The Double Brew Day - or DBD ~~~ here's how to get double the brew for only 1 extra hour on a 3-vessel system (additional fermenter space required).
You ever notice how your BK is sitting there empty, doing nothing during the mash? My buddy Ed taught me to put it to work - brew an extract batch with a 30-min steep during the AG mash cycle. Most of my AG beers are heavy with wheat, so they get a 3x step mash ~ 10/45/45+ min at 122/146/154F. The Extract batch is nearing the end of the boil at the end of the mash. Process the extract batch into the fermenters then clean the BK for it's next job. The final stop will be extended by about 45 minutes in this process.
Now you're ready to vorlauf the grain bed into the BK. Conduct the AG batch boil cycle as normal. Clean gear during the AG boil; at the end you will have about 5 things that need washed - the BK, the counter-flow chiller, two hoses, and a spoon or two.
An AG brew day takes about 6 hours and you will have 10 gal in fermenters. If you add the extract batch your brew day lasts 7 hours and you will have 10 gal extract and 10 gal AG in fermenters ~ 20 gal total!
I started brewing to get me a Bavarian Hefeweizen. I brew other wheat-heavy beers, but also anything else I decide. check my recipe list.
