Slipgate

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I brew on the stove and use the "power" burner. I have a 16 quart SS pot and start with about 10 quarts of water. My beer always boils, but doesn't boil over. I read on these forums that you really need a good strong boil in order to properly prepare the grains. Even at full blast, I cannot get my beer to really boil hard. So I alternate putting on the top, which does make it boil hard/boil over, but then I need to watch it like a hawk for an hour.

Short of getting a propane burner, what can I do to increase my boil?

The stove is an almost new Kenmore.

rtp-brew

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There was a thread about this not too long ago. Try here http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/improved-boiling-stovetop-53683/?highlight=kettle+insulation

FWIW, the strong boil helps to drive off compounds which can cause off flavors in AG. Putting the lid on sort of defeats the purpose as everything just hits the lid and falls back in.

If you're only boiling 10 quarts, it sounds like you're probably working with extract and doing a partial boil. If so, the extract maker should have done most of driving off of icky compounds for you. As long as you're getting some boiling action to get the bittering compounds from the hops and dissolve the extract you should be ok.

BierMuncher

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Never lid your boiling wort.

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Edcculus

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I wouldnt put on the top unless you are trying to make a Harry Potter inspired Butter Beer!

Honestly, the only things you could really do are flyguy's insulated boil pot, or a propane burner. I boil on my stovetop and get a decent boil. While not as clear as it could be, my beer tastes great.

PseudoChef

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Although extract has already had most of its DMS boiled off during the preparation of the product.

You can keep the lid on halfway and it will still allow plenty of vent for any residual DMS to escape.

But my advice is just to get a propane burner and huge pot because you're just going to anyway down the road.

cubbies

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While you should not cover your boiling wort so that vital compounds can be released, you would be safe to partially cover it. With partial covering there will still be enough room for compounds to escape and there is less risk using extract anyways because a lot of these compounds have already been driven off in the extract making process.

See if you can get your lid to balance on about halfway.

Slipgate

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I put my wooden spoon on the edge of the pot and put the lid on top of that. It is kind of tricky to find that happy medium where the pot is filling up with froth but not excessively boiling over. There is plenty of room for gases to escape. It makes an amazing difference in boil quality when the pot is partially covered.

IrregularPulse

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Try the multiple pot method or like stated before, buy the propane burner, you're gonna need it when the bug catches and you go AG!

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tdavisii

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Do yourself a huge favor and go to wally world and buy a 30 dollar turkey fryer.

The Blow Leprechaun

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Honestly, if your stove on its highest setting can't get 10 quarts of water to a rolling boil, I'd want to make sure there's not something wrong with the stove. 10 quarts of water is not all that much.