boil over question

[jaydog2314]

Had a nasty boil over while adding my 60 min addition. First time not using a hop bag and i just dumped them in and BAM rocketed over the top. I prob lost a quarter gallon but it has a green hop tinge to it. I don't have any extra of the bittering hop left. Just curious if this will change my IBUs or did I just loose some break and wort. I'd assume id lost some IBUs but no idea how much. Thoughts?

 

[Pratzie]

Yeah i'd say u def lost some IBU's but it'd depend on how much boiled over and out of the BK. Not sure there's really any way to tell since the pellets disintegrate rapidly when they hit the water.

 

[jaydog2314]

Yeah i'd say u def lost some IBU's but it'd depend on how much boiled over and out of the BK. Not sure there's really any way to tell since the pellets disintegrate rapidly when they hit the water.

Yeah figured as much. Leave and learn. It's a pumpkin ale with only 20 IBUs. So I may bump up my only other 5 min addition to get some back.

 

[C-Rider]

This has been discussed many times before, boil over that is. Be ready w/left hand on power/gas control and in right had have a spray bottle w/water. As soon as you dump in the hops you should assume the position.

 

[BostonianBrewer]

Keep a spray bottle with ICE cold water on hand and spray the foam right after you drop the hops in the kettle this will help with the boil over

 

[Pratzie]

that and stirring will help.

 

[jaydog2314]

I was stirring like crazy but opposite side of kettle from burner! It was sure fast and furious thankfully I was outside!!

 

[JustBrewinAround]

Once you get the boil, turn the heat down until the boil stops then turn it back up until it just starts to boil. You can maintain a boil with a very low setting on the gas. This will help prevent boil overs when you add hops.

 

[Spargster]

Think of that first hop charge as kinda like dropping an ice cube in a glass of soda, just as the CO2 uses the ice as a nucleation point and foams up. The hops act as a nucleation point for the 02 boil bubbles to ride up and carry that thermal energy up and out. Right out of the kettle in some cases try adding your first hop charge in steps. I try to throw about 25% in...give it 15-20sec and then add the rest, seems to help tame things down a bit. But as others have mentioned always be ready to kill the gas and or spray and stir.

 

[avm221]

I know some people that add there bittering hops into the BK as its getting filled from the mash ton that way they dont deal with that

 

[jaydog2314]

I know some people that add there bittering hops into the BK as its getting filled from the mash ton that way they dont deal with that

yeah first wort hopping, i might try that too. i usually use a hop bag and have never had the boil over...live and learn I guess. Thanks for some tips.

 

[ObsidianJester]

As others have stated, have a water bottle handy. You should have it period for brewing.I use the spray mist to contain that first boil hop addition, then you an use the stream to knock particulates back in to the boil.

Note this is going to happen with pellets, but you can buy yourself some space with a bigger pot obviously. I use a ten gallon pot and boils start 6 to 7 gallons, still have the possible boil overs just due to the vigorous boil I have going.

Regarding your loss of volume and bitterness all you can really to is give it a taste and see where it is at and make your best guess.