Splitting 5 gallons into 2 different boils

**bgburdman9** · 10-26-2009, 07:57 PM

I recently got a pot big enough to boil 5 gallon batches. The thing is that I have never tried to boil 5 gallons on my stove before. If I cannot get the 5 gallons to boil and split it into 2 different pots and equally divide each hop addition in each pot will I get approximately the same IBU's as boiling 5 gallons in one pot? In my head it seems like it should be the same, but I wanted to check and see what you guys think.

**Yooper** · 10-26-2009, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgburdman9

I recently got a pot big enough to boil 5 gallon batches. The thing is that I have never tried to boil 5 gallons on my stove before. If I cannot get the 5 gallons to boil and split it into 2 different pots and equally divide each hop addition in each pot will I get approximately the same IBU's as boiling 5 gallons in one pot? In my head it seems like it should be the same, but I wanted to check and see what you guys think.

Yes, if you split the boil evenly (same amount of extract, or wort) into two pots, the hops can be dividely evenly and added, and it will be very close to the same as a full boil. Except your boil-off will be twice as much. I know that seems obvious, but the first time I did it, I started with 3 gallons in each pot. It boiled down to about 2 gallons in each pot at the end!

OHIOSTEVE · 11-01-2009, 01:42 AM

I just finished doing two beers this way... Pretty easy to do HOWEVER he is correct that you willlose a LOT of volume and have to either start with a bigger boil or add top off water like crazy.

tkone · 11-04-2009, 03:30 PM

i have to do this since my stove stucks. two pots, four burners. it's not very difficult though, just portion your hops out proportionally to the amount of wort in each pot.

also, get one started 15 minutes after the first one unless you have the ability to chill both at the same time.

or go no-chill and say f it!