First All Grain Brew - any advice?

[Peruvian802]

That's what the first time brewing with a new set up is all about. A sight glass from brewhardware.com will resolve most of the issues that you had (except dropping a lid into the wort!)

 

[mrgrimm101]

That's what the first time brewing with a new set up is all about. A sight glass from brewhardware.com will resolve most of the issues that you had (except dropping a lid into the wort!)

Haha, yea that was my fault entirely. I dropped it in and my wife and I looked at eachother like, "****!" I was able to fish it out with my 24" whisk.

 

[mrgrimm101]

So if it happens again that I hit my pre-boil volume BEFORE all the wort is drained from the cooler MLT, do I either:

a.) Leave wort behind in the cooler
or
b.) Transfer it all and then do a longer boil to hopefully boil off some of the excess wort?

 

[theseeker4]

So if it happens again that I hit my pre-boil volume BEFORE all the wort is drained from the cooler MLT, do I either:

a.) Leave wort behind in the cooler
or
b.) Transfer it all and then do a longer boil to hopefully boil off some of the excess wort?

Either one is an option, and it depends on your pre boil wort gravity and what you want your OG to be. If your volume is where it should be pre-boil, and your wort gravity is at your pre-boil gravity target, AND you don't mind throwing away the sugars in the wort left in the mash tun, go ahead and just boil what you collected so far. If your gravity is a little low, or you are perfectly fine with coming in at a higher gravity than planned, collect more wort and boil longer to hit your target post-boil volume. You also could collect it all, boil it the same length of time, and end up with more beer. Entirely up to what you are shooting for.

 

[mrgrimm101]

Either one is an option, and it depends on your pre boil wort gravity and what you want your OG to be. If your volume is where it should be pre-boil, and your wort gravity is at your pre-boil gravity target, AND you don't mind throwing away the sugars in the wort left in the mash tun, go ahead and just boil what you collected so far. If your gravity is a little low, or you are perfectly fine with coming in at a higher gravity than planned, collect more wort and boil longer to hit your target post-boil volume. You also could collect it all, boil it the same length of time, and end up with more beer. Entirely up to what you are shooting for.

Thank you, this is excellent information! My next brew day will (hopefully) go a lot smoother.