Double-batching

[owatts]

Hey chums,

I'm currently limited to a max batch size of 60L. I'd like to double up to 120L.

Can I run two brews back to back and fill 50% of the fermenter from each brew?...

Anyone else tried this?

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

It is common in microbreweries to do this. Often they direct their cooling liquor into their HLT to hit the strike temp for their mash quicker.

Your unpitched wort is exposed for a couple of hours, but you could get around that by only cooling the first batch just below isomerisation temp, and finishing the lot with an IC

[owatts]

Thanks

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

I may have overstated the risk of exposed unpitched wort, but ymmv.

I intend to double batch for the foreseeable future as I am upgrading my fermenter to double my brew length.

But I get around the infection issue with no chill cubes.

[owatts]

My fermenter is totally sealed (with the exception of the airlock) and transfer is done via silicone hose with inline oxygen. Hopefully this will be sanitary enough

[Padalac]

surely you would just pitch the yeast into the first batch of wort, and then add the second batch in once cooled..

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

Depends on your cooling system.