Cooking beer in the Kitchen

[Kaplin261]

I just recently started brewing beer in my kitchen. I'm doing 1 gallon batches and using a 12 quart (3 gallon) pot on my stove. I baought 3 brew kits(all grain) a Warrior IPA,Chocolate Stout and a Octoberfest each were $15 a piece.  1 Gallon of beer takes about 3 hours and gets me ten 12 ounce bottles. If im already in the kitchen cooking it really doesnt consume much of my time at all, its about the same as making a big batch of spaghetti.

Once I have consumed the 3 kits I plan to buy bulk grains and hops and this should place my cost per gallon down to $5 for 10 beers. I cook often so adding another pot to the stove isnt much of a hassle. I cool it in a ice bath in the sink. Super simple to do and really no extra equipment to buy. Its just like cooking, set timers and mix every 15 minnutes, siphon at the end and make sure to sanitize.

Not needed but helpfull I baought a induction cooktop burner for $39 so I can cook it beside my grill while I'm grilling out.

[Cromacster]

Glad to hear you have found home brewing.  It's a fun hobby with delicious rewards.  I personally like to make bigger batches, more bang for my time. Unless I am trying to fine tune a recipe, then I will usually do 1 gallon batches or 5 gallons but separate into 1 gallon containers to ferment.

Here are some other ongoing discussions about brewing on this forum...

is beer brewing cost effective

Homebrewing

Home brew discussion

[Kaplin261]

Glad to hear you have found home brewing.  It's a fun hobby with delicious rewards.  I personally like to make bigger batches, more bang for my time. Unless I am trying to fine tune a recipe, then I will usually do 1 gallon batches or 5 gallons but separate into 1 gallon containers to ferment.

Here are some other ongoing discussions about brewing on this forum...

is beer brewing cost effective

Homebrewing

Home brew discussion

I was originally going to go with a 5 gallon srtup, on paper it seemed the most efficient way to go. However your stuck drinking the same brew for months, I'm a person who likes variety and I try to only consume a healthy amount of beer a week and for me that's a 6 pack. That means I would be drinking the same beer for 2 months, and if turns out not so great then I may just end up not drinking it. Then the time involved with that many beers and the large equipment you have to use, its a all day chore.

With the one gallon batches I really only devote 30 mins of my actual time for the weekly chore, and when I'm done it all goes in the dishwasher making cleanup nothing. And bottling ten beers verse 50 is so much much better.

I can come home after work start cooking dinner and cook a batch of beer and not worry about lost time to my hobby and that's good when you have a toddler and a spouse who value quality family time.

[Cromacster]

With the one gallon batches I really only devote 30 mins of my actual time for the weekly chore, and when I'm done it all goes in the dishwasher making cleanup nothing. And bottling ten beers verse 50 is so much much better.

Agreed, bottling is a pain in the ass.  I purchased a good amount of the 1L flip top bottles.  Reduces the amount of bottles by half...roughly.

I also give away most of my beers.  I probably drink 2-3.  I store 1-5 if I am interested in how aging affected it.  Then give away the rest to friends, family, bring it to gatherings, etc.

I will admit, other than the possible mess, brewing inside would have it's benefits.  Especially in the winter.

[mikepm711]

I split the difference, with 2 to 2.5 gallon batches. I can still cook that much on my electric stove top. I use a 3 gallon carboy for fermenting, and get about 20 beers per batch. That lasts me about a month.