EarlyAmateurZymurgist
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For those who are just beginning to brew, figuring out how much wort is in one's kettle at any point in the boil is a simple mathematical exercise.
We start by calculating volume that the wort displaces in cubic inches. The formula for calculating the volume of wort in a cylinder is:
volume_of_wort_in_square_inches = 3.14 x the_radius_of_our_kettle_in_inches x the_radius_of_our_kettle_in_inches x the_height_of_our_wort_in_inches
For example, if we measure 8" of wort in a stockpot that has a diameter of 14", then the volume of the wort is 3.14 x 7 x 7 x 8 = 1,230 cubic inches.
Next, we have to convert cubic inches to gallons. There are 231 cubic inches in a gallon; therefore, we have 1,230 / 231 = 5.33 gallons of wort in our kettle.
As one can clearly see, one doesn't need a fancy sight gauge or markings on a pot to determine how much wort is in one's kettle. All one needs is a clean metal ruler and a calculator (use a sanitized metal ruler if the wort has already been chilled).
We start by calculating volume that the wort displaces in cubic inches. The formula for calculating the volume of wort in a cylinder is:
volume_of_wort_in_square_inches = 3.14 x the_radius_of_our_kettle_in_inches x the_radius_of_our_kettle_in_inches x the_height_of_our_wort_in_inches
For example, if we measure 8" of wort in a stockpot that has a diameter of 14", then the volume of the wort is 3.14 x 7 x 7 x 8 = 1,230 cubic inches.
Next, we have to convert cubic inches to gallons. There are 231 cubic inches in a gallon; therefore, we have 1,230 / 231 = 5.33 gallons of wort in our kettle.
As one can clearly see, one doesn't need a fancy sight gauge or markings on a pot to determine how much wort is in one's kettle. All one needs is a clean metal ruler and a calculator (use a sanitized metal ruler if the wort has already been chilled).