Hello, new member here.
I brewed some in the past, mostly extract and partial mash brews. Have always used 5 gal batch size for ales/lagers. I do have a couple of 3 gal carboys that were previously used for cider and mead tangents.
Current personal situation has lead me to have some time at home on the weekends, so I thought with Fall around the corner I might brew a stout or british ale to pass some time. For a number of reasons, 3gal seems to make sense right now, for me.
So I ordered a Coopers stout kit, which is 3.75lbs of flavored malt extract. ( I got an English Bitter kit as well) Also in the order should be 3lbs of DME and some fresh sanitizer.
So my kettle will hold 3-4 gallons. My thought was to boil the stout kit in 2 gals of water for 30-40mins. Then add another gallon or so of cold water, and wait until the temp was right for pitch with the included cooper yeast pack (can do a little starter with some of the wort or a separate DME starter batch).
I plan to complete initial Ferm in the brew kettle (with lid on in a quiet place), for a couple of days, then transferring to the 3 gallon carboy to finish up.
I could add 1 lb DME to the Stout kit, quick conversion of ratios for 5 vs 3 gal batches tells me either the kit can by itself or adding ~1lb DME should be "in range". I'm not needing a higher ABV, figuring ~4.5% if just the 3.75 Kit can?
I haven't used a kit can in quiet a while, but I remember most of them tend to end up on the malty side, ie the hop balance is low. So, cutting the volume 2/3 shouldn't get me a hop bomb??
So that's the 'Plan' for now. Sundries should be here to brew this weekend or next...
Thanks for listening, and any input is appreciated.
I brewed some in the past, mostly extract and partial mash brews. Have always used 5 gal batch size for ales/lagers. I do have a couple of 3 gal carboys that were previously used for cider and mead tangents.
Current personal situation has lead me to have some time at home on the weekends, so I thought with Fall around the corner I might brew a stout or british ale to pass some time. For a number of reasons, 3gal seems to make sense right now, for me.
So I ordered a Coopers stout kit, which is 3.75lbs of flavored malt extract. ( I got an English Bitter kit as well) Also in the order should be 3lbs of DME and some fresh sanitizer.
So my kettle will hold 3-4 gallons. My thought was to boil the stout kit in 2 gals of water for 30-40mins. Then add another gallon or so of cold water, and wait until the temp was right for pitch with the included cooper yeast pack (can do a little starter with some of the wort or a separate DME starter batch).
I plan to complete initial Ferm in the brew kettle (with lid on in a quiet place), for a couple of days, then transferring to the 3 gallon carboy to finish up.
I could add 1 lb DME to the Stout kit, quick conversion of ratios for 5 vs 3 gal batches tells me either the kit can by itself or adding ~1lb DME should be "in range". I'm not needing a higher ABV, figuring ~4.5% if just the 3.75 Kit can?
I haven't used a kit can in quiet a while, but I remember most of them tend to end up on the malty side, ie the hop balance is low. So, cutting the volume 2/3 shouldn't get me a hop bomb??
So that's the 'Plan' for now. Sundries should be here to brew this weekend or next...
Thanks for listening, and any input is appreciated.