10 Gallon batches using Blichmann 20 GAL Kettle

brewdogskip said:

1) Grains in grain bag - should I put them in a certain amount of water before the boil and pull them right before the boil? Most directions are for a 5 gallon batch and not using a kettle as big as mine. Suggsestions on how much water to start off with and your comments please.

If your doing 10 gallon batches in a 20 gallon pot, you should go a head and start with a full boil volume ~12 gallons (depending on evap. loss). Put your steeping grains into the pot around ~160 degrees F for at least a half an hour.

2) After the final hops are added - do I swirl the wort, (and if so for how long) and let it settle, (for how long) before transferring through the wort chiller? I am currently dividing it up between 2 6 gallon carboys. I put in a gallon or so in each one and repeat.

Search "whirlpooling". The general idea of it is to re-suspend hop and cold break material so it settles evenly in the center of your kettle, away from the bulkhead.

3) Secondary - I also use a secondary 5 gallon carboy.
Neat! I don't, just a long (5 week) primary except with BIG beers. Do what works for you.

5) Racking for bottling -

a) what is the proper method for adding the priming sugar?

I choose to rack from fermenter to bottling bucket and gently stir in my priming sugar/boiled water mix (sugar concentration adjusted for beer style).

b) After I boil the 32 oz and add 1.5 cups of dextrose per intructions, do I add it to the beer after I trasferring or before the transfer?

Kinda answered above, after.

c) I know you are not suppose to aerate it, but how do you mix it the priming sugar without aeration?

Gently stirring with a long, sanitized spoon. Or you can pour the priming solution into your bottling bucket and rack on top of that. The swirl created from the siphoned liquid entering the bucket will mix the priming solution with the beer.[/B]

Any other methods or suggestions of doing 10 gallon batches would be appreciated.


There is no one right way to do anything, experimenting is half the fun! I don't know your experience level, but maybe start with a few 5 gallon batches and perfect your routine, then make the leap to 10 gallon batches.

Cheers!

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