newb question boiling

[jakedasnake]

So i have a pot that is around 5 gallons to start off with and am going to start my first brew with a brewers best kit, it calls for just a partial boil with only 2.5 gallons but my question is that i know i cant do a full boil but could i do maybe 3.5 or 4 gallons of water and then top off once in the fermenter. Will doing that much water with the kit mess anything up or help make better beer?
thanks

 

[Krane]

You will get better hop utilization so your beer will be a little more bitter. I used to do what you plan on and never had any issues. What kind of beer is it?

 

[jakedasnake]

Just starting out with a simple red ale

 

[comer88888]

your fine boil as much as you can.

 

[StophJS]

I do these kits in a 5 gallon pot and I SERIOUSLY don't recommend boiling more than 3 gallons. Even 3.5 will leave you with hardly any head space at all.

 

[Krane]

I would say boil as much as you can, but don't push it in hopes of making better beer just to have it boil over. I got a turkey fryer after my first brew because of this.

 

[comer88888]

Yeah I have a 5 gallon pot I use sometimes and I will boil just under 3 1/2 gallons. I wouldn't boil anymore water then that. You have to remember when you add the extract it will bring the volume up in the pot.

 

[bomberman]

I don't have a 5gal pot since I'm only doing stovetop boils, but I use a 4gal stock pot and routinely do 3.25g boils in it. You need to be watchful for boilovers, but judging by many of the posts I've read on here, that's a problem you will have even with significant headspace.

My opinion, you're fine to do it but keep your eyes peeled after those extract additions!