5 Gal Kettle, 13lbs of grain, am I screwed?

[NVBrewer88]

Hey guys, I was all psyched to try my first batch when i ran into a problem. If my calculations are right I can't do my recipe of grain because it requires too much water in the mash and sparge. I have a 5 gallon kettle filled to the top.
I realize Partial Mash may have helped my problem, but now I am sitting here with a big bag of 13 pounds of grain.

My problem is as follows: I would "like" to do a dough in rest at 104, but that may not be viable. I also want to do a protein rest at 125 because I have a bunch of flaked wheat adjunct. I plan on mashing at 153. Correct me if I am wrong at any point (I hope I am) I need to start with a stiff mash at .75 quarts to a lb of grain. So, 9.75 quarts at 137F to reach 125F protein rest stage. Wait 30 min, then bring to 153F with 6 qts at 210F to reach 153. Wait 30 min. I am already at ~4 Gallons in mash, and I am told i should use 1.5-2 times as much as my mash for sparge, which best case scenario is 6 Gallons, leaving 10 gallons going into the tun. Assuming .13 gallons of water of absorptions per pound of grain and .5 gallon equipment loss I can assume 2.19 gallons wont come out of there meaning I can plan on 7.8 gallons needed pre boil for the recipe leaving me 2.8 gallons of screwed.
Now, 7.8 gallons boiling seems a bit much to me, so would I just mash out into my kettle and...vorlauf and sparge until i hit 5 gallons? and just take that hit on my efficiency? Then just top up with cooled boiled water when I add to my fermenter to make up for boil loss? Is it all right to start with a stiffer mash as well? Perhaps .5 qts/lb? I imagine you did some math to help me answer this question so thank you. Seriously.

 

[HootHootHoot]

If you draw off only 5 gallons your efficiency will be 50% if you're lucky.

I use 1 qt per lb for my mash and 2 qts per pound for my sparge. If I have 10 lbs of grain that leaves me with my 7.5 gal pot almost to the top (usually I get 6.5-7 gal)


Go get a turkey friar set: comes with a 7.5 gal pot and propane burner for about $40

Edit: if you have a stiffer mash I think you end up with more clumping and have a far less efficiency. I could be wrong. See my post below on something that makes more sense than leaving 1/3 of your wort behind or using way less water than you should

 

[HootHootHoot]

Another option:

My buddy and I, on our first AG attempt, accidentally used our sparge water for the mash out, and then sparged with a whole new 2qt per lb water. We had a TON of wort (but wow,what an efficiency!). We took my 7.5 gal pot and 5gal pot and boiled the brew down until we had about 7 gallons ( this took about an hour and 15 min) then we combined them and started our 60 min boil. All of my windows condensed up (it was January), so keep a window open or the AC on!

Most people have a 3 gallon pot in their kitchen. Just use that and your brew kettle, boil it down to 5 gallons, then combine and start your brew process. Add water to the carboy to equal 5 gallons total. Should work


More advice: I wouldn't do the protein rest. I've done a lot of research on it and my conclusion is that it doesn't do anything. In fact, the problem seems to be if you don't get your temp up fast enough, your rest goes too long and your head retention is destroyed. Not worth it, just use whirlfloc tablets and you'll get the same result without the headache. Depends how much wheat you have though, if it's a major part of your grain bill then maybe.

For your first AG I'd just stick to KISS (keep it simple stupid)

What are you brewing? 13 lbs of grain seems on the high side for a 5 gallon batch

 

[NVBrewer88]

So as I figured it, i AM screwed. Thought: I actually do have more than one kettle..... could I just split the wort into two kettles and boil them bastards on my stove until I get the 5 gallons. I was planning on a 90 min boil anyway. I just had a 10oz hallertau hops addition at 30 min. I mean I would have all the sugars in there and I would get enough boil off from two kettles to get 5 gallons after 90 mins from 7.8 gallons right? Is there a downside I am missing other than the obvious pain in the ass of extra steps it would take?

 

[NVBrewer88]

Lol, we both had the same idea. I LIKE IT. its 12:17 here. Wonder if i feel spry enough to start it now..... who knows.

 

[HootHootHoot]

So as I figured it, i AM screwed. Thought: I actually do have more than one kettle..... could I just split the wort into two kettles and boil them bastards on my stove until I get the 5 gallons. I was planning on a 90 min boil anyway. I just had a 10oz hallertau hops addition at 30 min. I mean I would have all the sugars in there and I would get enough boil off from two kettles to get 5 gallons after 90 mins from 7.8 gallons right? Is there a downside I am missing other than the obvious pain in the ass of extra steps it would take?

I would boil them to 5 gallons first, then start your 90 min boil in one pot. Although it all goes to the same spot anyways, maybe it doesn't matter.

I think I read somewhere that you can count on 1.5 gallons of boil off per hour, so in 90 min you'd have about 5 gallons left. That seems about right with my boils. So maybe you don't need to boil it down first.

 

[HootHootHoot]

Lol, we both had the same idea. I LIKE IT. its 12:17 here. Wonder if i feel spry enough to start it now..... who knows.

This should take you several hours:

Heat the mash water
Mash for 60 min
Sparge should take an hour (just above a trickle), fast enough to fill a pint in 44 sec
90 min boil
Cooling

You're looking at 4.5 hours. Hope you don't have to work tomorrow!

 

[NVBrewer88]

Gainfully unemployed and just graduated! However, I realized it would take 4 hours since this is all grain and my resolve weakened. Ill just finish my beer and go to sleep and do it tomorrow! ya! Thx for your help btw

 

[HootHootHoot]

Gainfully unemployed and just graduated! However, I realized it would take 4 hours since this is all grain and my resolve weakened. Ill just finish my beer and go to sleep and do it tomorrow! ya! Thx for your help btw

Anytime, this is a great resource, use it. I have learned so much searching the forum and asking questions!

Interesting how beer gives us stuck at home something to fill the time and look forward to (I am on a long medical leave and brewing two batches this weekend: pumpkin ale and Munich helles)

Good luck!