A few more questions before i start my first brew.

[Addicted]

I will be using a Midwest Honey Porter extract kit with specialty grains.My questions pertain to me doing a full boil instead of a partial boil.I read that a larger volume boil will make for better utilization of hops,will i have to compensate for that?.And the other thing is i read that you should steep specialty grains in a lower volume of water,so should i just steep then in a gallon or two then fill the rest of the kettle?

 

[bob1852]

I will be using a Midwest Honey Porter extract kit with specialty grains.My questions pertain to me doing a full boil instead of a partial boil.I read that a larger volume boil will make for better utilization of hops,will i have to compensate for that?.And the other thing is i read that you should steep specialty grains in a lower volume of water,so should i just steep then in a gallon or two then fill the rest of the kettle?

What do the instructions say? Midwest should have taken into account the full boil v. partial boil, and early extract edition v. late extract edition in the development of the recipe and thus, the directions.

With specialty grains it shouldn't make a difference what volume you use.....

Good luck, and welcome to the forum!

 

[Addicted]

The directions only talk about the partial boil.Here are the instructions.Oh,and the other thing,i have heard here that the og does not matter with extract kits,will it be a waste of time to check it?I will anyway for the hell of it.

https://secure.midwestsupplies.com/index.php/aitdownloadablefiles/download/aitfile/aitfile_id/145/

 

[bob1852]

huh, I'm surprised those instructions read the way that they do.....

If you have a large enough pot to boil ~6+ gallons of wort, and the means to chill it down pretty quick (immersion chiller?), then you can go ahead and do a full boil.

Also, you're right about the OG - it shouldn't matter that much with extract, unless you leave a lot of LME/DME behind in the container, or you boil off WAY too much, or not enough. But, by all means, take the reading - it's good practice (and you get to drink the sample and imagine what it will taste like when the yeasties turn all of that sugar to alcohol!)

 

[Addicted]

I have a turkey fry pot I'm using,i checked and it will boil 6 gallons on my stove,just barely.Tonight i did a test boil again with an electric element from a deep fryer and had a much better boil!.I end up boiling off about 1 gallon,so it should be perfect for a 5 gallon recipe.I also made an immersion chiller out of 50' feet o 1/2" copper tubing.It chilled the boiling water in a matter of minutes!.Well exceeded my expectations.

 

[bob1852]

be very careful of boil overs, especially right when it starts to boil, and when you add your hops!

 

[McGarnigle]

Back to your question: if the recipe is written for a partial boil and you're doing a full, knock down the bittering hop amounts by 20% (or something like that).

 

[Addicted]

Thanks,i will!,I have heard it can be a sticky mess.There is a good amount of room in the pot even with six gallons in it,if i have a disaster you will be sure to hear about it.