How do you calculate how much water you lose during the boil? - Page 2

Kuhndog · 01-05-2012, 07:55 PM

Can anyone chime in on Brtisbuck's question because I'm wondering the same thing. I just got a brew kettle that I'll probably use for the 1st time this weekend or next weekend.

Thanks.

**jkaylor** · 01-05-2012, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brtisbuck

I have a question concerning this also. I am about to do my first full boil and was planning on only starting with 5.5 gallons and add because I don't want to end up with more than 5 gal until I get the feel for it. Do you include your LME in that amount? Say I start with 5.5g and add 6# of LME I am closer to a total of 6g right?

5.5 is not enough pre-boil volume. Like posted above average is about 1
gallons per hour, so with after a 60 minute boil you'd end with 4.5 to 5 gallons in the fermenter. Each system is different. My system is about 1.5 per hour. so I always us a pre boil volume 7 gallons, and end up with 5.5. After trub loss, etc...I end up with 5 gallons in the fermenter.
Also, if you aren't close enough to your post boil volume, boil longer than 60 minutes until you get there. That is another thing I like about AG, is that I don't have to add any top off water. Cheers

brtisbuck · 01-05-2012, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuhndog

Can anyone chime in on Brtisbuck's question because I'm wondering the same thing. I just got a brew kettle that I'll probably use for the 1st time this weekend or next weekend.

Thanks.

I will answer my own question. I brewed Sunday. Decided to start with 5.5 gallons in a 36qt square squatty aluminum kettle. Added 2/3 of my 6# LME in the last 5 min of a 60 minute boil. I had to add just over .5 gal to my carboy to be at exactly 5 gal. after the boil.

Next brew I will start with 6 gallons of water + extract and probably leave it at that if I'm close. While I'm new, I would rather add just a little than end up way over. FYI my kit og was 1.044 and I tested at 1.045 give or take temp correction errors.