Beer Forum

I want to switch to all grain, however I don't go through a lot of beer, a 5 gal batch will last about 2 months, I drink about 1 a day. I also don't really want to drink the same beer for 2 months, so I was thinking about doing a mini mash, with out extract, basically an all grain recipe cut in half. This way I can have a little more variety, and wouldn't have to buy a bunch of new equipment, bigger brew kettle, etc. Would this work? Theoretically it should, or at least it seems that way. Has anyone done this?

Cheers!

Luke

actually, i did this today. i have my setup for 5 gallon batches, but i dont want to sit in the freezing cold this winter. so.... i actually do a double mini brew, 15 lbs or so of grain, 2 yeast starters. i have 2 3gallon carboys(santa got them).

the trick is to figure out how much wort to make, i have about 2.8gallons of my tripel which doesnt leave ANY room for krausen, should be a nice mess. also did an american wheat, so i got about 5 gallons of beer total, about 2.5 gallons of each. we'll see how it turns out, i did a starter for both, curious to see how that much yeast will effect a small batch. just an idea if you want to brew indoors, and diffrent styles, as far as practice goes, it can be done. now to see how it comes out!

Luke, I have a better solution.

Brew a full batch and send the extra to me.

I'm willing to take one for the team.

Thanks hylowa, Im going to do that for my next batch!

a follow up, i put my tripel just in case it overflowed. theres now krausan all over the carboy, prolly more outside then inside, and maybe even a pint of beer in the bin i put it in. its hissing, and i can hear it over... lunch meat. sounds like an angry fermentation.

You could always brew a full 5 gal batch and then split it into two 3 gal fermentors and pitch different yeast, spices, etc...

I do it all the time - I do small batches of BIAB, anything from 1G to 2.5G

Mash in a nice loose bag like a 5G paint strainer - on your stove top, leave out the extract, done.

Fast, easy, good beer in small batches. Go for it.

(I once made a 1litre batch by mashing in a french press coffee maker... worked a treat)

Thirsty

Thirsty Boy wrote:(I once made a 1litre batch by mashing in a french press coffee maker... worked a treat)

I mash in a French press for my starters sometimes. 8oz 2-row makes about 1L at 1.045.