well, not really IN the snow... kidding.
after extensive brewing in southern california i am now doing my brewing in massachusetts. i know, i know, why did i move
anyhow, i have previously, for 5 gallon batches, usually used a boil volume of about 3.5 gallons as this is about as much as i could get to a rolling boil on the stove. so i would normally bag up my steeping grains, flame out around 170, then let them steep for 20-30 minutes and then yada yada...
i am now forced to brew outside, in the snow. the good news is that i now will be brewing with my awesome new burner and converted keg, in which i would like to use a boil volume of close to the final 5 gallons.
so here is my question: being outside in the 5 degree temperature, it seems like this initial 5 gallons of steeping water is going to get cold really quickly and most likely have an adverse effect on the grains. but maybe i'm wrong... so should i instead just go with my traditional 3.5 gallons and grains in the house and then transfer the water to the keg and top off? or would i be ok just doing the entire process, with 5 gallons, outside?
thanks for the help guys and gals.
erik
after extensive brewing in southern california i am now doing my brewing in massachusetts. i know, i know, why did i move
anyhow, i have previously, for 5 gallon batches, usually used a boil volume of about 3.5 gallons as this is about as much as i could get to a rolling boil on the stove. so i would normally bag up my steeping grains, flame out around 170, then let them steep for 20-30 minutes and then yada yada...
i am now forced to brew outside, in the snow. the good news is that i now will be brewing with my awesome new burner and converted keg, in which i would like to use a boil volume of close to the final 5 gallons.
so here is my question: being outside in the 5 degree temperature, it seems like this initial 5 gallons of steeping water is going to get cold really quickly and most likely have an adverse effect on the grains. but maybe i'm wrong... so should i instead just go with my traditional 3.5 gallons and grains in the house and then transfer the water to the keg and top off? or would i be ok just doing the entire process, with 5 gallons, outside?
thanks for the help guys and gals.
erik