Boiling w/ lid on--urgent question

[cweston]

If I put a cookie sheet accross the top of my keggle (which is not the actual openning: it's a couple inches above) so that there's lots of space for steam to escapoe, is it okay to boil that way?

The locust tree in my backyard is currently dropping tons of $hit onto everything, including into my kettle.

 

[david_42]

Should be ok, but you would be better off with a window screen. Watch carefully for a boilover, even a partial lid makes them more likely.

 

[homebrewer_99]

Boiling with the lid on is just going to leave you with more water in the pot than without...

 

[Musthavbeer]

I know this isn't much help but I read in Palmer that bad things are escaping in the steam when boiling and the concentrations in the condensate from the lid should be sent elsewhere.

 

[cweston]

Should be ok, but you would be better off with a window screen. Watch carefully for a boilover, even a partial lid makes them more likely.

Excellent! I found an old, no longer used window screen in the garage and it fit's perfectly. Thianks for the tip: next time you're in Manhattan, KS, I owe you a beer or three.

 

[mysterio]

To be honest i've boiled with the lid on plenty of times and not noticed any bad flavours. I'm sure there are those who have, though.

 

[homebrewer_99]

I know this isn't much help but I read in Palmer that bad things are escaping in the steam when boiling and the concentrations in the condensate from the lid should be sent elsewhere.

...so with that theory I should be OK since I use DME...all those grainy nasties are already gone... ... just making a point...

I don't brew with my lid on either...

 

[boo boo]

I think you can get DMS in your finished brew if you boil with the lid on. According to Palmer this can happen if you let condensate from the boiling wort drip back into the boil also.

 

[Catfish]

The book I'm reading now (Brew Chem 101) talks about all the nasties you drive off (pre-DMS compounds) but also all the goodies that go too (more volitile hop oils and flavor/ aroma compounds).

 

[SwAMi75]

To the original question, you've still got plenty of space for the steam to escape with something sitting on top of your keggle. A screen is probably the best solution, though. Good tip! :d

Bill.....DMS (which is what you'll build up from boiling with a sealed lid on) is not a by-product of husk. You'll get it from LME and DME, too. If you don't believe me, take whiff of the steam the next time you're cooling an unhopped starter while it cools. Smells just like cooked corn to me.