Brewing outside when it’s too windy

[linusstick]

What to do? Got so windy that my wort stopped boiling 35 minutes in and no matter how high I turned the gas on, I couldn’t get more than a few seconds of rigorous boil before the wind spread the flame out and stopped it again. When all was said and done I couldn’t boil off the amount I needed to and ended up way short of my OG (1.065 instead of 1.088). Obviously with that being the case I ended up with a lot more wort than I was planning. Since I was already mashing and couldn’t turn back, what kind of ideas can you run past me that would’ve helped? Only thin I can think of is brewing in the garage

 

[glugglug]

Wind is the worst. I turn up the burner, which you’ve already done. I brew in my driveway. First thing I would do is move a car to make a shield. If that’s not an option, make some kind of wind shield. Maybe something with tin closer to your burner. Wind is the only thing that’s stopped me from brewing. I also worry about stuff flying into the kettle.

 

[glugglug]

One more thing. I’ve had situations in the wind where I’ve turned the burner up, then I go inside for something, and you come out to a boil over. In the wind, you have to stay on alert.

 

[iijakii]

Stack boxes or storage bins or something to block the wind.

 

[linusstick]

One more thing. I’ve had situations in the wind where I’ve turned the burner up, then I go inside for something, and you come out to a boil over. In the wind, you have to stay on alert.

That describes my day.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Only thin I can think of is brewing in the garage

That's what I do. I brew in the entrance to my garage.

At my old house I tried an experiment brewing out on the back patio. I found that in one area where the wind flows, I just had constant trouble. But I moved to an area with a natural wind break, and it was much better. So if you have a wind break outdoors, that might help.

But if you just move to the garage on windy days, it should solve the problem.

 

[mashinary]

I had this problem on Friday and I ended up making a wind blocking apparatus around the brew zone. It was highly sophisticated and mostly cardboard and duct tape.

 

[Murphys_Law]

I relocated my “brewery” to a place protected from wind (hopefully).

 

[Upthewazzu]

Brew in the garage. Even then it can still be a pain. Wind SUCKS.

 

[myndflyte]

I brew in the entrance of my garage as well and it works pretty well.

 

[JohnSand]

I use a length of aluminum flashing wrapped around the burner.
I bent small angles onto opposite corners to hold it together. It does a good job, and generally helps retain heat even on calm days. It is flexible enough to allow the gas line beneath, the valve outside.
Simple and cheap.