Planning first all grain. Questions.

Got a cooler coming for Christmas to make into an MLT. As with this hobby - and everything else - I've been researching relentlessly to make sure my process is right when I start. I did have a couple questions however. First, I have a 7.5 gallon boil kettle. If I wanted to do 10 gallon batches, is it recommended I do a partial boil and then top off with water? I am assuming this would be the same as a partial boil of a 5 gallon batch (I've always only done full boils up to this point), including hops utilization adjustments etc. I'm kind of cheap and would rather use what I currently have if it'll work the same.

Second, with regards to technique. Since I only have on kettle, is it fine to collect the running from my MLT into a fermenting bucket, since I'll need the kettle to heat strike/sparge water? Then just pour those runnings into the kettle when ready?

Lastly, I've looked at a ton of AG recipes in the database. A lot of these recipes don't state the batch size. Is There a standard to posting recipes? Is it safe to assume these recipes are 5 gallon? Well...I know what they say about assuming...

snyklez said:

First, I have a 7.5 gallon boil kettle. If I wanted to do 10 gallon batches, is it recommended I do a partial boil and then top off with water? I am assuming this would be the same as a partial boil of a 5 gallon batch (I've always only done full boils up to this point), including hops utilization adjustments etc. I'm kind of cheap and would rather use what I currently have if it'll work the same.

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I would assume so - although we've got an 8 gallon boil kettle, and just do 5-6.5 gallon batches. So I've never done what you propose, but can't see why not...

snyklez said:

Second, with regards to technique. Since I only have on kettle, is it fine to collect the running from my MLT into a fermenting bucket, since I'll need the kettle to heat strike/sparge water? Then just pour those runnings into the kettle when ready?

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Again, can't think of any reason why this wouldn't work. We have two 10 gallon coolers, and as the mash is ending, I heat sparge water, and then transfer to the second cooler for lautering. But what you propose seems reasonable...

snyklez said:

Lastly, I've looked at a ton of AG recipes in the database. A lot of these recipes don't state the batch size. Is There a standard to posting recipes? Is it safe to assume these recipes are 5 gallon? Well...I know what they say about assuming...

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You could always plug the amounts of proposed recipe into software such as BeerSmith and see if it makes sense for a 5 gallon batch... Wouldn't assume anything...

Enjoy - all grain is fun!

snyklez said:

Got a cooler coming for Christmas to make into an MLT. As with this hobby - and everything else - I've been researching relentlessly to make sure my process is right when I start. I did have a couple questions however. First, I have a 7.5 gallon boil kettle. If I wanted to do 10 gallon batches, is it recommended I do a partial boil and then top off with water? I am assuming this would be the same as a partial boil of a 5 gallon batch (I've always only done full boils up to this point), including hops utilization adjustments etc. I'm kind of cheap and would rather use what I currently have if it'll work the same.

You can brew ~5.5gal max out of a 7.5gal kettle, you can do a concentrated boil and mix with water in fermentors (need to make sure you are good at dividing the wort), but I would get a ~15gal kettle.

How big is your cooler? Depending on the gravity of your beer, it could be a limiting factor in a 10gal batch as well.

Second, with regards to technique. Since I only have on kettle, is it fine to collect the running from my MLT into a fermenting bucket, since I'll need the kettle to heat strike/sparge water? Then just pour those runnings into the kettle when ready?

Yes, this is what I do when I have a partigyle brew day.

Lastly, I've looked at a ton of AG recipes in the database. A lot of these recipes don't state the batch size. Is There a standard to posting recipes? Is it safe to assume these recipes are 5 gallon? Well...I know what they say about assuming...

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Thanks for the responses. I figured I was over thinking the process, that there were simple solutions to each of these questions. I haven't gotten any brewing software yet as I have just followed extract recipes thus far, but plan on purchasing a program soon to help with recipe formation. I figure a veteran AG brewer can just look at a grain bill and know what the batch size is.

Also, I ordered a 10 gallon round Rubbermaid. I wanted to make sure I had enough room to do a 10 gallon batch if I wanted. Now I'm anxiously waiting do its arrival so I can get a manifold built.

"First, I have a 7.5 gallon boil kettle. If I wanted to do 10 gallon batches, is it recommended I do a partial boil and then top off with water?"

That is going to be quite a challenge. You can do that with extract because someone already collected all the wort and concentrated it for you. You'll be dealing with non-concentrate now. So, it is theoretically possible to make a really thick wort and then dilute it, there are some practical limitations. ie for 10 gallons of OG 1.060, you would need 5 gallons of 1.120. That is pushing it and will undoubtedly cause efficiency problems. Any beer bigger than that? Pretty much isn't going to happen.

I'd highly recommend sticking with 5 gallon batches until you get a bigger pot. Besides, it is better to make your mistakes a on 5 gallon batches vs 10.

No problem at all using a plastic fermenter to collect wort pre-boil. It works great and is an easy way to measure volumes for the first runoff and sparge.

Typical recipe size is 5 gallons, but it is easy enough to check. Just plug in the ingredients into a calculator/brew program and see if the OG is reasonable. If your pale ale clocks in with a 1.100 gravity for 5 gallons, you know that was supposed to be for a 10 gallon batch.

billl said:

"First, I have a 7.5 gallon boil kettle. If I wanted to do 10 gallon batches, is it recommended I do a partial boil and then top off with water?"

That is going to be quite a challenge. You can do that with extract because someone already collected all the wort and concentrated it for you. You'll be dealing with non-concentrate now. So, it is theoretically possible to make a really thick wort and then dilute it, there are some practical limitations. ie for 10 gallons of OG 1.060, you would need 5 gallons of 1.120. That is pushing it and will undoubtedly cause efficiency problems. Any beer bigger than that? Pretty much isn't going to happen.

I'd highly recommend sticking with 5 gallon batches until you get a bigger pot. Besides, it is better to make your mistakes a on 5 gallon batches vs 10.

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Very good points. Thanks!

billl said:

"first, i have a 7.5 gallon boil kettle. If i wanted to do 10 gallon batches, is it recommended i do a partial boil and then top off with water?"

that is going to be quite a challenge. You can do that with extract because someone already collected all the wort and concentrated it for you. You'll be dealing with non-concentrate now. So, it is theoretically possible to make a really thick wort and then dilute it, there are some practical limitations. Ie for 10 gallons of og 1.060, you would need 5 gallons of 1.120. That is pushing it and will undoubtedly cause efficiency problems. Any beer bigger than that? Pretty much isn't going to happen.

I'd highly recommend sticking with 5 gallon batches until you get a bigger pot. Besides, it is better to make your mistakes a on 5 gallon batches vs 10.

no problem at all using a plastic fermenter to collect wort pre-boil. It works great and is an easy way to measure volumes for the first runoff and sparge.

Typical recipe size is 5 gallons, but it is easy enough to check. Just plug in the ingredients into a calculator/brew program and see if the og is reasonable. If your pale ale clocks in with a 1.100 gravity for 5 gallons, you know that was supposed to be for a 10 gallon batch.

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+1!