AG without propane/burner

[Quercus]

I share your enthusiasm!

I always brew outside, no matter how cold it is in the SF Bay Area (not that cold). The last several brews have been late starts, too.

Until last weekend, when my wife and kids were out of town. My brew pal came over and we popped off a Belgian golden strong ale on the stovetop.

It took longer than ususal to bring the 6 gallons to a rolling boil, but it sure was nice sitting in the kitchen like civilized folk, knocking back a few beers, with tunes and snacks at the ready!

 

[Soulive]

It took longer than ususal to bring the 6 gallons to a rolling boil, but it sure was nice sitting in the kitchen like civilized folk, knocking back a few beers, with tunes and snacks at the ready!

Exactly! Not to mention having heat. Last night was light rain and 42F. F that!

 

[Kai]

12" sounds too small. Maybe not?? I'll have to measure mine. I really want to do AG inside. Maybe just leave the lid on when you know the exact amount of heat to prevent boilover.
Also: there would be less evaporation due to leaving the lid on so you would not need as much water.

An uncovered boil is necessary to drive off a few volatile compounds (eg DMS); if your steam is precipitating back into the boil, you won't lose those.

 

[BrewDey]

An uncovered boil is necessary to drive off a few volatile compounds (eg DMS); if your steam is precipitating back into the boil, you won't lose those.

I found that covering the kettle with foil-but leaving part of it uncovered really helped get the temp up to the boiling point. There was plenty of room for steam to escape-but I covered about 80-90% of the kettle. Is this enough to get rid of DMS?

Also-in regards to the OP, I'd like to be able to do it all inside, but my stove is pretty cramped...and SWMBO is not a fan of the smell of boiling wort-so it's mash inside/boil outside for me.

 

[jzal8]

Thanks, Soulive for this thread, it has really inspired me to look into my own situation.

Upon further examination I have found that my 20 qt pot has a 12" diameter and that my gas stove has 12,000 BTU burners. I currently am trying to boil 4.8 gallons on the stove and seeing if I can do it in under 30 minutes.

If I can, then the next thing I am wondering is if I can bring 5.5-6 gallons to a boil in a 32 qt SS pot with a 15" diameter. If that is possible then suddenly I am looking at doing AG with no top offs in my kitchen (I for some reason am not even willing to deal with two boils).

Any thoughts?

 

[Soulive]

Thanks, Soulive for this thread, it has really inspired me to look into my own situation.

Upon further examination I have found that my 20 qt pot has a 12" diameter and that my gas stove has 12,000 BTU burners. I currently am trying to boil 4.8 gallons on the stove and seeing if I can do it in under 30 minutes.

If I can, then the next thing I am wondering is if I can bring 5.5-6 gallons to a boil in a 32 qt SS pot with a 15" diameter. If that is possible then suddenly I am looking at doing AG with no top offs in my kitchen (I for some reason am not even willing to deal with two boils).

Any thoughts?

No problem man. I would be willing to bet you can do full boils on your stove, with the 32qt pot. You'll definitely have enough headspace and your burner will be able to do it. The one thing you have to give it is patience. I was able to get it all done in 4.5 hours, but I honestly would've been content if it took an hour longer. I'll take the longer brew day if it means being able to do it inside...

 

[jzal8]

Upon further examination I have found that my 20 qt pot has a 12" diameter and that my gas stove has 12,000 BTU burners. I currently am trying to boil 4.8 gallons on the stove and seeing if I can do it in under 30 minutes.

If I can, then the next thing I am wondering is if I can bring 5.5-6 gallons to a boil in a 32 qt SS pot with a 15" diameter. QUOTE]

Ok, So from 150 degrees F to a rolling boil it took about 35 minutes. Does anyone think that increasing to the 32 qt pot with a 15" diameter would enable me to do a 5.5 gallon boil? I guess I might just have to take a leap of faith if I want to do it.

 

[Soulive]

Ok, So from 150 degrees F to a rolling boil it took about 35 minutes. Does anyone think that increasing to the 32 qt pot with a 15" diameter would enable me to do a 5.5 gallon boil? I guess I might just have to take a leap of faith if I want to do it.

Dude, 32qt pot = 8 gallons roughly. If you want to do 5.5 gallon batches, you can boil 6.5 gallons in there with 1.5 gallons headspace. That's .5 gallons more than I have! 12k BTUs will be enough to do that size...

 

[brewinginCO]

MMMMMMMMMMM gas. I hate our electric flat top.

I also have an electric flat top. I could barely get 3 gallons to boil. The big problem with the flat cooktops is that your pot must have a very flat bottom, or you'll have poor contact - thus poor heat conduction.

My pot had about a 2 inch strip around the perimeter that contacted the stove and was raised about an 1/8th inch in the center. I got some metal strips from home depot that I placed on the glass burner, and set the pot on these. This gave a lot more contact between the stove and pot. I also wrapped the pot in insulation. Now I have no problems getting a boil.

 

[balto charlie]

An uncovered boil is necessary to drive off a few volatile compounds (eg DMS); if your steam is precipitating back into the boil, you won't lose those.

REally I didn't know this. Just getting my feet wet in the AG world. Thanks

 

[balto charlie]

Those of you brewing 5 gal. inside: are you using valves to transfer water and wort OR are you liftiing and pouring. I am trying to decide what to buy. If I can kep it cheap then all the better. Thanks Charlie

 

[Soulive]

Those of you brewing 5 gal. inside: are you using valves to transfer water and wort OR are you liftiing and pouring. I am trying to decide what to buy. If I can kep it cheap then all the better. Thanks Charlie

Das autosiphon!

 

[FlyGuy]

Das autosiphon!

Yep, I just siphon too.

 

[balto charlie]

Ah the siphon! Makes sense. Thanks charlie

 

[Soulive]

Here is the tiny kitchen I do AG in. No more excuses!

 

[jzal8]

Here is the tiny kitchen I do AG in. No more excuses!

Dude, that's hilarious. I'm pretty sure we have the same stove.

 

[Soulive]

Dude, that's hilarious. I'm pretty sure we have the same stove.

Mine is a Kenmore. Its the only original item in my kitchen. I'm telling you, now that I know I can so single batches inside, I'll be brewing twice as much...

 

[jzal8]

Mine is a Magic Chef, but from the looks of it I wouldnt be suprised if that was a subsiderary of Kenmore or a parent company because they are identical.

Does each range on the stove top give off the same strength flame? Mine does.

This weekend I am brewing a Pale Ale and am going to attempt a 4.1 gallon boil with my current Pot. If that works out then I'm gonna pony up and purchase that 32 qt pot I saw online with 3 inches more in diameter.

Did you ever figure out the diameter of your new pot?

 

[Soulive]

Mine is a Magic Chef, but from the looks of it I wouldnt be suprised if that was a subsiderary of Kenmore or a parent company because they are identical.

Does each range on the stove top give off the same strength flame? Mine does.

This weekend I am brewing a Pale Ale and am going to attempt a 4.1 gallon boil with my current Pot. If that works out then I'm gonna pony up and purchase that 32 qt pot I saw online with 3 inches more in diameter.

Did you ever figure out the diameter of your new pot?

I don't know about the strength of the flames, but the front right burner (that the pots on in the pic) is bigger than the others. I keep forgetting to measure the diameter but its probably 12-15" wide...

 

[balto charlie]

Well y'all got me thinking AG since i might be ble to do it inside. I found this SS 9 gallon pot at what seems to be a good price. Do you agree? free shipping!

http://www.cookware.com/Bayou-Classic-10-xx-BAY1032.html


gotta build me a chiller and I'm good to go:rockin: Charlie

 

[Soulive]

Well y'all got me thinking AG since i might be ble to do it inside. I found this SS 9 gallon pot at what seems to be a good price. Do you agree? free shipping!

http://www.cookware.com/Bayou-Classic-10-xx-BAY1032.html


gotta build me a chiller and I'm good to go:rockin: Charlie

Yes thats a good price. Go AG!

 

[jzal8]

I don't know about the strength of the flames, but the front right burner (that the pots on in the pic) is bigger than the others. I keep forgetting to measure the diameter but its probably 12-15" wide...

Just looked when I got home, and my front right burner is marked "High Speed". Same size as the others but I guess stronger than the others. Interesting I never noticed that. I've always brewed on the front left burner.

Edit: Looks like this is going to be a done deal for me. This sunday when I brew my Pale Ale, It will be a 4 and a quarter gallon boil and it will be on the front right burner. Consider that 32 qt pot purchased, and get ready for a grain mill purchase in 2 weeks. Boooyah!

 

[balto charlie]

I tested my burner. Neighbor lent me his crab pot, 5 gallons. I could bring it to a boil in less than 1 hour. Since I had some hot water I decided to do a PM. even used his pot. I tried to make a Dogfish Indian Brown Ale clone. The pot was really wide, probably too wide. The pot I'm thinking about getting is 13.5" wide. I think this will fit on the burner nicely. Also gotta go to the scrap yard for some copper and put a different bottom in my mash tun.
jzal8: was it a success?
charlie