Boil Size Noob Question

If I have a recipe that has it's boil size listed as a 3.98 gal does that mean I'm starting my 60min boil with 3.98 gal of water, or is the 3.98 gal the size of the boil once all my ingredients are added?

 

Show us the recipe.

 

http://beersmith.com/Recipes2/recipe_232.htm

 

I would assume he is boiling 3.98 gallons due to the size if his boil pot (5 gallons). This includes all of his ingredients, except for the additional water he tops off with once it's in the fermenter.

 

Yup. Boil volume. 4 gallons is the max I can do in my 5 gallon kettle, for example. And then I have to watch like a hawk for the hot break, so it doesn't boil over. So far as well, the largest BIAB mash I've done in it was 8lbs, 12ozs in 2 1/2 gallons of spring water. The usual 2 3/4 gallons would've filled it up to the 4 1/2 gallon point, or to the top row of handle rivets.

 

ok, so i should start my boil with the generic 2.5 gallons of water that you usually see in 5 gallon recipes?

 

Since I use a 5 gallon SS kettle myself, 3 1/2 gallons will do just fine. This helps account for boil off. I've also found that there's a very real difference between the old-school electric stoves & the new induction coil ones. The base of my kettle is still nice & flat, perfect for these induction style elements. Heating the wort on " high" until it starts to boil, then turn it down about 30% for a nice, gently rolling boil. This gave me about 1/2 gallon boil off, maybe a hair less. The old-school one could boil off as much as a gallon. So 2 1.2 gallons is fine, but 3 to 3 1/2 gallons is better if you have the kettle space for it.