Everything You Need for Small Batch BIAB Brewing
Looking to brew 1 gallon batches? Whether you’re experimenting with new ingredients, designing recipes, or just don’t want to commit to a full 5-gallon batch, a simple 1 gallon BIAB setup is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to brew great beer.
In fact, it’s exactly how I brew all of my Big Robb Gets Weird experiments.
One gallon batches let you test crazy ideas, fine tune recipes, and have a lot of fun without risking a full batch of beer.
If you’re wondering what equipment you actually need, here’s exactly what I recommend.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the equipment recommendations below contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Why Brew 1 Gallon Batches?
There are a lot of reasons I’ve become a big fan of small batch brewing.
✔ Experiment with crazy ingredients
✔ Design new beer recipes
✔ Learn all-grain brewing
✔ Try new hops and yeasts
✔ Brew more often
✔ Save money
✔ Less cleanup
Most importantly…
If the experiment is a disaster…
…you only lose one gallon instead of five.
That’s exactly why I created Big Robb Gets Weird.
Big Robb’s Quick Picks
If you just want the basic gear I’d recommend for brewing 1-gallon batches without overcomplicating things, start here.
Brew Kettle
IMUSA USA 12-Quart Stainless Steel Stock Pot
👉 Check Price on Amazon
BIAB Bag
Micron Reusable Fine Mesh Brew in a Bag
👉 Check Price on Amazon
Fermenter
BrewDemon Conical Fermenter
👉 Check Price on Amazon
Digital Thermometer
TempPro TP19H Digital Instant Read Thermometer
👉 Check Price on Amazon
Hydrometer
Brewing America Hydrometer
👉 Check Price on Amazon
Bottles
Nevlers 16 oz Amber Swing-Top Bottles (12-Pack)
👉 Check Price on Amazon
All Recommended 1 Gallon Brewing Gear
1) Small Brew Kettle
Roughly a 3-gallon / 12-quart stainless steel kettle is perfect for one gallon BIAB batches.
It gives you plenty of room during the boil without taking up your entire stove.
Recommended Brew Kettle:
- IMUSA USA Stainless Steel Stock Pot
2) Brew In A Bag (BIAB Bag)
Forget complicated mash tuns.
A quality BIAB bag is all you need.
One piece of equipment replaces hundreds of dollars worth of gear.
For 1-gallon BIAB brewing, I recommend using an 18″ × 16″ reusable brew bag with a drawstring. While it may seem a little oversized for a small batch, it actually works extremely well. The extra material allows the bag to line your kettle securely, gives the grain plenty of room to move during the mash for better efficiency, and makes lifting and draining the grain much easier. It’s also a versatile option that can often be reused for larger batches if you decide to upgrade your brewing system in the future.
If you’re new to BIAB, check out my guide: 👉 How to Brew in a Bag
Recommended BIAB Bag
Looking for the other simple tools that make brew day easier? 👉 See My Brew Day Equipment & Accessories
3) Fermenter
Recommended Fermenter for 1-Gallon Batches
For a 1-gallon batch, I do NOT recommend using a 1-gallon fermenter. You need extra headspace for krausen during active fermentation, and a fermenter that is too small can quickly turn into a messy blow-off.
That’s why I recommend using a larger fermenter like the BrewDemon Conical Fermenter. The extra space gives the beer room to ferment properly without constantly threatening to push krausen through the airlock.
What really sets it apart is the built-in spigot, which lets you bottle your beer without using an auto-siphon. That means less equipment to buy, fewer transfers, and a much simpler bottling day.
The wide-mouth opening also makes cleaning and sanitizing quick and easy, making it an excellent choice for beginner homebrewers.
Recommended Fermenter
4) Digital Thermometer
Mash temperature matters.
A fast digital thermometer makes brew day much easier.
Recommended Thermometer
5) Hydrometer
One of the most important tools every brewer should own.
Never guess when fermentation is finished.
Learn how to use one here:
👉 How to Read and Use a Hydrometer
https://makebeereasy.com/how-to-read-a-hydrometer/
Recommended Hydrometer
6) Sanitizer
Nothing ruins beer faster than poor sanitation.
I use Star San on every batch.
If you’re unsure how to sanitize your equipment, read:
👉 How to Sanitize Beer Making Equipment
https://makebeereasy.com/how-to-sanitize-beer-making-equipment-and-never-lose-a-batch-of-beer/
Recommended Sanitizer
Need cleaner, sanitizer, brushes or other cleaning gear?
👉 See My Cleaning & Sanitation Equipment
7) Bottle Filler
Since almost all of my one gallon experiments get bottled, this little tool is worth every penny.
Recommended Bottle Filler
8) Beer Bottles
For 1-gallon batches, I highly recommend using swing-top bottles. They eliminate the need for a bottle capper and crown caps, making bottling much simpler for beginner homebrewers. Just sanitize the bottles, fill them, close the flip-top lids, and let the beer carbonate.
If you’re looking for a 6-bottle starter set, I recommend the YEBODA 16 oz Amber Swing-Top Bottles. They’re made from thick amber glass to help protect your beer from light, and they’re a great choice if you only need enough bottles for a single batch.
If you’d prefer to have extra bottles on hand for future brews, the Nevlers 16 oz Amber Swing-Top Bottles (12-Pack) are my top pick. In addition to the bottles, the kit includes a funnel, bottle brush, and reusable labels, making it an excellent value for new homebrewers.
Whichever option you choose, amber swing-top bottles are durable, reusable, and one of the easiest ways to package your homebrew without investing in additional bottling equipment.
Recommended Bottles
9) Digital Scales
When it comes to homebrewing, one scale doesn’t always do it all. That’s why I recommend having two digital scales—one for larger ingredients like grain and another for smaller ingredients like hops and brewing salts.
For weighing grain, a standard kitchen scale like the Etekcity Digital Kitchen Scale is perfect. It has plenty of capacity for measuring malt, a tare function for easy weighing, and is accurate enough for virtually every homebrewing recipe.
For measuring small ingredients, I recommend a precision pocket scale such as the Fusion Digital Pocket Gram Scale. It’s ideal for weighing hop additions, brewing salts, yeast nutrient, Irish moss, and other ingredients that need to be measured in tenths of a gram. This becomes especially important when brewing 1-gallon batches, where even small measurement errors can have a noticeable impact on the finished beer.
Having both scales gives you the accuracy you need for every stage of the brewing process and makes following recipes much easier.
Recommended Kitchen Scale:
Recommended Precision Pocket Scale:
Want all my measuring gear in one place? 👉 See My Measuring & Testing Equipment
The Basic 1-Gallon Brewing Setup I’d Buy
If I were putting together a simple 1-gallon brewing setup from scratch, I would keep it pretty basic.
You need:
- A roughly 3-gallon / 12-quart stainless steel kettle
- A reusable BIAB bag
- A fermenter with enough headspace for a 1-gallon batch
- A digital thermometer
- A hydrometer
- Sanitizer
- A bottle filler
- Enough bottles for the finished beer
- A basic kitchen scale
That’s enough equipment to mash, boil, ferment, measure, and bottle a 1-gallon batch without turning this into some giant brewing project.
You can always add more gear later if it solves a problem. You do not need to buy everything at once.
What I Would NOT Buy for 1-Gallon Brewing
One of the biggest advantages of brewing 1-gallon batches is that you do not need a pile of expensive equipment.
I would skip:
- A 1-gallon fermenter — There simply isn’t enough headspace once fermentation gets active. Use something larger.
- A dedicated mash tun — For batches this small, BIAB is easier, cheaper, and requires less equipment.
- A large propane burner — A 3-gallon kettle can usually be handled comfortably on a normal kitchen stove.
- A wort pump — Completely unnecessary for a simple 1-gallon BIAB setup.
- An auto siphon if your fermenter already has a spigot — Don’t buy equipment to solve a problem you don’t have.
- A full-size brewing system — Great if you eventually move into larger batches, but massive overkill if your goal is simply to brew one gallon at a time.
Keep it simple. Buy the equipment that actually solves a problem and skip the stuff that doesn’t.
Looking for brewing equipment beyond a 1-gallon setup?
👉 See My Complete Beer Brewing Equipment Guide
Optional Gear — Only If Your Fermenter Doesn’t Have a Spigot
Mini Auto Siphon
If your fermenter has a built-in spigot, like the BrewDemon I recommend above, you do NOT need an auto siphon. Save your money and keep things simple.
If you’re using a fermenter without a spigot, a mini auto siphon makes transferring beer much easier and is a useful piece of equipment to have.
Recommended Auto Siphon:
Fermtech Mini Auto Siphon 👉 Check Price on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 1 gallon brewing worth it?
Absolutely.
It’s one of the best ways to experiment without risking a full batch.
Can beginners brew 1 gallon batches?
Definitely.
In fact, many beginners find it easier than brewing five gallons.
Is BIAB the best method?
I think so.
Simple.
Affordable.
Less equipment.
Less cleanup.
Can I brew crazy beers in 1 gallon batches?
That’s exactly why I do it.
Marshmallows.
Breakfast cereal.
Candy.
Fruit.
Whatever crazy idea pops into your head…
Try it.
What’s the biggest advantage?
You stop being afraid to experiment.
When you’re only risking one gallon…
You’ll try things you’d never attempt with a full batch.
Ready To Get Weird?
If you want to see this equipment in action, check out my newest series:
🍺 Big Robb Gets Weird
We’re taking the craziest brewing ideas from viewers and actually brewing them.
Marshmallows.
Candy.
Breakfast cereal.
Ridiculous ingredients.
If you’ve ever looked in your kitchen and thought…
“I wonder if I could brew beer with that…”
You’re going to love this series.
👉 Start with Episode #1: Marshmallow Cream Ale
Related Brewing Guides
If you’re just getting started, these guides will help:
- How to Brew in a Bag
https://makebeereasy.com/brew-in-a-bag-instructions/ - How To BIAB – Step by Step
https://makebeereasy.com/how-to-biab-step-by-step/ - How to Ferment Beer
https://makebeereasy.com/how-to-ferment-beer-5-steps-explained/ - How to Read and Use a Hydrometer
https://makebeereasy.com/how-to-read-a-hydrometer/ - How to Sanitize Beer Making Equipment
https://makebeereasy.com/how-to-sanitize-beer-making-equipment-and-never-lose-a-batch-of-beer/ - How to Fine Beer with Gelatin
https://makebeereasy.com/how-to-fine-beer-with-gelatin/
🍺 Ready to Brew Better Beer?
Whether you’re brewing your very first batch or experimenting with crazy ideas like marshmallow beer, my goal is to help you brew better beer without making homebrewing more complicated than it needs to be.
🎓 FREE Beginner Homebrewing Bootcamp
If you’re new to homebrewing, sign up for my FREE Beginner Homebrewing Bootcamp and I’ll walk you through the fundamentals step-by-step. You’ll learn how to avoid the most common mistakes and start brewing great beer from your very first batch.
👉 Join the FREE Beginner Homebrewing Bootcamp
🍺 Want More Great Beer Recipes?
Join thousands of other homebrewers on my Beer Recipe Newsletter and get new all-grain recipes, beer kit recipes, seasonal brews, and experimental recipes like Big Robb Gets Weird 1 gallon biab beer recipes delivered straight to your inbox.
👉 Join the FREE Beer Recipe Newsletter
📺 Watch the Brew Day
This recipe is part of my new Big Robb Gets Weird series on YouTube, where we take crazy brewing ideas from viewers and actually brew them.
If you’ve ever looked at something in your kitchen and thought…
“I wonder if I could brew beer with that…”
…you’re going to love this series.
👉 Watch the Marshmallow Cream Ale brew day on YouTube.
🍻 One Last Thing…
Have a weird brewing idea?
Leave a comment on YouTube or the blog and it might become the next Big Robb Gets Weird episode!
Because around here…
The weirder the idea… the better. 🍻