I just recently started brewing, but I’ve been making bread forever so I get the yeast thing. Please humor me.
What happens if I take two American Pale Ale No Boil Complete 5 gallon beer kits and combine them to make 5 gallons - essentially doubling everything with 5 gallons. Is the beer going to be really strong, really awful, will the FBI visit the wreckage of my house?
A couple of concerns;
1) I am not familiar with no boils - I would be concerned with unwanted microbial contamination.
2) With the higher gravity that you will have from “doubling” everything, the yeast may not be able to completely ferment all the sugars you are offering them. May lead to an incomplete fermentation.
Thank you.
No boil is fine the first two batches with no contamination and I’ve read that it’s not a problem if you use common sense, use good sanitation, etc.
The second point is very interesting and maybe I’ll use yeast nutrient?
I think you can get away with it. But ya you would definitely need double the yeast. And by no boil so you mean pre-hopped malt extract? The kind you just have to add hot water to dissolve then top off with cold to hit your volume?
I found this kit on Amazon.
Premium American Pale Ale No Boil Complete Beer Kit, Makes 5-6 gallons Amazon.com
You’ll make really strong beer if it works. If it doesn’t you’ll make a high alcohol syrupy mess.
You have a strong chance of making something very bitter, or with too much “specialty malt” flavor (roast, caramel, etc). Doubling recipes works if you increase all the ingregients, including water. Doubling all the ingredients EXCEPT the water may overload the beer with hops or specialty malt.
Make sure the yeast you use has high alcohol tolerance. If you get through primary fermentation and you’re bottling, there’s a chance that the yeast may give you the middle finger and go on strike, leaving you with flat beer.
Consider just adding some simple sugar to your recipe to boost gravity: try a cup or two for starters.
Or don’t. It’s only beer. I did a “high gravity” beer for my second extract batch. Turned into lawn fertilizer. I learned some things. I tried tripling the amount of crystal malt in a beer for my second all grain batch. Turned into lawn fertilizer. I learned some things.
Years later, I’m still learning with each batch, but make much less fertilizer!
Just curious JT…how does the lawn look?
+1
Hey everyone, thank you for the great comments and feedback. I’m going to be sure to double the yeast, add 3 pounds of honey or maple syrup, some bitter orange, and will ferment the carboy in a safe to contain the blast.
I will let you know how it works out assuming that I survive.
The problem is not whether you survive fermentation unless you are sealing your fermentor. The risk to your survival comes when the top of the fermentor pops off and sprays beer all over the ceiling.
I’m going to assume the Pale Ale OG is around 1.050 so if you double that it will be around 1.100 which is a relatively high gravity beer but certainly not unheard of. What you will be making is a barlywine, basically. Make sure you pitch plenty of yeast and aerate well or you will have an under attenuated 5 gallon mess.