10 gal batch frequency

I used to brew 10 gallon batches, about 15 times a year. It was great stepping up from 5 because it took about the same amount of time. Now I'm brewing 20 gallons at a time, and it only adds 2 hours to my brew day. I brew lots of high abv imperial stouts, so I never brew intending to drink it fresh, with the exception of a few spring and summer beers.

 

I brew 5 gallons and have no intention of going to 10 gallon. I brew mostly hoppy beers, live in a state I just moved to with minimal visitors, and my wife doesn't drink beer. I could never get through 10 gallons of an IPA in time. Plus, with room for only 3 kegs in my kegerator, I couldn't ever have 2 fresh batches on tap.

 

I did my first 5 gallon batch in about 5 years the other week....and that was because I brewed at a lake with the hb club. Mainly I brew 11 gallon batches (to fill 2 cornies)...but recently have been doing more parti-gyle and other split batches (thanks @jbakajust1 for inspiring me there) so the 15 gallon fermenter only sees action maybe 1 in 4 batches. I try to brew about 1/month, but don't brew during the winter months...but it usually averages out to like 10-12 batches a year give or take.

 

It looks like I am opposite here.

I have been homebrewing 5 gallon batches for 20+ years but lately I have been homebreing a number of 3 gallon batches. I homebrew frequently making a variety of different beer styles. I suspect that even more 3 gallon batches are in the future.

Cheers!

 

I started brewing 10-15 gallon batches a few years ago to save time and effort. It only takes a little more effort and time to do 10 gallons than 5. I used to do a lot of split batching (like @telejunkie said) and wrote an article for BYO last year about it. Nowadays I am doing 11 gallons and splitting only the yeast and maybe dry hops to work out the test batches for the brewery. I just kegged and DHd 11 gallons of APA that are exactly the same. I need to bottle quite a bit and age it to see what the 100% Brett does over time at cellar temps.

 

I brew 5gal twice a month and don't have a desire to brew 10gal once a month.

 

@corbmoster I would just go for the bigger one now. I would get the 15 gallon, and you can start out easily with BIAB when you make a move to AG using that pot. I've wasted a lot of time and $ stepping up.

 

10 gallons. Occasionally do a 5 on the little system if I am just playing around.

 

I went from 5 to 18 - 20 about 4 years ago. Most of my brew days are 20 gallon, with a 40 gallon pot

 

currently brewing 5-6 gallon batches. I agree on ipas that I would not go thru them quick enough, but, with ris or other high abv beers, a 10 gallon kettle would be nice. My mash tun is big enough for 10 already so its a mater of biting the bullet.

 

I do 10 gallon batches, probably 10 to 12 a year. The plus side is twice the beer for not much extra effort and time. The down side is minimising variety.

 

I brew 5 gallons about one every week to week and a half. I will be moving next summer to a permanent/forever home and will be upgrading to 20 gallons with a controllable ferm chamber. I brew mostly(almost exclusively) high gravity Belgians and my pipeline usually takes 6 months from brewday to drinking, at the minimum. I try to brew a few IPA's and hefe's to drink right away, I hate having to buy commercial. I can't wait to be able to have more for just about the same amount of work!

 

It really depends on what you want to get out of brewing. Remember that 5 gallons is 2 cases of beer. Decide how long that will last you. If you throw ragers and drink a few beers a day, you're going to want to brew 10 gallons. If you drink a few beers over just weekends, 5 gallon batches would probably be more suited to you. Frequency of wanting to brew is also a factor. Some people have busy lives and can only brew a few times a year, or certain seasons of the year. If you're one of those people, you'd want to brew big/dark beers and 10 gallons, so you can build a cellar.

The most important thing you can do is decide how big you want to go, go a little bigger just in case, and only buy ONCE.

 

Hell, I'm still doing 1 gallon batches on my stove. I'm a noob, hesitant to scale upward...

 

I have weld less fittings which suit me fine. Weld on fittings are probably just as good as
Long as the welds are smooth. A competent mig/tig welder should be able to attach the fittings for a reasonable cost or buy it already installed

 

I love my bayou 10 gal. Very sturdy construction for the price.