K5MOW

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I would like to ask what are the benefits for doing a full 5 gallon boil in an extract batch? I have just got a new 8 gallon brew kettle from Northern Brewers. I got this new kettle so I can get into all grain brewing. But I also will now be doing full 5 gallon boils when making extract recipes. Is there a benefit of boiling the full 5 gallons?

Thanks Roger

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boist

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Two benefits:
1. When you boil your whole wort, it's all sanitized. As oppose to adding cold water. But for that you only need to boil for 15 min
2. Hop utilization is lower when the wort is more concentrated, eg. when you boil enough extract for 5 gallons of beer with only 2 gallons of water. Boiling the whole amount will help you utilize the hops better.

Plus... A big honking pot full of boiling beer is just cool...

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cappy

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It also helps to keep the color of your beer lighter, if you are making a lighter colored beer that is. Just remember you'll have to cool 5 gallons of wort instead of 3.

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cappy

Yooper

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The only advantage (but it's a HUGE one!) is better beer. The extract will not darken like in a small boil, leaving a "cleaner" taste, more like a commercial beer.

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gunner65

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There was a BYO article on this subject sometime back that you may want to look up. Full boil will make your beer better.

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hawkeyes

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I only have a 5 gallon Kettle. If I can manage boil over well enough. Would going at 4 gallons be OK?

IffyG

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The closer to a full boil you get, the better the beer will be.

Srceenplay

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FYI. Don't steep in the full boil.
I just learned that.

dantheman13

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That is what I do. I boil off 1 gallon in a 5 gallon pot. So, I collect/mix 4 gallons of wort, and boil it down to 3 gallons of beer that goes into the fermenter. This is the downside of stove top brewing.

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hawkeyes

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I use stove top too. I think I will try 4 gallon next time. If you have to steep specialty grains. Do you start at 2, 3 or 4 gallons?