Partial to Full Boils / BeerSmith

Ok I am getting ready to do my first full boil (extract) and I have some questions. I have a Bayou Classic SQ14 burner (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009JXYQ4/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20), 30qt SS brew kettle and a 25’ IC that I plan to run through an ice bath with a 300GPH pump.

Ok Here’s the 5 gallon recipe from Northern Brewer - Bavarian Hefe Weizen - Extract Kit
http://www.northernbrewer.com/docs/kis-html/1251.html
6 lbs. Wheat Malt Syrup
1 lbs. Wheat Dry Malt Extract
1 oz. Sterling (60 min)
Wyeast #3333 German Wheat Yeast

http://docs.northernbrewer.com/general_beer_kit_instructions.html
Instructions state that this is a boil volume of 2 gallons, But to bring 1½ gallons of water to a boil and add extracts….etc… So I would assume that this brings the volume very close to the 2 gallon boil volume. OK, finally the first question, if I do a 6 gallon boil to consider evaporation, Is this 6 gallons of water or 5½ gallons of water that will be about 6 gallons volume when extract are added?

Also I know hop amounts will need to be reduced. I entered the recipe in beersmith and I am unsure if I am using the program right. Again with the original boil volume do I enter 2 gal for total volume or 1½ gal for amount of water used?
I entered 2 gallons and I get an IBU of 11.9 for the 1oz. And for 6 gallons I get an IBU of 26.9 for the same 1oz. So I reduce the hop amount to ½oz. and get an IBU of 13.5. Does this sound about right? Am I doing this right?

Use total volumes and your IBU numbers look good.

I just did my first 5g boil last week, using a 30qt Aluminum Turkey Fryer I lost a little over .5g to boil off and grain absorption, I dont know if it being 90 degrees and very humid effected my boil loss. In Beersmith I'm just un-checking the set boil volume based on equipment and manually keyed in the 5g. I wanted to see what my losses were after a couple batches before configuring the equipment.

david_42 said:

Use total volumes and your IBU numbers look good.

Click to expand...

Ok thanks, I think I make this more complicated than it really is sometimes.