Grain kits and Cornys: 23lt vs. 19lts

[SpiderBrau]

(beginner question)
So I've been doing BIAB grain kits fairly well for a year or so, but bottling is slow and time consuming so I was thinking of moving to Corny kegs, most of the grain kits come in at 23 liters, however the kegs only hold 19. I want to keep with the grain kits for the moment, so what are my options?

• Throw out 4 liters of been
• Throw out a percentage of the grain and hops
• Custom build my kit (meaning I lose the advantage of a grain kit)
• Something else that I missed

Any and all input appreciated

(as an aside I have been using a king keg which I love, takes 23 lt fine... but I am not able to refrigerate it)

[KDeath]

You could always bottle the surplus? Requires f all extra equipment.

I'd look at the custom build kits tbh; I started off doing the pre-supplied kits, which were grand, but have found the quality of the recipes online to be quite a bit better. Depending on the quantities you're ordering they can often come in cheaper as well. The only advantage I'd see to the grain kits is that everything is done for you so all you've to do is brew it, whereas if you start looking at putting together other recipes and formulating your own you'll start to learn more as well, and after a year you'd be well able for this.

[Andy Q]

I was bottling the balance for ages which was grand for samples to the lads, but have recently started doing 19l custom batches, and it is great when you're short on time, as there is shorter boiling/cooling times involved, last batch was a 30 minute mash/30 minute boil and was a walk in the park(but haven't tasted it yet) so I may come back next week tail between legs:-)

[beerfly]

the size of the batch would not affect your mash and boil times. it would affect how long it takes to get to boiling temp and cooling but the 4L difference would minimal.
depending on how your mashing 30mins is probably ok and easy to check with a refractometer. But depending on the beer style and hops your using a 30mins boil could could have a noticable impact. there are some that a shorter boil will work just as good for too.

[SpiderBrau]

Thanks very much, I shall stick the extra in a few bottles when I get up and running, then I'll go to custom recipes.

[nigel_c]

Drink the extra pint or 2 from the fermenter and call it cask.

[LordEoin]

when i do these I just aim to get 20L out of the kettle instead of 23.
no messing around with dumping grain/hops, no excess or waste.
It just ends up a little stronger, and I think it tastes better anyway