I remember when I started it was all 5 gallon batches with some people doing 10 or 20 gallon batches. In the past few years a lot more 1 and 2 gallon equipment has come on to the market. I think it helps make it more accessible to people living in smaller places and those who may not have the time to brew and bottle 2 cases of beer.
The ingredient kits have gotten so much better too. It used to be that starter kits were a bunch of dusty boxes sitting around for god who know how long. Now most brewing suppliers offer their own kits, with seasonal offerings and put them together in house.
That’s cool that you worked for Budweiser I did a tour at a Budweiser brewery a while back and was impressed at the scope of their brewhouses. They go from grain to bottle in something like 14 days. It takes homebrewers months sometimes to make a lager that light. I don’t drink a whole lot of commercial lagers but I appreciate the process. It really has to be dialed in to consistently make that style of beer.
One thing that may be of interest here is that the primary fermentation is done and the yeast is harvested to be used for several generations until it cannot be used again. Yeast is cultured at the main plant and shipped to the various brewerys usually on a weekly schedule. The reason this is done is to have consistancy among the various plants. The beer should taste the same whether it is made in St. Louis or Los Angeles.
I generally prefer darker beers such as Porters and Stouts. Probably because I served almost four years in the Air Force over in England 1969-72. Beer was served at room temperature.
Budweiser did make a Porter at one time and we did use it to make a Black and Tan. I think we combined the Porter with Bud Light if I remember correctly. The various plants are sometimes tasked to produce experimental brews. I was able to assist in several of these and enjoyed it very much. I did also get to assist in the production of a nitrogen infused stout and it was very good. Too bad they decided not to put it into production.
Mike
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