Full Boil Question

[rmedved]

I'm about to brew my first batch of beer.
I read the thread about partial vs. full boil. I just wanted to make sure that what I thought I got out of it is actually true...
Can I simply cut my recipe in half, make two batches and combine them together so that I can do a full boil and achieve better hop utilization?
Are there any downsides to doing this?

 

[frazier]

I'm not sure about your recipe and equipment. If you're doing an extract recipe with a partial boil, add half the extract at the start, do your hops according to schedule, and add the rest of the extract toward the end of the boil. Then top it up with water in the fermenter.

If you're doing all-grain, and don't have a big enough pot for a full boil, use two pots and boil them both, and combine them at the end when they are cooled and going into the fermenter. That's what I do.

 

[Strangebird]

So you'd essentially be doing two 2.5 gallon full-boil batches? Other than the time/effort and gas to do so, there's no reason you can't do it that way.

 

[McTarnamins]

Better yet, just make a hop tea without the extract. Add the extract at 15 minutes left. You'll get better hop utilization and you won't get as much twang from the extract. The few times I brew extract this is what I do. Only downfall is you don't get the nice brewery smell until the last couple minutes. You'll make a lot better beer if you're extract brewing.

Stay Thirsty,

 

[rmedved]

I'm not sure about your recipe and equipment. If you're doing an extract recipe with a partial boil, add half the extract at the start, do your hops according to schedule, and add the rest of the extract toward the end of the boil. Then top it up with water in the fermenter.

If you're doing all-grain, and don't have a big enough pot for a full boil, use two pots and boil them both, and combine them at the end when they are cooled and going into the fermenter. That's what I do.

I will be brewing an extract recipe. Are there any downsides to adding half the extract at the end of the boil? I'm ok with the extra time it takes to do two half batches and adding them together. Will one method produce a better final product than the other?

 

[jollytim]

I prefer to add only about 25% of the extract at the beginning of the boil (as well as any steeped grain)... better hop utilization. The rest at the end. That plus I only use dry extract (don't know if that makes a difference) and I've not had the mentioned 'twang' since.