2 Gallon Recipe VS Full 5 Gallon Boil - Page 3

**stltk65** · 04-12-2011, 08:43 PM

@yooper: What I mean is if boiling a 5 gallon batch (full boil w/5 gallons) is the way to go. Why is it so hard to find recipes for 5 gallon (boil volume) batchs from extract?

I figured there would be recipes out there for a new brewer with a kettle large enough to brew 5 gal./ full boil. Without having to find a converter for the recipe. Like "beersmith" to adjust the hops. The vast mojority I have found, call for boiling less water (2-3 gallons) and adding more later.

**Yooper** · 04-12-2011, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stltk65

@yooper: What I mean is if boiling a 5 gallon batch (full boil w/5 gallons) is the way to go. Why is it so hard to find recipes for 5 gallon (boil volume) batchs from extract?

It's not hard at all! If you have a smaller boil recipe, add water to get up to your boil volume. That's all you have to do, and that's why the recipes don't mention it. "Just add water to your boil volume" is understood.

**Yooper** · 04-12-2011, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by logburner

Yooper,
Thanks for the helpful reply....so you wouldn't adjust the hops at all? In other recipes, you had recommended reducing the amount of hops when running a full 5 gallon boil. What's different with my recipe?
Thanks again for your help...

Well, with some experience I've learned that at most you "gain" 20% more hops utililation. I've found that instead of adjusting the hops just adding the bulk of the extract at the end of the boil works better. Not just for the hops utilization, but also it keeps the extract from darkening, and from getting carmelization type flavors.

logburner · 04-13-2011, 02:23 PM

OK, let's see if I've got it...
1.5 Quarts per pound of grain for steeping ( my recipe only uses one pound of grain, so maybe I'd do this in a smaller pot first, and then add to the keggle after I sparge and top up to 5 gallons for the full boil?),
2-4 Quarts per pound of grain for sparging the grain bag
top up to full boil with water...get boiling, mix in some of the extract,
bring back to boil, start hopping per the recipe...add the bulk of the extract near the end of the boil, maybe when the aroma hops go in?

**Yooper** · 04-13-2011, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by logburner

OK, let's see if I've got it...
1.5 Quarts per pound of grain for steeping ( my recipe only uses one pound of grain, so maybe I'd do this in a smaller pot first, and then add to the keggle after I sparge and top up to 5 gallons for the full boil?),
2-4 Quarts per pound of grain for sparging the grain bag
top up to full boil with water...get boiling, mix in some of the extract,
bring back to boil, start hopping per the recipe...add the bulk of the extract near the end of the boil, maybe when the aroma hops go in?

Sure, that would work fine. Use 2 quarts of water per pound of grain for sparging, though- not 4 quarts!

Adding the extract near the end of the boil does tend to stop the boil since you stir it in and it drops the temp, but it doesn't really matter much. You can add it closer to the end of the boil, so it doesn't affect the hops at all if you want.

logburner · 04-14-2011, 01:27 PM

great advice Yooper! Thx