Cannot Boil Efficiently

[Photomanliny]

Well I switched to all grain. I got a pot that's big enough, but I cannot boil my wort vigorously enough. Here is what I face:


1) My stove will bet the worth boiling.........BARELY, and it's surely having an effect on my quality.

2) I live in an 2nd level apartment, and CANNOT bring in any propane or bottled gas (local laws), nor can I have ANY open flame devices on my patio like a barbecue (and I assume a burner).

3) I have no ability to set up any kind of closed electric system with a vent to the outdoors.

4) I cannot brew outside at ground level due to the lack of water and electric (and probably due to apartment complex restrictions).

5) I cannot get water to my patio to run chilling devices (assuming I could do electric brewing outside).

6) I cannot brew elsewhere.

7) I do not want to go back to extract.


My questions are.....am I done with 5 Gallon Batches? Am I now limited to 2.5 gallon batches (these will boil on my stove)? Is there something else I can do and still keep doing 5 gallon batches?

 

[Coldies]

Build a Heat stick to help with the boil and look into "No chill" brewing.

 

[H-ost]

Coldies has 2 good solutions.

You could also do all-grain with a partial mash, partial boil, and top off water.

 

[audger]

you didnt specify what stove you have; propane, NG or electric?

aluminum or steel pot? what size?

do you have 20amp outlets available? or only 15amp?
any electric dryer hookups that you might be able to use?

 

[Kahler]

You could try to straddle two burners- thats what i do. Or mash and split the boil into two pots.

 

[Ramitt]

Let deathbrewe show you how.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/easy-stovetop-all-grain-brewing-pics-90132/

 

[BrewerinBR]

Online:
Look for a 110V 15 amp heat stick that has a GFIC cable that will help the boil. For cooling here is what I did:
1. went to Lowes and got two 20ft copper coils (soft 3/8" coils) and some food grade heat tolerant tubing, and clamps.
2. Get a galvanized tub, use the tubing to connect the copper coils together and to a tube to get to the fermenter and to the boil kettle.
I added a valve and pickup tube to my boil kettle but it may not be necessary for you just need a way to start the siphon without sucking on it.
I Use my auto siphon and star-san to back fill into the boil kettle with the valve open and then when it flows into kettle I close the valve. Keeping the pressure on with the auto siphon I then plug the fermenter end. Now the entire system is primed with star-san. I clean out the kettle. When the boil is over I get ice and water into the tub and then open the valve and then remove the plug and let it drain into a waste container until the wort is flowing out. The Temp in is over 200 --- temp out 65. This works very well.
PICS:

 

[mjohnson]

I'd do smaller batches, but here are a few ideas beyond heat sticks:

Insulate around the kettle with aluminum foil to keep heat from the burner. Looks goofy, but works. Half cover the kettle. If you're worried about that, wrap the cover in a dish towel so that the condensation doesn't drip back in. As long as you're not completely covering it, it should be ok.

Regarding chilling, get a bag of ice, a bucket from home depot and a submersible pump from harbor freight. They are about $15 bucks. I'd run cold tap into the ice water, then through the chiller, then into the sink until it starts to get pretty cool. Then just recirculate the ice water.

264 GPH Submersible Fountain Pump

 

[BrewerinBR]

That submersible pump is a good idea from, price is reasonable as well,
Grainger has several 120V water heater elements, that could be used. You would have to figure out a way to use it safely but there is information out there to do so I am sure.
Water Heater Element - Water Heater Elements - Water Heaters - 2E754 : Grainger Industrial Supply

 

[mors]

I live in a second floor apartment as well... I just bring my stuff downstairs and brew outside...in the parking lot. It only takes up 1 space and nobody ever really complains about it... actually alot of people seem interested.

 

[LordUlrich]

I have a 120 volt electric kettle, I used a 2000watt water heater element from menards and ran it on a 15 amp(standard wall outlet) circuit. Although I prefer a 20amp, the kind with a t for one blade. I like it better than my turkey fryer, and it was fairly cheep to build (~$50). It takes a little while to get a boil, but it is not too bad when you start as soon as the element is covered. While not the most vigorous boil, it works fine, is far more consistent than when I used propane, and as long as I have not noticed any issues in the final beer.