My most recent 5 gallon batch of brew lasted us all of one week and we were gone 3 days of that week! (It was AHS 20th Anniversary Pilsner by the way which was awesome!). I think it is time to upgrade to 10 gallon batches.
Summary of my brew config as background for my question: I currently brew using partial mash techniques in a 22-quart brew pot. My typical boil is no more than 3 gallons and I add water at the end of the boil to help start cooling it down and adjust the the volume/gravity to where it should be. To finish up the cooling I also have a Duda Diesel wort chiller (great product BTW). Been brewing this way for about 5 years now and it works out great. I also have a kegging system with 5 gallon corn'y kegs. I am currently transitioning to using the kegs as both primary and secondary fermenters (and lagering). So far that's working out well too.
I don't really want to change my brewing configuration -- I just want more beer! It seems to me it should be pretty straight forward to just increase the gravity of the wort without dramatically increasing the volume. For example, doing a full 5 gallon boil (which should just fit in my brew pot) and then adding water to adjust volume and gravity. The typical batches I brew don't have more than 3 lbs of specialty grains and I think doubling that to 6 lbs will still work in my brew pot (although it will be a bit cozy). Then simply split the wort to two kegs and top up.
Does anyone have experience with this approach and/or suggestions?
Thanks,
Curtis
Summary of my brew config as background for my question: I currently brew using partial mash techniques in a 22-quart brew pot. My typical boil is no more than 3 gallons and I add water at the end of the boil to help start cooling it down and adjust the the volume/gravity to where it should be. To finish up the cooling I also have a Duda Diesel wort chiller (great product BTW). Been brewing this way for about 5 years now and it works out great. I also have a kegging system with 5 gallon corn'y kegs. I am currently transitioning to using the kegs as both primary and secondary fermenters (and lagering). So far that's working out well too.
I don't really want to change my brewing configuration -- I just want more beer! It seems to me it should be pretty straight forward to just increase the gravity of the wort without dramatically increasing the volume. For example, doing a full 5 gallon boil (which should just fit in my brew pot) and then adding water to adjust volume and gravity. The typical batches I brew don't have more than 3 lbs of specialty grains and I think doubling that to 6 lbs will still work in my brew pot (although it will be a bit cozy). Then simply split the wort to two kegs and top up.
Does anyone have experience with this approach and/or suggestions?
Thanks,
Curtis