A true mini mash

[Luke]

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

[hylowa]

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!

[gbob]

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.

[Luke]

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

[hylowa]

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.

[johnc66]

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

[Thirsty Boy]

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

[944play]

(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.