Full Boil - Does Anyone Do this?

[tstanonis1]

ps: I started in February with a 10 gallon bayou classic. I have added two 16 gallon bayou classic's one with a false bottom. I can do 5 or 10 gallon batches with the setup I have now, either extract or all grain. I'm currently using 3 banjo burners converted to run on natural gas, cause I got tired of filling propane tanks. my burners are built into a cart on wheels. I also bought a counter flow tube in tube chiller and a pump and all the hoses and... and... and...

bigger, better, never enough....

But it's fun!

 

[The10mmKid]

I've been doing full boils since Mrs. Claus got me an Immersion Chiller for Christmas.

Wouldn't even consider doing less now.

I'm on a propane burner outdoors.

 

[Kharnynb]

I wouldn't go for a kettle bigger than 10 gallons if you are planning 5 gallon biab batches later on.

You'd have way too much empty space in the kettle to keep temps during mash, at least without having to heat all the time.

 

[douglasbarbin]

I wouldn't go for a kettle bigger than 10 gallons if you are planning 5 gallon biab batches later on.

You'd have way too much empty space in the kettle to keep temps during mash, at least without having to heat all the time.

He could always mash in his old kettle and boil in the larger one. I think you BIAB guys sometimes forget that you don't HAVE to do it all in one vessel....haha

 

[pshankstar]

He could always mash in his old kettle and boil in the larger one. I think you BIAB guys sometimes forget that you don't HAVE to do it all in one vessel....haha

Good point Doug!! I sometimes too try to do too much in one thing to save on the time it takes to clean up or whatever it may be.

 

[itsbarleytime]

Full boil is better. Too much sugar when you do 2.5 or 3 then top up. It gives a tang when you do the top up. Full boil for sure. Try BIAB. Its way better. And not much different method. Since you have a big enough pot. All about taste.

 

[DaveCane]

A lot of great info here. Having only brewed two NB extract kits myself, I was thinking about getting away from the "partial boil", but I have one more NB extract kit in the house. It seems like I can go ahead and make that kit with a full boil, just by starting with about 6 gallons of water. I do have a 10 gallon kettle, so my biggest issue seems like it will be cooling down the wort, since I don't have a wort chiller yet (but I do have a big plastic tub that I use for a swamp cooler). Thanks for all of the great tips!

 

[jrgtr42]

I don't normally brew extract anymore, but the last few I did, I went full boil. I think I got better results going that way, trading off the issues of cooling - you have to get the whole thing down to pitching temp, versus a "good enough" of 80 - 90 degrees for partial, and using water you had stored in the fridge or freezer to get it down the rest of the way.
Like others, a 7.5 gallon (30qts, if my math is right) is just barely big enough - you will have to watch for boil overs at the beginning - once the foam subsides, you'll be fine.
I more often use a 33 qt pot and very rarely have boiled over.

 

[jtratcliff]

my biggest issue seems like it will be cooling down the wort, since I don't have a wort chiller yet (but I do have a big plastic tub that I use for a swamp cooler).

If you're not the type to panic, no chill or overnight chill will work just fine.

I do stovetop BIAB in a 10G kettle and generally do a water bath in the sink (with a few changes of water) until I'm able to carry it outside with out the risk of burning myself on a hot kettle. Then I let it finish cooling overnight. Sometimes I use a party tub, sometimes I just let it air cool.

Depending on ambient temps, I can get near pitching temps in 12-18 hrs. I bring it the rest of the way down with frozen water bottles in the party tub.