Boiling too hot?

the8bitdeity · 11-12-2009, 01:37 AM

Hello,
Been homebrewing about 9 months and I'm slowly but surely refining the process. I tried to do a clone recipe for an oatmeal chocolate stout, and my mash went perfectly (my first great mash actually), only to be perfectly ruined when my boil when horribly.

1) Collected 7 gallons of wort
2) started my propane burner up with a high setting
3) started the 120 min boil as instructed
4) had a boil over or two (my bad), but nothing significant
5) at the end of the boil I had maybe ... 1 gallon of wort?

What did I do wrong? Did I boil it too hot? The boil never really ever calmed down, it stayed very bubbly if you will, which I suspect suggests what the issue was.

Any help? I'm still learning how to properly use my burner.

Cheers,
Rob

**Edcculus** · 11-12-2009, 01:42 AM

you boiled 7 gallons down to 1 in 90 minutes? Wow!

First, off, you were probably boiling a little too hard. I crank my burner to get it up to boiling. As soon as I hit a rolling boil, I back off. You don't want wort literally jumping out of the pot. It needs to be boiling, but nothing crazy. Also, unless your beer contains a lot of pilsner malt, you can boil for 60 min. Just make sure you calculate in less boil off. Programs like Beersmith can help you figure that out.

I'm still kind of curious how you boiled off 6 gallons in 90 minutes. Sure you didn't spill or boilover too much?

daveooph131 · 11-12-2009, 01:42 AM

I'm not sure...The only thing I could suggest is that the boil does not have to be a rolling boil. Just a nice small bubbly.

**android** · 11-12-2009, 01:43 AM

it would be tough to boil off 3 gallons per hour, but i suppose anything is possible. it definitely sounds like the burner was too high if you were getting lots of foamy bubbles... it took me a few boils to realize that i only need to run my burner at about 10% to maintain the boil once I get it going with the burner at full bore... evaporation was one of my biggest challenges, but i think i finally have it figured out. i guess with the 2 boilovers and hardcore boil, you just rocked it... out of curiosity, what was the SG of that 1 gallon you had left?

**Yooper** · 11-12-2009, 01:43 AM

Wow- to go from 7 gallons to 1 is a bit much. A 120 minute boil probably didn't help! I rarely boil more than 60 minutes, unless I have way too much wort to boil down.

You want a nice rolling boil. If it's too hard, you'll boil off more wort, but I've never heard of boiling off 6 gallons! Usually, most people will boil off about 1.25 gallons/hour.

hercher · 11-12-2009, 01:45 AM

Yeah, your burner was too high. Turn it down. I also partially cover my brewpot so some of the steam condenses on the lid and drops back into the wort. I typically will boil about 6-7 gallons down to 5 in 90 minutes.

**Yooper** · 11-12-2009, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveooph131

I'm not sure...The only thing I could suggest is that the boil does not have to be a rolling boil. Just a nice small bubbly.

"Small bubbly" doesn't cut it! You need a rolling boil for proper isomerization of the hops oils. A rolling boil means that the bubbles roll to the surface, and break, and start again. Bigger than a simmer.

the8bitdeity · 11-12-2009, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edcculus

Also, unless your beer contains a lot of pilsner malt, you can boil for 60 min. Just make sure you calculate in less boil off. Programs like Beersmith can help you figure that out.

It was about 9 pounds of 2 row for the base malts, and the 120 minute was from the clone recipe I found in "How to Brews" collection of clones. I figured I'd just roll with it. That said the hops weren't supposed to go in until 60 minutes in, so I'm guessing the first 60 min are intended for reduction.

the8bitdeity · 11-12-2009, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YooperBrew

"Small bubbly" doesn't cut it! You need a rolling boil for proper isomerization of the hops oils. A rolling boil means that the bubbles roll to the surface, and break, and start again. Bigger than a simmer.

How can I NOT listen to Red Green? Thanks.

**Yooper** · 11-12-2009, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the8bitdeity

How can I NOT listen to Red Green? Thanks.

Wanna borrow my duct tape?