Beginning advice - small batch brewing?

Check out www.howtobrew.com
small batch brewing is very popular, and a lot of companies make equipment and ingredient kits to accommodate the small batch brewer. Welcome to the obsession!

 

Firstly, you don't have to turn into an alcoholic - just give it away! There are plenty of us that have done that, and it's part of the fun getting feedback!

The only real drawback to small batch brewing is that you're still spending certain amounts of time in brewing where a little bit more could yield twice as much or more. You save a little bit of time on small batches, but it's still a heavy investment into your free time.

And, as you've pointed out yourself, something like a conical fermentor is overkill.

But I also understand your dilemma, I used to brew 4 gallon batches and I always had at least 8 cases that I needed to get through - because if you're doing it right you're going to keep doing new batches. If I could go back in time maybe I would have set up for 2 gallon batches instead of 4.

Have fun!

 

Nothing wrong with small batch brewing - I regularly do 1/2 batches if I'm trying out something new. Cheaper if it fails!

As NeoFiddled said, the drawback is that the process works out to be more time per bottle... but it's not really that much of a big deal imho.

 

You can start out with small batches, and your post gives the perfect reasons why to consider doing so. However, getting equipment now that is capable of 5-gallon batches will still work for smaller batches and you'll already be ready to expand when you decide to do so later.

One thing that you did not mention is your brewing arrangements. Many new brewers are in an apartment setting with an electric stove which presents issues for you if you want to brew 5-gallon batches. Look for previous threads on that topic if that is your situation.

Welcome to the BA site and to the home brewing forum. We're glad that you're here.

 

I brew 1.7 to 2 gallons per batch these days. I don't need 50 bottles of every batch, and get to brew more often. I'm all pro-small batches. I use a 4-gallon kettle on my stove, 3-gallon carboys, no chiller, just dunk the kettle in a cold water bath, yadda yadda. Cost of equipment is thus pretty close to nil.

 

I started out as a 1 gallon brewer. It was great being able to do it on the kitchen stove and the space the fermenter took up was minimal. Then I joined the local homebrew club and became interested in brewing beers to serve at festivals and quickly outgrew my 1 gallon set up. So I upgraded to a 3 gallon carboy. But even then I felt limited and ultimately ended up going to 5 gallon batches. I started out doing all grain with 1 gallon. For me, I wanted to learn how to do all grain even if it was on a 1 gallon scale. Decide what your ultimate goals are with homebrewing and buy accordingly. I'm sure I'm one of many that thought I'd only brew small batches and never move up. I don't regret starting small, however.