I often brew two batches of beer in a single brew day, which takes roughly 4.5 to 5 hours start to finish. I mill my grain and collect all my water volumes the night before, a 15 minute process that usually involves the consumption of a beer or three while my kids ride their bikes. I stagger the start of each batch by about 30 minutes to makes things easier.
Here’s what a typical double-batch brew day looks like:
- Turn heat on Batch 1 strike water, get to ~10˚F above strike temp
- Transfer all strike water to MLT 1 to pre-heat for 3 minutes, pour bucket of sparge water in kettle
- Mash-in batch 1, stir to reach mash temp, set timer for 60 minutes
- 30 minutes into Batch 1’s mash, start heating strike water for Batch 2, get to ~10˚F above strike temp
- Transfer strike water to MLT 2 to pre-heat for 3 minutes, pour sparge water into kettle
- Mash-in Batch 2, stir to reach mash temp, set timer for 60 minutes
- 40 minutes into Batch 1’s mash, start heating sparge water for Batch 1
- Once Batch 1 mash is complete, vorlauf and collect first runnings in a bucket
- Add sparge water to MLT 1, pour first runnings into kettle
- 40 minutes into Batch 2’s mash, start heating sparge for Batch 2
- Collect second runnings from Batch 1, pour into kettle, start boil
- When Batch 1 is boiling, start hop additions as usual
- Once Batch 2 mash is complete, vorlauf and collect first runnings in a bucket
- Add sparge water to MLT 2, pour first runnings into kettle
- Collect second runnings from Batch 2, pour into kettle, start boil
- When Batch 2 is boiling, start hop additions as usual
During the time both batches are boiling, I clean the MLTs and pick up all equipment I no longer need, which takes about 10 minutes.
- When boil is complete for Batch 1, chill to pitching temp, transfer to carboy
- When boil is complete for Batch 2, chill to pitching temp, transfer to carboy
- Place carboys in fermentation chamber, clean kettles, put everything away
- Pitch yeast and wait…
I’m usually finished just in time for breakfast with my family.
7 thoughts on “Double Batch Brew Day”
Wow, so you brew mostly at night? Why and when do you get to sleep?
I brew mostly in the morning, haven’t brewed at night in a loooong time.
Lookin through your process, noticed you are you not doing a mash-out. Have you found that this step is not necessary to ‘loosen all of the sugars into suspension? (Looks like you are usin a SS infuSSion MLT)
When batch sparring, we would always raise temp at end of mash to around 168ish by adding measured infusion of boiling water, vorlauf and collect 1st runnings, then add add sparge water.
But then again, this was theory I picked up from watching brew videos like 7 years ago when getting into brewing – and just stuck as part of our process.
Brewing on a dual electric BIAB system now and the MO is still part of our process (recommended for efficiency), although sometimes I do miss the simplicity of infusion batch sparging with just an insulated MLT and a kettle.
I’ve done plenty of mash outs over the years and haven’t noticed it providing any benefit whatsoever, neither in terms of efficiency nor flavor.
Right on, had never thought to skip it. Will give it a run for a quicker brew day 👍🏼,
Chris, can you share any information on your dual electric BIAB system? I run a single elec BIAB and want to expand. Cheers!
Sure thing Dale. It’s a 1bbl dual eBIAB system (2 separate side by side 1/2 bbl BIAB kettles. We usually brew 2 different 1/2 bbl batch beers at the same time, although you can do a full 1bbl batch of beer and cross re-circulate throughout mash and boil, not worrying about keeping ingredients equally split in each kettle. Would actually be a great setup for running xBEERiments 💡
https://imgur.com/gallery/IKk2q
It’s the “Nano Brewer Dual” 50 Gal system from Colorado Brewing Systems. We modified it with a frame extension and the addition of a HLT in the middle, solely for sparge water and heating up cleaning water for recirculation while the brews are still finishing up – although in retrospect this was unnecessary for the most part.
If you are looking to expand upon what you already have, I do believe CBS does sell their panel, kettles, and accessories individually, and you can customize whatever. Let me know if there’s any other info specifically you are looking for, cheers 🍻