Small batch kits

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Hi,

I'm just fermenting my first kit and already thinking about what to do next. I have to 16l fermenter so I could do 40 pints but at the moment I feel more comfortable with just doing small batches one at a time. Any suggestions on small kits (20 pints) apart from Brewferm?

Cheers
 
Hi,

I'm just fermenting my first kit and already thinking about what to do next. I have to 16l fermenter so I could do 40 pints but at the moment I feel more comfortable with just doing small batches one at a time. Any suggestions on small kits (20 pints) apart from Brewferm?

Cheers
40 pints is about 23 litres and then you'd need some headspace.
You could make up half the kit and put the rest in the fridge or freezer.
Or, you could start looking into malt extract recipes, which will give you a lot more control.
Graham Wheelers books give malt extract equivalents for most recipes.
 
As @jof mentioned on your other thread, the premium 3kg kits usually come in 2 identical cans. Simply using one of those to make 20 pints sounds like a solution for you. The only thing you'd need to do is get extra yeast to ferment the second tin.

Cheers Tom
 
Thanks for the suggestions.

40 pints is about 23 litres and then you'd need some headspace.
You could make up half the kit and put the rest in the fridge or freezer.
Or, you could start looking into malt extract recipes, which will give you a lot more control.
Graham Wheelers books give malt extract equivalents for most recipes.
About freezing the extract, do you just freeze the syrup as it comes out of the can? To thaw the frozen extract, any suggestions?
 
It's so concentrated that it's its own preservative anyway, but moulds can sometimes take hold.
Just put the rest of the can in a freezer bag and stand it upright in the freezer. Just the extract. Not any yeast.
 
As someone previously suggested, I buy the twin tin kits (currently using St Peters) and do one tin at a time to 10L.

I tweaked a Plum Porter first, one tin, 500g dark spraymalt and a single bar of Aldi's Mosser Roth 85% chocolate. Turned out bloody lovely, got family and friends asking if I've made it again yet?

Next was one of their IPAs which I was tweaking with malt and Biscoff biscuits, smelled great but unfortunately the tap got turned on( no idea how, it was off and upside down!) and all 10L ended up over the airing cupboard floor 😒 Not sure who was more p ssed off, me or her!

Now today I'm doing the Porter again but with black treacle involved this time.
 
The Woodfordes kits give you two packets of yeast which makes it easy to do it in two halves. If it's one of the kits with hop pellets simply use half, seal the pack and put the rest in the freezer till next time.
 
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