Scale of Brewing
A quick comparison of two scales of brewing. There is no recommendation as to which you should go for, it does depend on the brewer and what they want to achieve. Each scale has its corresponding equipment.
1 Gallon
A very small scale of brew, which brewers often use for trying out experiments or refining recipes. 1 gallon brewing is simple to get started, you simply take a 5 gallon recipe and divide by 5. Precision matters however and small changes have a larger effect at this scale. Takes a bit more knowledge to work with, but you can jump straight into all-grain brewing.
Pros:
- Small equipment fits into small spaces
- Can cook on cooker
- Produces 8 pints
- Can be done in an evening
Cons:
- Produces 8 pints for an evenings brewing
5 Gallon
This is by far the more well trodden path with many guides and recipes online. Ideal for parties and for general consumption.
Pros:
- Various kits to choose from
- Well trodden path
- Same steps as 1 Gallon, but yields 40 pints
Cons:
- Bottling 40 pints
- Longer cooking and cooling times
- Might be able to do on cooker, otherwise use a gas burner
- All-grain brewing requires more planning
- More equipment
