Boil kettle covered/uncovered?

[UnaBonger]

Any issues with covering or partially covering a kettle leading up to or during the boil?

I'm finding that boiling indoors is taking me a bit too long to get my batch up to a full boil. I've found that partially covering the kettle helps raise the temp faster... Is this shunned upon? If so, why?

Thanks

 

[thisjrp4]

I keep it covered until the boil starts, then partially cover during the boil. I havn't found any ill effects from that practice.

 

[The Pol]

The issue with covering the BK is that if it is coverd too completely, you dont get rid of the DMS that is created by the SMM in the wort at those temps.

 

[rico567]

Covering the pot until reaching proper temp / boil = OK. The consensus appears to be that covering wort during the boil = NOT OK, for reason given in previous post. When I brewed indoors on our somewhat anæmic propane cooktop, I was tempted to partially cover, but never did. Now that I'm brewing outdoors on a 55K BTU propane burner, I don't worry about it, I just boil away uncovered.

 

[UnaBonger]

Thanks for the great info!

 

[homebrewer_99]

I set a lid on the pot (partially) during 2 boils. Whenever I lifted the lid off to stir the condensation under the lid dropped back into the wort.

Coincidence or not, these were the only brews I've ever made that I ended up with diacetyl (butter). I just added more yeast after kegging to get rid of it.

No lids for me once it starts boiling.

 

[Brew-boy]

Lid off for me during boil I want as much DMS gone as possible. I only put the lid on when chilling once the wort get down to 140F.

 

[jeremyx]

....but I find I lose a lot of wort during the boil if I leave the cover off. I have a tall, 7 gallon BK -- working on getting keg for the kettle instead

 

[The Pol]

....but I find I lose a lot of wort during the boil if I leave the cover off. I have a tall, 7 gallon BK -- working on getting keg for the kettle instead

The point of the boil (part of it) is to get the water out and concentrate the sugars. If you have a TALL pot, you will get MORE evaporation when going to a keggle (larger surface area), but you will be able to run off more runnings.

 

[thisjrp4]

As I said above I havn't had any problems but maybe I should try without the lid next time.

 

[homebrewer_99]

....but I find I lose a lot of wort during the boil if I leave the cover off. I have a tall, 7 gallon BK -- working on getting keg for the kettle instead

You're not losing wort, you're losing water and BAD CHEMICALS!!! So, it's a GOOD thing!!

 

[Mad_Milo]

I set a lid on the pot (partially) during 2 boils. Whenever I lifted the lid off to stir the condensation under the lid dropped back into the wort.

Coincidence or not, these were the only brews I've ever made that I ended up with diacetyl (butter). I just added more yeast after kegging to get rid of it.

No lids for me once it starts boiling.

DMS does not equal Diacetyl.

Diacetyl is typically a byproduct of fermentation and depends on the yeast as well as fermentation time, and/or is caused by insufficiently aerated wort. It can also be a bacterial infection.

 

[homebrewer_99]

DMS does not equal Diacetyl.

Diacetyl is typically a byproduct of fermentation and depends on the yeast as well as fermentation time, and/or is caused by insufficiently aerated wort. It can also be a bacterial infection.

true, but my point, not so eloquently stated, was to point out ridding all all problems...