pilot recipes before making a larger batch. I think a stove top BIAB all grain would be super easy and be good for this If I ever did it again. I brewed 3 gal batches for a long time and I still do, just not as much now that I keg.

I don't, but am considering it after choking down 5 gallons of a brew that I just did not like.

Life is too short to drink bad or even mediocre beer. If I brew something that I really don't like I either dump it or give it all away. It's only happened twice so far (knock on wood).

For the effort, it's worth doing at least 2.5G for me.

(Perhaps a mod can move this to the right forum so more eyes see it?)

Kealia wrote:Life is too short to drink bad or even mediocre beer. If I brew something that I really don't like I either dump it or give it all away. It's only happened twice so far (knock on wood).

For the effort, it's worth doing at least 2.5G for me.

(Perhaps a mod can move this to the right forum so more eyes see it?)

Please move it. I wasn't sure what forum to post it in.

I agree that for me, brewing LBK-sized batches is as small as I would want to go, with the caveat that I might want to someday do a 5 gallon batch and split the wort into 1 gallon batches and test yeast and flavors or coffee. Otherwise, for the work involved, not worth it for me.

As far as dumping beer Kealia, I've notified the "Are You Freakin' Kidding Me?" Police and they should be there shortly. Seriously though, I've dumped one batch which somehow got infected and was undrinkable (strong vinegar odor and taste). Otherwise, it would have to be pretty bad for me to dump it. I've only given away a limited amount, a case to my son for his birthday and a bottle to a friend. We don't have people over to drink, so I don't often have that chance.

Funny story - invited two couples over for drinks and snacks (one couple was new to neighborhood). Short 2 hours, get to know you, no big work for anyone. Turns out of the 4 of them, 3 don't drink and one had a beer (one of the women no less) to be nice. Suffice it to say we're considering moving...

It really is a lot of work for 9 to 10 bottles. Maybe I should just give away half!

I have a ton of 1 gallon fermenters that I usually use for cider or mead. I have also used them to make a 3 gallon batch and then split it 3 ways and pitch 3 different yeasts. But to just make a single 1 gallon batch of beer seems like a lot of effort for little gain to me. If you are happy to do it keep doing it by all means.

My first one gallon batch is fermenting. I made it for a hop experiment. I would do it again for other experimental batches
Rick, I had the opposite experience. My wife invited another couple over late one evening. He drank half my bottles of cold homebrew (OK, I drank the other half). I had to drink commercial beer for a couple of days until more were ready.

Obviously, you should do what works best for you.

But I'm in the 2.5 gallon camp for experiments and new recipes. Mostly because of the time/work vs. yield issue. I don't want to spend the time on a BIAB brew-day, then wait a couple of months, just for ten bottles.

And consider this: There's "experimental" and then there's "experimental". By that I mean, most of my new recipes and experiments turn out okay (i.e. drinkable) because I've got enough experience to know what works. Either that or I do my research ahead of time, if I want to try an unfamiliar hop strain or yeast or even a complete style that's new to me. I've moved past the "Mad Scientist" phase where I think, "Hey, I like beer and I like pork chops, too. Why not a Pork Chop IPA?!?!?!"

Just my own take on it.

There are plusses to very small batches (1gl). I'm amazed how quickly they boil and cool. If you stovetop brew, (I do) you can heat and then cool a little batch much faster than even a 2.5.

I like the idea of splitting a 3 gallon brew into three one gallons fermenters to try different yeasts and hops.
I don't want to go " mad scientist " I'm more interested in speeding up my learning curve.

I could go all grain without buying new equipment if I brew 1 gallon. It might be an easier way to make the move away from extract brewing.

FedoraDave wrote:'ve moved past the "Mad Scientist" phase where I think, "Hey, I like beer and I like pork chops, too. Why not a Pork Chop IPA?!?!?!"

The membership of this forum disavows any recommendations made for "Pork Chop IPA", or any other "MEAT" IPA or non-IPA. For that matter, any "FISH" beverage, like "Salmon Sasson" would not be endorsed by the Borg...