Boiling Question

[KopyKat]

I just did a mini mash and the recipe called for 2 1/2 gallons to start. By the time I soaked the grain bag for 45 minutes and boiled the bittering hops for an hour, I had a gallon and a half left. This means I boiled off a gallon. Is this usual? My rolling boil really rolls hard. Is it possible I am boiling too hard? Should I have started with 3 gallons?

 

[The Happy Mug]

In an hour long boil, it's not unusual at all to lose a gallon. Actually, it's rather the normal for me. You've also lost some liquid in those grains.

As for a really hard rolling boil, the only thing you need to consider is the extra darkening or possibly scorching of malt. The harder you boil, the darker your wort will become. I've cut mine back to a gentle boil, because I got tired of scraping circular patterns identical to the electric burners of the stove out of the bottom of my crappy cheap brewpots (five bucks each).

 

[anthrobe]

I usually steep my grains into 2 gal of water then add another 1 gallon when adding in the extract and bringing to a boil. I have never done a very hard boil. I was taught to just get it up to a gentle boil as quick as possible then let it chug along.