1 Gallon Kits

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by Eriktheipaman, Aug 25, 2012.

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  1. Eriktheipaman

    Eriktheipaman Initiate (0) Sep 4, 2010 California

    So since I moved into a small apartment a year ago my batch size has been getting smaller and smaller so I am able to do full boils and have more control over the process. I just noticed Norther Brewer has one gallon kits and am wondering if anyone has used these or others that are available online?

    Also it doesn't have an ingredient list like their other kits so does anyone know what they include? I have been putting together my own recipes but I tend to end up with leftover specialty grains or hops which go to waste. Also I use extract.
     
  2. dpjosuns

    dpjosuns Initiate (0) Dec 8, 2009 Illinois

    I just got the Brooklyn Brew Shop kit because I too moved into a tiny apartment and can't have my 5 gallon equipment. Mine came with an ingredient mix so I used that. So far, so good. The nice thing is that its a LOT easier to do all-grain batches if you want to move into that- though extract would work fine too.

    I wish I could be of more help on the NB kits, but I've not used them specifically. I like mine though. I need to get a better scale to more accurately measure ingredients. I think having brewing software or using Hopville is key because hops and the darker grains don't scale exactly liner-ly (if that's a word).

    Also: when the inevitable happens and someone says "don't do 1 gallon batches because it's the same amount of work" just ignore them because it's a lot less work and time.
     
  3. Eriktheipaman

    Eriktheipaman Initiate (0) Sep 4, 2010 California

    Lol agreed about the work "more work". The amount of work really isn't an issue with me and trust me that it would be more work doing large batches in a small space. I will check out the kit you mentioned as well. I am now wondering if the NB kits are all grain or extract because I'm not sure if it said.

    Look on Amazon or even at Target for a kitchen scale and it will work great.
     
  4. dgs

    dgs Initiate (0) Jul 18, 2005 Pennsylvania

    Re: "work". I always assume those brewers make 20 gal batches, as it is the same work as making 5 gal. :slight_smile:

    Re: NB kits. I did not see where they say, but their "1 Gallon Small Batch Starter Kit" shows a bag of DME, so I would say these are extract kits.
     
  5. dpjosuns

    dpjosuns Initiate (0) Dec 8, 2009 Illinois

    Good call, I'll get on that.
     
  6. HerbMeowing

    HerbMeowing Maven (1,271) Nov 10, 2010 Virginia
    Trader

    A 1G fermentor's footprint isn't that much different than the footprint of a MrBeer keg (2.45G).
    Why settle for less?
     
  7. Eriktheipaman

    Eriktheipaman Initiate (0) Sep 4, 2010 California

    With one gallon kits I can afford to make more batches which will be cool.
     
  8. kelvarnsen

    kelvarnsen Pundit (944) Nov 30, 2011 Canada (ON)

    My first three batches were one gallon kits from a Canadian company similar to brooklyn brew shop. It was fun but there were a couple of things I didn't like. First off in the ones I got, just came with pre-crushed pre mixed grains, and they didn't tell you what kind of grains you were using. Plus with the one I got you had to sparge using a wire mesh colander, which seemed to take awhile. I do BIAB brewing now with 2 gallons, and even with the increased volume, not doing that sparge step it seems to go faster.

    Also looking at the northern brewer kit, depending on what you already have you might be able to build you own similar kit for much cheaper. I mean if you already homebrew, you probably I would assume already have a bottle capper and some caps and some sort of way to fill bottles, and probably some airlocks. So really all you are getting is a 1 gallon fermentor. Used 1 gallon jugs can be found pretty easily online for a few bucks. So if you could do that you could make your own 1 gallon recipes and save yourself a bunch of cash.
     
  9. Eriktheipaman

    Eriktheipaman Initiate (0) Sep 4, 2010 California


    Thanks for the advise and input. Looking back I should have phrased all of that very differently (beer will do that to you). I have been homebrewing for a couple of years and used to use a full boil 5 gallon set up. Since I moved to my apartment I have slowly been scaling down the size of my batches to be able to achieve a full boil on my electric stove.

    I have done 1/1.5 gallon batches on my own but I thought these kits would save me some hassle. Guess I'll just have to give it a shot!
     
  10. bkov33

    bkov33 Zealot (630) Dec 5, 2007 New Jersey

    what do you end up with, a 6pack? do you still use a full pack of yeast or do you try to save a portion of it?
     
  11. kelvarnsen

    kelvarnsen Pundit (944) Nov 30, 2011 Canada (ON)

    Yea 1 gallon seems like it would be easier than 5. For one thing it boils faster and you need a much smaller pot. If you are just buying the recipe kits I would say go for it, my main point was that if you were buying the kit with all the equipment, you probably already have most of it and it wouldn't be that hard to find a used one gallon jug on say Craigslist or kijiji for under $5.
     
  12. kelvarnsen

    kelvarnsen Pundit (944) Nov 30, 2011 Canada (ON)

    When I was doing 1 gallon batches I was ending up with up to 9-10 bottles at the end. I was using dry yeast, pitching half of it, and then since a package of dry yeast is only like a couple of bucks, throwing the other half away.
     
  13. Eriktheipaman

    Eriktheipaman Initiate (0) Sep 4, 2010 California

    Yeah I don't end up with much at all it's more just for fun with the process. I do already have all the equipment so that all works out well and won't cost me anything. I make small batches of cider on occasion so I just bought some wine jugs and use those.
     
  14. BigJoeC

    BigJoeC Zealot (551) Jan 22, 2011 New Jersey

    1 gallon batches is something I have been thinking about so I can experiment for essentially 20% of the cost. I also don't particularly care about the time because I would do it while watching football WOOHOO! Wife would LOVE that. lol I just figured I would get a 1 gallon carboy and cut recipes by 1/5th
     
    Eriktheipaman likes this.
  15. mschofield

    mschofield Pooh-Bah (1,847) Oct 16, 2002 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Haven't tried them, but the Northern Brewer 1 gallon kits are a lot cheaper than the 1 gallon kits I've seen at Whole Foods

    also, did you see that Williams brewing now has 1.75 gallon corny kegs, they're like $80 but probably take up as much room in a fridge as a gallon of milk
     
  16. Eriktheipaman

    Eriktheipaman Initiate (0) Sep 4, 2010 California

    That's pretty awesome about the small kegs. I actually have a Party Pig which is about 2 gallons and works amazingly well. After a week or two in it the quality or my beer was noticeably better than bottled.
     
  17. kjyost

    kjyost Initiate (0) May 4, 2008 Canada (MB)

  18. Donerik

    Donerik Initiate (0) Dec 22, 2008 Michigan

    I brew mostly small 1 gallon batches. You can make your own recipes by configuring beer-smith. Small batches turn out real well. I have done so with mead and cider. It's alot of fun and you have a few options when you are doing so. You can check out my blog here, my small batch brews have turned out anywhere from horrible to amazing. It's all in the recipe. http://smallplacebigbrews.blogspot.com/
     
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  19. ao125

    ao125 Initiate (0) Dec 1, 2010 Virginia

  20. BeerLover99

    BeerLover99 Pooh-Bah (2,225) Dec 13, 2008 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Society

    My amazing wife bought me for Father's Day, a few years ago,
    a 1 gallon (Brooklyn Homebrewing kit) and finally
    made a batch of homebrew with my brother-in-law.

    It was Chocolate Maple Porter and I was shocked how delicious it was!!
    Life is funny, I got him into good/craft beers (he used to pound 6-12 packs of Miller Lite) now he is hophead
    and loves Belgians! He has brewed over 15 batches of homebrew with his pastor and friends.

    My sister and brother-in-law bought me for my birthday
    2 more homebrew beer ingredients (Everyday IPA and Dark Belgian).
    I can't wait to give them a go.
     
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