Hose

Recipes 

As an extract brewer I have been boiling the wort with the lid off of my kettle.
However, I was just reading "Brew Chem 101" and Janson recommends leaving the lid on, however cracked a few inches. I'm curious, how many folks are going topless and how many go top-on?
Thanks.

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stratslinger

Recipes 

I've always brewed lid-off, whether extract or all grain. The only exception was the one time I did a partial boil indoors, and that was only because I couldn't maintain a boil without the lid partially on the pot, as you described, on my stovetop.

Toga

Recipes 

Topless is the only way to roll. It matters less with extract brews however when you go all grain you need the lid off as many things you do not want in your brew boil off and escape with the evaporating liquid during the boil such as DMS.

pwndabear

Recipes 

your call man. imo, it doesnt matter at all.

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ktraver97ss

Recipes 

Top-less all day errryday!!

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WoodlandBrew

Recipes 

Top off. But I do leave the top on to get to boil. This limits me to a 3.5 gallon boil on my stove top, which is why I don't recommend a boil kettle larger than 4 gallons unless you have an outdoor burner.

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dcarter

Recipes 

Top off to allow the VOC's an escape route. You don't want those bad boys funkifiying your brew.

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menerdari

Recipes 

off

metanoia

Recipes 

As others have said, top off in order to release the DMS (at least on an AG boil). Glad I learned this before starting my AG campaign!

bobeer

Recipes 

Top off. Want to make sure I get my wort down to my batch size. I feel if the lid is on you get a lot of the water back in the kettle.

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