The Case for Smaller Batches: Are Five Gallons Too Much?

Good morning. It’s not only money that sways elections - beer may sway Australia’s next election. The prime minister said he will temporarily cut tax on beer sales for 2 years in an attempt to gain popularity.

Not sure if it’s an important political tactic, but I’m sure beer drinkers Australia are rejoicing.

-Brandon Copeland

The Case for Smaller Batches: Are Five Gallons Too Much?

Most homebrewers start with the standard five-gallon batch size—it’s the norm, it fits in most equipment, and it produces a good amount of beer for the effort. But as homebrewing evolves, more and more brewers are downsizing. One-gallon and three-gallon batches are gaining traction, with some arguing they allow for more experimentation, easier handling, and less risk when trying something new.

So, is it time to rethink batch size? Is five gallons still the sweet spot, or are smaller batches the way forward?

Why Go Small?

Switching to smaller batches has some obvious benefits:

• More room to experiment. Want to test out a wild yeast strain, a new hop combination, or a funky adjunct? A small batch means less commitment if things go wrong.

• Less waste. Ever ended up with five gallons of a beer you didn’t love? A smaller batch means lower risk and fewer regrettable pints.

• Faster turnaround. Smaller volumes ferment and condition quicker, meaning you can refine recipes faster.

• Easier storage. Not everyone has room for a five-gallon carboy or a massive keg setup. One- and three-gallon batches take up less space.

But What’s the Downside?

Of course, there are reasons five gallons has been the homebrewing standard for decades:

• Efficiency matters. Smaller batches mean almost the same amount of time brewing, but with fewer bottles to show for it.

• Scaling ingredients can be tricky. Hop utilization, yeast pitching, and specialty grain impacts don’t always scale down perfectly.

• It’s easier to share. Five gallons gives you plenty of beer to pass around—small batches mean less to go around.

Beer Trivia Question

🍺 Which famous historical figure is believed to have brewed small batches of beer at home and even wrote a recipe that included molasses?

Read to the end to find out if you're right!

Brewgr Recipe of the Week

Citra Half

Around here, we love SMASH (Single Malt and Single Hop) beers, because of their simplicity and ability to get really familiar with the ingredients you are using. This isn’t single malt, but it is single hop - only Citra. Vienna and pilsner malt make up the majority of the grain bill. Simple but solid, especially if you have a lot of Citra in the freezer.

Credit: BeachedBrew

Poll Results: Would You Try Cask Ale at Home?

The majority of poll respondents echoed my thoughts - they have not tried cask ale at home, but would love to have the opportunity. Several brewers wrote in to say that they are trying it soon, in the next few weeks indeed. Others use it as their go to method for their homebrew. One brewer even was a member of CAMRA in the 80’s. We have a pretty awesome community!

And the Answer Is...

🍺 George Washington. The first U.S. president was known to enjoy beer and even recorded a homebrew recipe in his personal notebook. His recipe for “Small Beer” included molasses as a key fermentable ingredient, reflecting the brewing practices of colonial America.