Can I brew 15 gallons?

[IndyBlueprints]

With my new rig I have a 15 gallon HLT, 15 gallon MLT, and a 20 gallon brew kettle. I am easily starting out with a 13-14 gallon pre-boil volume, to get 12 gallons into my fermenters. Can I bump it up another 5 gallons? Is there any chance of boiling 19-ish gallons in the 20 G pot? Maybe if I use fermcap and watch it REALLY close? Or am I dreaming?

 

[IndyBlueprints]

OR.....I guess I could mash the 20 gallons worth of grains in my 15 gallon MLT, then split 1/2 of my wort into my 15 gallon HLT, and 1/2 in my 20 gallon brew kettle & have a double boil going. (I have a propane burner under each of them)

 

[triethylborane]

Its definitely pushing it. Hopbreak would be the biggest issue, though fermcap does help and I find that in my kettle a vigorous boil seems to reach the graduation marks for an additional gallon and a half.


Only one way to find out.

 

[Gnomebrewer]

19 gallon would be asking for trouble in a 20 gallon pot, even with fermcap. You could probably do 16 to 17 gallon into the boil kettle, topped off with a little cold water in your fermentors to make 15 gallons.

 

[IslandLizard]

Depending on your boil off, save some of your 2nd or 3rd runnings (if sparging twice) and add to your boil kettle during the boil when space allows. Or heat and boil them on a separate burner, then add at the end. I find 2-3 gallons of headspace to be the minimum in a 15-20 gallon kettle.

I hate topping off with water. I'd rather top off with 3rd runnings (~1.020-1.025).

 

[IndyBlueprints]

Depending on your boil off, save some of your 2nd or 3rd runnings (if sparging twice) and add to your boil kettle during the boil when space allows. Or heat and boil them on a separate burner, then add at the end. I find 2-3 gallons of headspace to be the minimum in a 15-20 gallon kettle.

I hate topping off with water. I'd rather top off with 3rd runnings (~1.020-1.025).

If I add un-boiled 2nd or 3rd runnings to top off, do I have to worry at all about DMS?

 

[IslandLizard]

If I add un-boiled 2nd or 3rd runnings to top off, do I have to worry at all about DMS?

The gravity and amounts you add are relatively low, besides, they're from sparges. I doubt DMS to be a concern. I never tasted or noticed any.

I add most of those leftover runnings during the boil, after some headspace has become available by boil off.

As long as your wort remains above 165F after adding your top off additions they are pasteurized instantly.

 

[November]

What is the shape of your boil kettle? If it's tall and narrow it may be possible. I know on my kettle a gallon is about an inch of space so 19 is not too crazy with fermcap. If your kettle is short and wide, probably not.

 

[Joe_K]

Depends on the kettle, SS Brewtech 20 gallon kettles like I have are more than 20 gallons.

 

[IndyBlueprints]

What is the shape of your boil kettle? If it's tall and narrow it may be possible. I know on my kettle a gallon is about an inch of space so 19 is not too crazy with fermcap. If your kettle is short and wide, probably not.

It's a Blichmann G2 kettle.

 

[brandonlovesbeer]

You can if you want.

 

[metaltim]

If I add un-boiled 2nd or 3rd runnings to top off, do I have to worry at all about DMS?

After I sparge and fill my boil kettle, I always do another running and collect a few gallons. It's nice to have it in case I boil off too much. As stated above, throw it in the last 5-10 min of the boil, not directly in to the fermenter after the boil.