Fermentations/Demijohns

[user 23602]

So... I currently have the following process with the very basic equipment I use.

1st Fermentation in 23L plastic fermentation bucket from Wilkos.
2nd Fermentation in 23L plastic fermentation bucket with bottling wand from Ballihoo.

What I wish to do, mainly for trial and error ease and better temperature control is get this and start doing smaller batches.

So my process would then be:

1st Fermentation in 23L plastic fermentation bucket with bottling wand from Ballihoo.
2nd Fermentation in 2 x 5L Demijohns, 1 with any additions, 1 different etc so I can detect problems, differences, enhances etc.

But my question is, I brew from malt extract kits which are usually larger that the 10L I will be able to brew. So is it worth it?

 

[terrym]

I think you have got to ask yourself whether you are going to stay with kits. If the answer for the time being at least is yes I would stay with what you have got. The size of most kits means you are going to be restricted in the use of your 5 litre set up. If you are looking for a cheap and easy method of temperature control of your 25 litre FVs I use a water bath and this works for me in all but the very hottest months of the year
https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/how-to-set-up-a-water-bath-for-your-fv.66407/
However if you are willing to move a bit further on in your brewing capability you could try small volume extract brewing or BIAB. I would suggest extract brewing since is not much more faff than kits and using a boil of DME and hops of your choice and maybe a grain steep you have considerably widened your choice of what to brew, and if you think that £50 is good value for the package you mentioned, you will be able to use it far more than you would if constrained by the size of most kits on offer. And whats more you will be able to brew larger volumes using the extract method to fill your 23 litre FV as well as brewing modified kits.
More on extract brewing here
https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/a-simple-guide-to-extract-brewing.75501/

 

[user 23602]

I think you have got to ask yourself whether you are going to stay with kits. If the answer for the time being at least is yes I would stay with what you have got. The size of most kits means you are going to be restricted in the use of your 5 litre set up. If you are looking for a cheap and easy method of temperature control of your 25 litre FVs I use a water bath and this works for me in all but the very hottest months of the year
https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/how-to-set-up-a-water-bath-for-your-fv.66407/
However if you are willing to move a bit further on in your brewing capability you could try small volume extract brewing or BIAB. I would suggest extract brewing since is not much more faff than kits and using a boil of DME and hops of your choice and maybe a grain steep you have considerably widened your choice of what to brew, and if you think that £50 is good value for the package you mentioned, you will be able to use it far more than you would if constrained by the size of most kits on offer. And whats more you will be able to brew larger volumes using the extract method to fill your 23 litre FV as well as brewing modified kits.
More on extract brewing here
https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/a-simple-guide-to-extract-brewing.75501/

Thank you for the constructive feedback terrym, appreciate it.

I'm likely to stick with extract kits for at least my first year of brewing (March 2020) as I don't want to rush anything.

 

[Llamaman]

If you’re brewing 2 can kits, just do 1 can at a time.
Either only use half the yeast sachet, or pitch the whole lot and save the yeast cake for the second brew.

You can make this work with 1 can kits too, by storing half the can in the fridge (I use a sterilised Lock n Lock tub of just the right size).