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Author Topic: So, how long to do a 5 gallon all-grain batch?  (Read 11186 times)

Offline Wheat_Brewer

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Re: So, how long to do a 5 gallon all-grain batch?
« Reply #15 on: August 21, 2011, 11:09:35 am »
I always do some prep, so if you were to add up all the time it would probably be around 6 hours.  That takes into account my recipe formulation, buying my ingredients, making a starter, and generally getting the equipment out and ready.  On brew day from moment I touch the first pot for cleaning to the moment I've cleaned everything is on average 4 hours (almost to the minute).  I've refined my process pretty well so that while I'm cleaning I have the strike water heating, while I'm mashing I'm cleaning for the next step, etc. 
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Offline Jimmy K

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Re: So, how long to do a 5 gallon all-grain batch?
« Reply #16 on: August 21, 2011, 11:22:13 am »
5 - 6 hours for me from when I first start getting equipment out to when I've finished cleaning and putting things away. I do 5gal batches and batch sparge. 

A lot of that time is spent waiting - waiting for water to heat, waiting for the mash to mash, etc. I've found now that I'm very familiar with the process that I can do other things during brewing. Just set a timer/get a digital thermometer with an alarm so you don't forget about it. (This does not apply to the boil, I wouldn't leave that alone). So the extra time is not such a big deal.
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Offline rjharper

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Re: So, how long to do a 5 gallon all-grain batch?
« Reply #17 on: August 21, 2011, 02:32:15 pm »
All day. I don't do much else. It's my day off.

+1.  Sunday morning, I go get bagels and coffee to go, grab the ice on the way home, start sometime between 10 and 11, and I'm done cleaning up by 5ish.

Offline ukolowiczd

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Re: So, how long to do a 5 gallon all-grain batch?
« Reply #18 on: August 21, 2011, 05:20:09 pm »
I don't want to take over this strand with Batch sparging questions but Denny and Skylar, why do I fly sparge? Denny, I read your webpage and it seems too good to be true. I can't wait to experiment with a batch sparge beer. So what benefits does fly sparging have and what about beers in the 1.060-1.100 range? Can you batch sparge there?

Offline a10t2

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Re: So, how long to do a 5 gallon all-grain batch?
« Reply #19 on: August 21, 2011, 05:30:45 pm »
So what benefits does fly sparging have and what about beers in the 1.060-1.100 range? Can you batch sparge there?

Other than a small efficiency gain (always less than 5%) there's no benefit to fly sparging. You can batch sparge any mash. The higher the gravity, the thicker the infusion needs to be, assuming you're trying to get equal runnings.
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Offline ukolowiczd

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Re: So, how long to do a 5 gallon all-grain batch?
« Reply #20 on: August 21, 2011, 05:40:59 pm »
 The higher the gravity, the thicker the infusion needs to be, assuming you're trying to get equal runnings.
[/quote]

Does thicker mean less water per lb, like instead of 1.25 quarts/lb, 1 quart/lb? Or do you mean just more water and barley b/c it's a higher gravity beer, thus thicker mash?

Offline Hokerer

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Re: So, how long to do a 5 gallon all-grain batch?
« Reply #21 on: August 21, 2011, 05:55:09 pm »
Does thicker mean less water per lb, like instead of 1.25 quarts/lb, 1 quart/lb? Or do you mean just more water and barley b/c it's a higher gravity beer, thus thicker mash?

What you said first.  If you use your standard ratio with all that extra grain, you'd end up with too much first runnings so use a lower ratio.
Joe

Offline Hokerer

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Re: So, how long to do a 5 gallon all-grain batch?
« Reply #22 on: August 21, 2011, 05:59:48 pm »
So what benefits does fly sparging have and what about beers in the 1.060-1.100 range? Can you batch sparge there?

Other than a small efficiency gain (always less than 5%) there's no benefit to fly sparging.

I would state it Other than a small potential efficiency gain (always less than 5%) there's no benefit to fly sparging.  Fly is more complicated so there are more opportunities for error (channeling, pH issues, oversparging, etc.).  Yes, if you hit every aspect of fly dead on, you might get a slightly higher efficiency, but batch sparging, by virtue of it's simplicity actually gives the average homebrewer better odds at getting higher efficiency.
Joe

Offline pehlman

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Re: So, how long to do a 5 gallon all-grain batch?
« Reply #23 on: August 22, 2011, 12:18:17 am »
Just did a brew today and Id say it took me about 7 hours from start to finish... or  what I call, from "cleaning to even more cleaning" :D
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Offline glastctbrew

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Re: So, how long to do a 5 gallon all-grain batch?
« Reply #24 on: August 22, 2011, 06:54:25 am »
Takes me 6 to 6.5 hours from the time I drag my gear from my basement to the patio and then have it cleaned and put away.  Take away all the equipment movement and I'm looking at 5.5 to 6 hours from milling through clean up.  Takes less when I batch sparge by I am trying to mimic  commercial brewing techniques so I fly sparge unless I'm in a rush.  (Yah, I have the pro brewer dream  ;D)
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Offline chezteth

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Re: So, how long to do a 5 gallon all-grain batch?
« Reply #25 on: August 22, 2011, 07:50:27 am »
It takes me 5-6 hours to brew, including getting all my equipment setup then cleaned & put away.  If you do a step mash or decoction mash this time will probably be extended.

Offline dannyjed

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Re: So, how long to do a 5 gallon all-grain batch?
« Reply #26 on: August 22, 2011, 09:12:49 am »
Hello, my name is Dan and I'm a batch sparger.  4-6 hours.
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Offline JKL

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Re: So, how long to do a 5 gallon all-grain batch?
« Reply #27 on: August 22, 2011, 10:02:34 am »
Hey Gang! Don't forget the clean up time...

YMMV,
Alan

Geez, If I were to include everything that it takes me to pre-clean, setup, post-clean etc..etc. I bet I spend almost as much time as I do brewing.  I try to get all that together during the week and the day before.  Without setup/cleanup I usually finish in about 5 hours.  I could cut it down if I had a plate chiller and I didnt do a recirc. 

I also like the idea of using electricity to pre-heat my strike water.  I could do that while I sleep and wake up in mash in.  Gotta look into that. Thx!
-J.K.L.
     

Offline denny

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Re: So, how long to do a 5 gallon all-grain batch?
« Reply #28 on: August 22, 2011, 11:27:11 am »
I don't want to take over this strand with Batch sparging questions but Denny and Skylar, why do I fly sparge? Denny, I read your webpage and it seems too good to be true. I can't wait to experiment with a batch sparge beer. So what benefits does fly sparging have and what about beers in the 1.060-1.100 range? Can you batch sparge there?

I batch sparge every beer I make.  Depending on the size of your cooler, you might have to do a couple batch sparges for very large grist bills, but for 5.5 gal. of beers up to maybe a 90ish OG I can do one sparge and be fine.  My efficiency is the same or better than many fly spargers I know.  You should give it a try and decide for yourself!
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Offline bluesman

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Re: So, how long to do a 5 gallon all-grain batch?
« Reply #29 on: August 22, 2011, 12:37:50 pm »
My brewday usually begins around 10am and ends at 5pm. This is a fairly typical schedule. I take my time and spend a lot of that time doing other things inbetween processes. I could compress that schedule but really see no need to do so at the present time. I usually pour my first pint at flameout.  :)
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