All grain increasing / decreasing recipie quantities

[dave.wilton]

Hello all,

I’ve been silently lurking around these forums since last September and have read Dave Line’s big book of brewing from cover to cover! Since I acquired a burco boiler I’m moving up from kits to all grain, skipping out extract (I figure many try it, but none stick with it). I will make the investment and get a hop and grape mash tun.

However, naturally I have a question which I can’t seem to find the answer for. I have a three gallon boiler (with a few inches to spare) and need to scale my recipe quantities to match. So following the simple recipe I fancy is it acceptable just to take 3/5 quantities or are there hidden considerations?

Code: Select all

Quantity	        5 Gallon	3 Gallon
Pale Malt	       3.71	    2.226
Flaked Rice	     0.15       0.09
Crystal Malt	    0.03       0.018
Demerara Sugar     0.453	   0.2718
Goldings hops	   0.05	    0.03
Progress Hops	   0.015	   0.009

Following Dave’s recipe I would mash with 1 gallon (reduced from 3) and sparge with 3 (reduced from 5), to hopefully end up with three gallon for the boil.

I understand from Dave that I could retain the original quantities and boil in two batches, but for some reason I just don’t like the sound of that. And in these early days who wants 5 gallons of mediocre beer, 3 I can force myself through!

Many thanks
Dave

PS if anyone has a simple American / Australian Pale Ale recipe (like coopers green) I would be very appreciative.

[dave.wilton]

Many thanks Chris,
I had read about increasing the grain on the forum, but it had slipped my mind.

Water treatment was by far the most boring subject for me so I was hoping to get away with nothing! But i think i can stretch to a campden tablet. I will leave worrying about the pH for later brews. I'm in central London and no nothing of the water apart from its good for porters!

Thanks again,
I will put my order in tomorrow.

Coppers kits are good, but i can't wait for this !

[lordnoise]

Welcome Dave - I'm a fellow brewer in the Smoke. If your brewing a bitter or other lighter beers down here you might find it useful to use some simple 'Burtonising' water treatment - your beers will definately be the better for it.
BTW London Craft Brewers meet up the first Monday of every month at the Wenlock Arms in the Old St/Hoxton area. The next meetings on Monday evening at 18.30 - see the thread in the Events section advertising last months meeting for the address if your interested.

[dave.wilton]

Thanks for the tip,
I'm going to give burtonising a miss for this batch but will certainly look into it for the future. As you can imagine my head is starting to spin a bit... too much reading and not enough brewing.

As for the meet up I think i might come along.

Cheers

[Aleman]

Dave, as you have already worked things out fairly well . . . you might want to look at a brewing program like Promash, BeerSmith etc which make things fairly lazy . . . particularly if you are going to stick with this brew length . . . Most recipes are for 5 gallons

[lordnoise]

my head is starting to spin a bit...

Your fermentations are proceeding well then

Be good to see you at the meet and indeed anyone else who can make it. Its very informal and relaxed (good choice of ales at the bar ) with a good mix of boffins, old hands and newbies.

[mariner]

I used to use a 3 Gallon Boiler and have brewed some very acceptable ales by simply scaling down.
The tip to increase grain quantities is a good one, particularly as you do not yet know the efficiency
of your mashing set up
Hope all goes well

[dave.wilton]

Thanks for all the tips everyone. I'll be sure to post my results.

A very welcome reception,
Thank you