Can't quite boil

[tywelcome]

The only way I can boil 6 gallons of water is with the lid on.
It is close to boiling but no real bubble forming up top.

My question is:

Do I boil the wort with the lid on or just go without the lid and not quite boiling.?

I am on a electric stove.

 

[Yooper]

The only way I can boil 6 gallons of water is with the lid on.
It is close to boiling but no real bubble forming up top.

My question is:

Do I boil the wort with the lid on or just go without the lid and not quite boiling.?

I am on a electric stove.

Neither! I'd reduce the size of the boil (the volume) until you CAN reach a rolling boil and then go from there. You don't want a lid (due to DMS issues) and you must boil (due to DMS issues as well as hops utilization and hot break).

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

Welcome to the forum, neighbor. Try and see if you can bring it to a boil w/the lid partially on. You don't really want to boil with the lid all the way on, the steam needs to escape to allow DMS to boil off. DMS=corn flavor.

P.s. damn Yooper, you're quick!!

 

[tywelcome]

I have the lid on about 3/4 and water is boiling.
I hope that is enough room for the DMS to escape.

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

Should be. I boil with the lid half on and don't notice DMS in my brews. Even the really light ones don't show signs of it.

 

[TyTanium]

Can you just split the batch and boil in 2 separate pots at the same time? Then just split your hop additions.

A rolling boil fully uncovered is necessary.

 

[kh54s10]

If you get a boil going with the lid on will it continue with the lid off? Maybe regulate it by varying the amount the lid covers. The less covered the better.

 

[tywelcome]

I was hoping to run two 5g batches at the same time so there would not be room to separate the boil into two kettles.

Should I plan on using less water as there could be less boil-off?

Thanks guys/girls.

Nordeast, I just noticed you are in Minneapolis. Well hello neighbor.
Sure is nice to have Midwest so close. Are you brewing all-grain with the gravity system?

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

A rolling boil fully uncovered is necessary.

I respectfully disagree with this. Like I stated above, I boil with the lid half on and have yet to experience DMS in a beer I brewed. I've seen others boil the same way with no ill effects to the end product.

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

Nordeast, I just noticed you are in Minneapolis. Well hello neighbor.
Sure is nice to have Midwest so close. Are you brewing all-grain with the gravity system?

Sure is! Love that place! Wish I could say I was brewing like that. I do BIAB, partial mash for larger/higher grav brews, BIAB AG for smaller batches and low grav stuff. Lookin into a three tier for when the weather warms up next year.

Hopkins, huh?! Midwest is like your LHBS! Gotta love that!

 

[tywelcome]

only if I had room. I hope I don't run into issues brewing a German Boch lager using the BIAB> fingers crossed. GL man and see you around.

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

You shouldn't, I've had great luck with BIAB so far. Vast improvement over the extract beers I made when I first started.

 

[Calichusetts]

If you handy...cut the center out of a lid, should trap enough heat to help the boil but allow for DMS to easily escape...you can google it and find a few DIY posts explaining it...mostly from home-distillers