Optimal Ratio of Fermenters to Kegs

[LuckyDip23]

Hi all

I'm wondering how many kegs people have comapred to the number of fermentors.

I've currently got a 7 Gallon and a 3 Galllon fermentor, plus 3 x 9.5L kegs & im trying to get to an optimal point if having beer in the fridge being drunk, beer conditioning thats out of the the fermenter, plus another beer in the fermentor - almost having a chain of stuff ready to push along as soon as the beer in the fermentor is ready (im hoping to get to the point where it can sit in there for 3 weeks).

I've been using my 3G fermentor for "interesting stuff" like imperials that needs to sit for a while & is then bottled, while the 7G has been normal IPAs / Bitters / Stouts that go into the kegs.

I want to try and get to a point whereby I dont have things sat idle - waiting any considerable time for a fermentor to finish up, or waiting on me to drink beer in kegs so i can move things along.

I'm thinking of adding a 19L keg - but is this overkill & am i realistically going to be able to keep everything filled in an efficient fashion with my fermenter setup?

All ideas and suggestions welcome.

Cheers

 

[Banbeer]

I have three FV's on the go and will have 6 x 19L cornies when one gets delivered later today. I've recently started to use kveik yeasts and when I have a corny empty I will start a brew with the yeast and know it will be ready in 5 or 6 days.

 

[Doive]

I have three fermenters, and three cornys & two King Kegs. At present two fermenters are full, and all the cornys & KKs are in use. Trying to get one corny down so I can transfer my pilsner lager into the fridge for lagering. It's a constant nightmare

 

[kelper]

I sat down and drew a graph to figure it out! To brew every two weeks and do 2-2-2, you need 3 PBs and 2FVs.

 

[AnimatedGIF]

I sat down and drew a graph to figure it out! To brew every two weeks and do 2-2-2, you need 3 PBs and 2FVs.

View attachment 31362

Does that not also work with 1 FV?
Loving the chart!

 

[cushyno]

I sat down and drew a graph to figure it out! To brew every two weeks and do 2-2-2, you need 3 PBs and 2FVs.

View attachment 31362

If your 2+2+2 is for ferment+carb+condition, that only leaves you 2 weeks to drink the full 19L keg before needing to fill it again.

2 pints mon-fri plus 4 a night at weekends.

Actually, that sounds about right

 

[kelper]

Does that not also work with 1 FV?
Loving the chart!

It would if you have time to clean and sterilise the FV. But having two allows for an overrun or a slow fermentation. FVs are so cheap!

 

[Graz]

6 x 19L Cornys (three in the kegerator at any given time) aim to keep them all with something in them i.e. 2 being drunk, one carbing, 3 conditioning.

Loads (6?) of 25L buckets though some I have reserved for wine making use. The limiting factor for me is space in the brew fridges, I have two of them.

 

[terrym]

I sat down and drew a graph to figure it out! To brew every two weeks and do 2-2-2, you need 3 PBs and 2FVs.

View attachment 31362

That assumes your beer is ready to drink after two weeks conditioning and you consume the entire contents of your PB in two weeks. If you drink a lot less (or more ) and/or beers need say six weeks or more before they come good the chart will be different.
That said your chart gives a good basis for anyone to work out own plan based on
- beer consumption
- size of FV(s)
- size of PB(s)
- number of beers required to be available at any time
- minimum conditioning time
- whether you brew all the year round (some restrict brewing in summer, and maybe even in the cold winter months)
For each homebrewer the individual plan will be different, there is no one size fits all

 

[DavidDetroit]

I have four FVs. I have no experience with the joy of kegging. I would think you could always bottle a batch here or there as an option.

 

[kelper]

For each homebrewer the individual plan will be different, there is no one size fits all

Absolutely, I was only saying what suits me. If you can't shift 40 pints in two weeks you need more practice or more friends!

 

[ppsmith]

I recently got a 2 keg starter kit from brewkegtap, and I’m already thinking I need at least one more to keep a good rotation.

Seem to be averaging about 3 weeks per keg. Two in the fridge/on tap and one conditioning sounds about right.

 

[Horners]

Another factor could be when you brew something you don't like. I have 17.5L of Patersbier currently occupying one of my kegs. Nowt wrong with it just not to my taste. Can't bring myself to chuck it or bottle it so its going to continue to disrupt the production cycle.

 

[kelper]

Another factor could be when you brew something you don't like. I have 17.5L of Patersbier currently occupying one of my kegs. Nowt wrong with it just not to my taste. Can't bring myself to chuck it or bottle it so it's going to continue to disrupt the production cycle.

Could you not pimp it into something else? Add some ginger essence to make a ginger beer and use that in a Pimms? Or add some orange or pineapple?

 

[ppsmith]

Another factor could be when you brew something you don't like.

I’ve started doing 10L BIAB batches of experimental stuff for this reason. Try it first (bottled), then if it’s good I can scale it up for the keg next time.