Scaling down your operation

[kharper6]

Have you guys ever realized that you're in a bit over your head?

I just recently moved to a new area and unfortunately I don't have much of a social life yet and with my new job starting it looks like i won't have much of one ever.

I'm geared for 10 gallon recipes, which is just a joke at this point.

I've been considering sizing down to 3 gallon ball locks and just starting with 3 gallon batches. This would defeat my need for my huge kegerator and everything.


Anyone ever scaled down? Why? Were you glad?

I don't know how I can do full mash BIABs with a 16 gallon pot, but I guess it isn't out of the question.

 

[LandoLincoln]

You're starting a new job, yeah? New co-workers might really appreciate homebrewed beer. Which may make you some new good friends fast. You might have a use for that beer after all.

 

[Flboy]

I hear you! I just did my first truly all grain 5 gal batch and ouch!! When I been batch sparging, I been sucking every ounce of sweetness out of my wort. Now with the doubling of grain, I just don't know. The workload seemed to triple.-was going to use another exclamation point, but. Oh well, I do hear you.

 

[sudbuster]

Have you guys ever realized that you're in a bit over your head?

I just recently moved to a new area and unfortunately I don't have much of a social life yet and with my new job starting it looks like i won't have much of one ever.

I'm geared for 10 gallon recipes, which is just a joke at this point.

I've been considering sizing down to 3 gallon ball locks and just starting with 3 gallon batches. This would defeat my need for my huge kegerator and everything.


Anyone ever scaled down? Why? Were you glad?

I don't know how I can do full mash BIABs with a 16 gallon pot, but I guess it isn't out of the question.

About a year ago I scaled down to 5 gal batches. The reason was that's about all my family and I need. It allows a bit more variety also. I scaled down because i had some so called friends that just kept wanting free beer. Finally, I told them no more. They disappeared and now I don't need to provide community beer, and no great loss.
Am I glad I scaled down? Oh, a big resounding YES! Even though I have 14 gal. conicals gathering dust, I am a happy Camper. Cheers.

 

[CA_Mouse]

Even though I have 14 gal. conicals gathering dust, I am a happy Camper. Cheers.

If they are just collecting dust, share the wealth or at least sell them to one of us!

Seriously though, if you aren't using something like that it's shame.

 

[kharper6]

You're starting a new job, yeah? New co-workers might really appreciate homebrewed beer. Which may make you some new good friends fast. You might have a use for that beer after all.

The line of work I am in, let's just say the coworkers go hard or go home, very stressful work. Beer probably won't cut it for them

Good hearing from some of you. I don't know what I was thinking getting all of this stuff, I wish I had just stayed with my 5 gallon route. As you mentioned, the workload was SO easy. No heavy lifting, brew day finished up quick, really easy to get a perfect recipe going. This 10-12 gallon batch stuff is intense when you aren't splitting it with anyone.

 

[AgentHubcap]

Can't you just brew smaller batches on the same system? I do 5 and 10 gallon batches on my system. Just sayin'

 

[Jmarsh544]

I ended up with the best of both worlds, a 2.5 gallon EBIAG system and a 5/10 gallon system. I have 2.5 and 5 gallon kegs; the flexibility is awesome.


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[Zepth]

I'd be inclined to use the 10g system and do a whole lot of batch splitting. Also makes for fewer brew days, fewer days of cleanup.

I readily admit that I'm a novice and probably couldn't tell you the difference between two identical batches split between Nottingham and US-05. Or was that S-04? Even so, probably any of the 3. This makes me very interested in comparison batches, switching a part of the equation or 2 to be able to compare the end result and predict future batches a little more effectively. This sways me decision.

 

[tsl346]

I would go for the splitting batches. I have seen where people split after the boil and do different yeast and dry hopping. I have also seen where you split after the mash into different boil kettles. You can use different specialty grains in the pre-heating water similar to extract brewing for different color. It also sets you up for partigyle (sp?) brewing.