Newest Threads

400d · 03-11-2011, 07:17 AM

Hi there,

By now I brewed a 6 gallon batches, but finally I got some bigger fermentation buckets that could hold up to 10 gallons.

I have a pot that makes 6 gallons of beer with no problem....

If I make a high gravity wort and boil it with hops enough for 10 gallons, and then after boil I just top up with water - would it be ok?

what are the advantages and disadvantages of brewing like this?

thanks

**MalFet** · 03-11-2011, 11:17 AM

Very low efficiency, for starters, just because you wouldn't be sparging at all.

Beyond that, I'd imagine it's just the standard issues with partial boils: lower hop utilization, darker color, etc.

400d · 03-11-2011, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MalFet

Very low efficiency, for starters, just because you wouldn't be sparging at all.

Beyond that, I'd imagine it's just the standard issues with partial boils: lower hop utilization, darker color, etc.

no, I intend to sparge as normal and get, for instance, 6 gallons of 1.070 wort prior to pitching. then I would just top up with 3 gallons of boiled water and dilute this wort to lower gravity.

**MalFet** · 03-11-2011, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 400d

no, I intend to sparge as normal and get, for instance, 6 gallons of 1.070 wort prior to pitching. then I would just top up with 3 gallons of boiled water and dilute this wort to lower gravity.

Fair enough, but you'll still be sparging and mashing with less water than you ordinarily would for a 9 gallon batch.

**jaythebassist** · 03-11-2011, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 400d

no, I intend to sparge as normal and get, for instance, 6 gallons of 1.070 wort prior to pitching. then I would just top up with 3 gallons of boiled water and dilute this wort to lower gravity.

Yeah, but that's poor efficiency. Cause you're mashing to get ~7 gal at ~1.060 preboil grav, when you could be mashing to runoff 10 gal at 1.030 to make the same OG beer with a full boil. See what I mean?

400d · 03-11-2011, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaythebassist

Yeah, but that's poor efficiency. Cause you're mashing to get ~7 gal at ~1.060 preboil grav, when you could be mashing to runoff 10 gal at 1.030 to make the same OG beer with a full boil. See what I mean?

sure, but that's why I ask what are the exact consequences?

If I still get good beer using this technique, than I don't see why not doing it. On the other hand - I'd rather have 6 gallons of good beer instead of 9 gallons of bad or average beer, if you know what I mean....

**jaythebassist** · 03-11-2011, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 400d

sure, but that's why I ask what are the exact consequences?

If I still get good beer using this technique, than I don't see why not doing it. On the other hand - I'd rather have 6 gallons of good beer instead of 9 gallons of bad or average beer, if you know what I mean....

Well, you won't get the same hop utilization, but other than that there's no reason you shouldn't get good beer. It'll just be way less cost-effective.

**MalFet** · 03-11-2011, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 400d

sure, but that's why I ask what are the exact consequences?

If I still get good beer using this technique, than I don't see why not doing it. On the other hand - I'd rather have 6 gallons of good beer instead of 9 gallons of bad or average beer, if you know what I mean....

Like I said before, lower efficiency, lower hops utilization, and darker color. Plenty of people do partial boils with extract; the only added consideration for all grain is the lower efficiency.

400d · 03-11-2011, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MalFet

Like I said before, lower efficiency, lower hops utilization, and darker color. Plenty of people do partial boils with extract; the only added consideration for all grain is the lower efficiency.

If efficiency is the only cost I have to pay, than I'll just do it. What bothers me now is what efficiency should I have in 6 gallons in order to get 1.050 after adding 3 gallons of water to it?

**jaythebassist** · 03-11-2011, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 400d

If efficiency is the only cost I have to pay, than I'll just do it. What bothers me now is what efficiency should I have in 6 gallons in order to get 1.050 after adding 3 gallons of water to it?

I normally get around 80% eff, and when I did a 3/6 gal partial boil I got 50% eff.