Streamlining time on a large batch

Heating and cooling are the critical paths to look at, if your mash, sparge and boil times stay the same. Get some bigger burners is my advice, and a bigger chiller.

 

We typically do 2 10gal batches on brew days. If you can heat your runnings while sparging to get to a boil faster..do it! Also, as soon as you start your mash start heating sparge water.

 

I start to heat my mash water while crushing grains and I start heating my sparge before my mash is finished.

Basically there is not too much you can do to speed things because its physics. Larger bodies will take longer or require more energy to heat, cool and more time to move.

But look at it this way, for an extra two hours you get twice the beer

 

Get a heat stick to drop in the pot while heating?? Not sure how much it will help, I've never used one.

 

Get a second propane burner.

 

I do 10 g batches and am usually at 5.5 hours myself, using the tips mentioned above. I don't see anyway around it without investing some serious coin in serious boilers or chillers

 

I do 10gal batches and it takes about 5hrs. I got a heatstick for Xmas but have yet to use it. I got it more for indoor brewing though.

Tip: Night before brew day, turn the temp up on your hot water heater. Then on brew day, use all hot water to fill the kettle. We were running lukewarm water that ended up being ~75° before figuring this out. Now we start heating water that's already 150°.

Another thing I do from time to time is brew a 2nd, smaller batch while brewing the 10g batch (using old brew equipment). That way I get 10g of one beer and 5g of something different. Makes it a bit more motivating.

 

I have a 1000W bucket heater, that takes about 3.5 hours to get my mash water heated up. It would help the situation, and I do put it in the sparge water to assist the burner and save on propane. Oh, the heater is on a heavy duty timer, and the mash water is at temp when I get up in the morning, that is a time saver right there.

 

Increase brewing frequency of the 5G batch-size.

 

Agreed. Buy a cheap second propane burner.

 

I heat up 3 gallons of water on the stove to make up for what I cant heat up outside.

 

I get out, clean/sanitize and set up all equipment the night before. I bring my spare water to a boil and then insulate it overnight and typically it is dang close to where it needs to be and all I have to do is beat it up a few degrees.

I have 3 propane burners and that helps. Also use a lot of pots and always have 5 gallons of reserve water boiling if needed and for quick pump/plate chiller, hop rocket & hose (etc) sanitization.

I have a well as well as city water- the well water is much colder and I run that through my plate chiller and can get 15-20 gallons down to pitching temps in about 10-20 minutes depending on the time of year. You could use and I e reservoir for this, or dry ice in a LARGE bucket with water as a pre chiller.
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I tend to save the most time by getting things ready the night before and staying on task. Always be doing the next step while on the current step as much as you can without losing focus of having an accident.

Then again, I really like brewing lots of beer at once and don't mind a good 12-15 hour session doing stuff I am passionate about. Same goes with reloading ammo- might as well do a shit ton in one go and call it good! Reloading requires much more focus and attention to detail though!!!!