This forum is making me doubt if I boiled my first two batches.

[Nonyaz]

So I rummaged around the house and found this 5 gallon (what I assume to be enamel) pot.

Now before I got started I read the thread about full boils, where a very appealing analogy was used... Wanting to cut me a slice of that, I put 4.5+ gallons in my pot as seen above ^. After what must have been over an hour I finally saw what I assumed to be "boiling" (not pictured), wort flowing up like there was a weak pond pump pushing it from the bottom raising a section above the water level around it. I put the lid on with the stirrer in there in an attempt to get it to boil "harder" (it didn't). It only ever boiled over if I left the lid on flat (without stirrer). In the end I felt like I achieved a weak 60 min boil and set out to improve it next time.

Second batch I taped two old pillow cases around the pot, and heat shielded it with some aluminum foil. I thought for sure this would dramatically reduce the heat being lost from the sides and allow me to achieve a raging boil. To be extra sure, I only boiled 4 gallons the second time. Just about the same performance in the end, with partially charred pillowcases and melted packing tape. Again, in the end, I did leave feeling like I achieved another weak, but sufficient boil.

(Floating thermometer is on the to buy list, I thought I could use my IR thermometer but it was giving me readings of 180's when pointed at apparently boiling water, which I attributed to it "reading" the temp of the cooler steam rather than the water temp. I also measured the sidewall of the pot, where it never got above 190's, so I assumed it was not an effective way to gauge the temp of the contents inside.)

Then, after these two batches are in the fermenter, I read this thread: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/2-5-gallon-batches-minimum-pot-size-189373/ where people are struggling to contain boils of 2-3 gallons in 5 gallon pots and larger.... Here I am thinking I got away with boiling 4.5 gallons in a 5 gallon pot. Needless to say I now have a big "ut-oh" feeling about my first two batches, and I'm drawing a blank on what possible solutions are for future batches. My only idea is to find an oval pan to span across two burners...

 

[frazier]

If you are doing extract batches, then it's better to do a partial boil since your stovetop seems unable to get the full pot boiling (mine also, we're in the same boat). So, cut the boil size down to 2.5 to 3 gallons, then top up with water when you transfer to the fermentor. I do this all the time, you should be fine. Give it a shot!

 

[Nonyaz]

Will pot material (say SS) change anything?

 

[TrainSafe]

Only a little bit. Most of the mass is in the liquid, not the pot. Changing the pot material won't make a big difference.

 

[Calder]

Do a smaller boil and top-up with water.

I have the ability to do full boil (8 gallon pot and propane burner), but I prefer to do a partial boil in the kitchen. I do a partial mash, and start off with about 3.5+ gallons in a 5 gallon pot, and achieve a decent boil. I add my extract with about 15 minutes to go (before the finishing hops), and it just about makes up the volume to the same as I started (replaces the boil off). Then just top off with tap water in the fermenter.

 

[menerdari]

I boil 3 gallons at most on my stove, I have to turn to my turkey fryer if I want to boil larger volumes.
Even with only 3 gallons on my stove my boils are at best very gentle. But I still turned out delicious beers and have had numerous complements.
I think rolling boils are less important with extract kits.

 

[Calder]

I boil 3 gallons at most on my stove, I have to turn to my turkey fryer if I want to boil larger volumes.
Even with only 3 gallons on my stove my boils are at best very gentle. But I still turned out delicious beers and have had numerous complements.
I think rolling boils are less important with extract kits.

I have 2 x 20 quart pots that I can get a rolling boil with 4 gallons in on my stove. They are cheap thin stainless steel pots. I have an expensive 22 quart pot (thicker steel with thick tri-metal base) that I can barely get to a boil with 3 gallons in. The pot makes a difference.

Rolling boils are still important for extract brews as it makes a difference in the IBU extraction.

 

[BrewerBear]

The beer is in the fermenter so you should just use these brews as a learning experience. I bet you still made beer so rdwhsbb