Muggus
Case swap whore
- Joined
- 9/7/07
- Messages
- 2,361
- Reaction score
- 15
The number 28 for case swap only really came to existence because 28 longnecks of beer fit comfortably in a standard milk crate.
As much as i'm sure Dairy Farmers hates us all for nicking them, milk crates are pretty handy for this purpose.
However, like alot of brewers, my fermenters are only around 25L and a 24L batch is as big as I could ever hope for it to be.
Minus trub, racking losses, gravity readings and late night "tasting sessions", it hard to knock out 21L into 28 bottles and expect a consistant clarity and quality.
This was one reason I loved the NSW Special Swap, Grant mentioned above.
14 longnecks, ie one crate worth, of a specific beer. So you can brew your 24L batch, bottle half and keg/keep the rest.
And hey, doesn't mean it has to be same style of anything either.
The idea of mini case swaps could mean you split up a larger number like 30-40 people, mix and match beers. 28 longies is alot to get through...I can back after a weekend with 56 the other day! The logistics of storing it all hurt my brain a bit.
Enough ranting, I think at the end of the day if you're not confident of being able to produce 28 bottles of decent quality beer...ie your fermenter is too small/you enjoy too many "late night tasting sessions", you may want to reconsider entering a case swap.
Generally it's not an issue, but this is why it's a good idea to make a backup beer.
As much as i'm sure Dairy Farmers hates us all for nicking them, milk crates are pretty handy for this purpose.
However, like alot of brewers, my fermenters are only around 25L and a 24L batch is as big as I could ever hope for it to be.
Minus trub, racking losses, gravity readings and late night "tasting sessions", it hard to knock out 21L into 28 bottles and expect a consistant clarity and quality.
This was one reason I loved the NSW Special Swap, Grant mentioned above.
14 longnecks, ie one crate worth, of a specific beer. So you can brew your 24L batch, bottle half and keg/keep the rest.
And hey, doesn't mean it has to be same style of anything either.
The idea of mini case swaps could mean you split up a larger number like 30-40 people, mix and match beers. 28 longies is alot to get through...I can back after a weekend with 56 the other day! The logistics of storing it all hurt my brain a bit.
Enough ranting, I think at the end of the day if you're not confident of being able to produce 28 bottles of decent quality beer...ie your fermenter is too small/you enjoy too many "late night tasting sessions", you may want to reconsider entering a case swap.
Generally it's not an issue, but this is why it's a good idea to make a backup beer.