Half batch

[Komodo_brewer]

Looking to start brewing my first batch, have all necessary equipment.

Weather doesn't look too good for me to brew outside with my propane burner......as it is I am planning on just using at most 3 gallons in a 5gallon pot to brew. Once I get it cooled down close to 100*F, I was going to add additional COLD water to bring it down to pitching temp.

Question is- can I just simply do that on my natural gas stove top? Brew my 3 gallon wort on the kitchen stove and then adding the cold water to total volume of 5 gallons as called by receipt. Stove is capable of bring a big pot of soup to rolling boil when i've boiled pasta and soups in the past.

I will be brewing Irish Red Ale.

-Sean

 

[Flykilbosa]

I don't see why not. I think all extract recipes call for it to be done that way. The 3 gallons in a 5 gallon kettle might be pushing it, for example I do up to 7 gallons in a 10 gallon kettle and the 7 gallons gets pretty close to a boil over if I'm not careful. Other than that you should be good. You may want to add the cooled 3 gallons to your fermenter then add the additional 2 gallons. If you're using a glass carboy, just make sure the 3 gallons is cooled or it will shatter the glass.

 

[Komodo_brewer]

So I should start with no more then 3 gallons then? Assuming that I could loose up to 1/2 gallon due to evaporation.....just so long as I fill it back close to 5 gallons or when FG reads close to what receipt calls for?

This is the limit more so because of boil over?

 

[Flykilbosa]

That's right. The boil over would be my concern. When I started brewing I used an extract recipe and did it that way (3 gallon boil and add cool water later to bring it up to 5 gallons). Then the next time I brewed I used a similar recipe and boiled all 5 gallons at once (I had a 10 gallon kettle at the time). Both ways worked well.

 

[Komodo_brewer]

Thanks for the replies and confirmation of some info.