Brewing Master

Question:

Is it possible to do a 1-2 gallon batch of an all-grain batch on a stove? Has anyone done this?

I do 3 gallon batches on the stove all the time.  Only problem from a purist’s viewpoint is that I have to up the grain bill and undersparge a bit to keep the initial boil volume down to about 4 gallons. When I do 5 gallon batches these days I actually do a 3 gallon all-grain batch, hop for 5 gallons, then add enough extract near the end of the boil to make the gravity right for 5 gallons when diluted in the fermenter.  I’ve been pretty happy with the results.  The only real drawback is that it is as much (probably more, given all the ballet I have to do in my apt. kitchen work to mash for 3 gallons as for 15 (assuming you had the equipment), but you get *way less* beer. –arne

Response:

Is it possible to do a 1-2 gallon batch of an all-grain batch on a stove? Has anyone done this? Sure, no problem.  I usually do larger batches on the stove, but have done batches in this size range.  They’re no easier than the larger ones, unless you only have small kettles.    - Martin

In using a large pot on my stove, the heat was relfected down and burned up the wires leading to the heating element.  And I thought my wife hated boil overs!

Response:

Is it possible to do a 1-2 gallon batch of an all-grain batch on a stove? Has anyone done this? Sure, no problem … In using a large pot on my stove, the heat was relfected down and burned up the wires leading to the heating element.  And I thought my wife hated boil overs!

Whoops!  Definitely, then, a "YMMV" question! On the other hand, it’s probably worth mentioning that until recently Paddy Giffen, who won BOS in both the AHA and HWBTA Nationals in the same year (‘93), regularly brewed on his electric stove.  I dimly recall hearing of a problem similar to the one you describe on one electric stove of the type that rather than separate burners, has an internally-heated ceramic top. My stove is gas, and has presented no problems at all.         – Martin — = Martin Lodahl         Systems Analyst, Capacity Planning, Pacific*Bell = =    If it’s good for ancient Druids runnin’ nekkid through the wuids,   = =  Drinkin’ strange fermented fluids, it’s good enough for me!  (Unk.)   =

Response:

Is it possible to do a 1-2 gallon batch of an all-grain batch on a stove? Has anyone done this? Sure, no problem.  I usually do larger batches on the stove, but have done batches in this size range.  They’re no easier than the larger ones, unless you only have small kettles.

I do a 5 gallon all grain batch on the stove with no problems. My 8 gallon ceramic on steel pot fits over 2 burners. an 8 gallon pot is just big enough to handle a 6 gallon boil. I usually add the last of the spargings after some has boiled down. I mash in a 4 gallon SS stock pot that is just big enough to hold 12lb of grain. Sparge in the Zap-Pap and that is my basic setup that I have been using for at least the last 50 batches. — Gordon Baldwin

Response:

Is it possible to do a 1-2 gallon batch of an all-grain batch on a stove? Has anyone done this?

Sure, no problem.  I usually do larger batches on the stove, but have done batches in this size range.  They’re no easier than the larger ones, unless you only have small kettles.         – Martin — = Martin Lodahl         Systems Analyst, Capacity Planning, Pacific*Bell = =    If it’s good for ancient Druids runnin’ nekkid through the wuids,   = =  Drinkin’ strange fermented fluids, it’s good enough for me!  (Unk.)   =

Response:

Is it possible to do a 1-2 gallon batch of an all-grain batch on a stove? Has anyone done this?

I do 5-6 gallons on a gas range.  I also make a big mess on the kitchen floor due to sparging through a large strainer instead of a lauter-tunn.  The kitchen sink or bathtub works well for cooling the wort after boiling, simply set the kettle in the cold water. Brewing good beer with this setup takes a bit more work, and is a bit messy, but it can be done.  Good luck! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Shawn Garbett

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Is it possible to do a 1-2 gallon batch of an all-grain batch on a stove? Has anyone done this? Shawn Garbett

In a way many people have. They do a partial mash for a 5 gallon recipe. The grains used are in a partial mash make up about 1/4-1/2 the fermentables in the brew. The rest of the fermentables are made up by malt extract. You probably can’t take the grain bill in a partial mash recipe alone and use it to make a smaller batch because the grains usually include enough specialty grains for the whole 5 gallons, so you would have to adjust accordingly. Why not try a partial mash? That way you’ll get more fruits from your labor. –Russ

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Is it possible to do a 1-2 gallon batch of an all-grain batch on a stove? Has anyone done this? Shawn Garbett

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 GS Is it possible to do a 1-2 gallon batch of an all-grain  GS batch on a stove? Has anyone done this? Well, I have done a 5 gallon batch on a stove, so I suppose a 1-2 gallon batch is possible.  I would use a smaller pot to try and keep the same amount of grain bed depth. John Fidonet:  John DeCarlo 1:109/131

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