Half covering the brew pot - acceptable?

[Sublime8365]

Hello,

I'm new to brewing and I've been brewing on my stovetop. I covered my brewpot during the boil on my first batch not knowing that I wasn't supposed to. I brewed my second batch last night and I only covered until I could get the boil rolling. But when I take it off, my stovetop just isn't powerful enough to maintain the boil. I found that leaving it on about 3/4 of the way allows the boil to continue and also lets a lot more of the steam come out than if covered. Do you think this method is acceptable? I do think I'm still trying to boil too much - probably closer to 4 gal - and plan on only boiling about 2.5 gal in the future. So hopefully that will help as well.

 

[frazier]

It's what I do. My theory is that as long as you are allowing the steam to freely escape, it's all good.

 

[eppo]

i would keep the lid off. see if you can get it to a point where you can start the boil with the lid on, but then take it off once it starts boiling. need to get rid of the DMS.
i think going with a 2.5 gallon boil is worth a shot. partial boils still produce good beer!

 

[ButcherBrew]

It's what I do. My theory is that as long as you are allowing the steam to escape, it's all good.

+1 - Just allow the steam to get away and you will avoid the nasty boil overs!!! :rockin:

 

[Jawbox0]

Some reflextix insulation on the kettle walls might keep in enough heat to keep it boiling with the cover off.

 

[ChandlerBang]

I did the instructions to a "T" the first time. Used 2.5 gal. The second and third time I kept bumping up te amount and I just decided screw it 3 gallons is all my stove can do. Period.

But how does your beer taste? If it's good, then I wouldn't worry.

 

[rescuedogrr2010]

It's what I do. My theory is that as long as you are allowing the steam to freely escape, it's all good.

this and just dont let any condensation that forms on the lid fall back into the brew pot whenever you might be removing it (stirring or end of the boil).

 

[Fid]

My stove struggled with 2 gallon boils, wrapped about 4 layers of aluminum foil around the outside of my pot and I can do 3 gallons no problem now... some legit insulation would surely work better but I haven't gotten around to that yet.

 

[terrapinj]

see if your brew pot can straddle 2 burners - made a bit of a difference for my little stove top

ended up getting a turkey fryer anyways, but still made the last batch much quicker and easier

 

[shirknsons]

my dad puts his brew pot on a propane burner and it starts the boil in no time. Just make sure the area you brew is clean. I had this same problem and just boil a 2.5-3gal batch and it works fine. My first batch was a 4 gal boil and I did the same with the lid partially on as well. both methods worked!

 

[JonK331]

Kind of a trade off. More boil volume = better. Less than a rolling boil = bad. Steam not escaping = not so good. I'd probably rather have the kettle half covered in order to avoid decreasing the volume and keep a good boil going. Start thinking about a turkey fryer set up or some sort of outdoor burner.

 

[shirknsons]

If you are going to boil outside, don't you have to worry about outside elements getting in your beer or does it not matter much as long as you cover while cooling?

 

[Sublime8365]

Boiling outside isn't really an option for me. Are there any safe alternative to stovetop boiling indoors? Are there efficient ways to insulate the kettle that actually work?

 

[JonK331]

If you are going to boil outside, don't you have to worry about outside elements getting in your beer or does it not matter much as long as you cover while cooling?

Just cover when you start cooling.

 

[JonK331]

Boiling outside isn't really an option for me. Are there any safe alternative to stovetop boiling indoors? Are there efficient ways to insulate the kettle that actually work?

You could use two three gallon pots instead of one five gallon. Or insulate your kettle as stated above. You're really not going to have any issues with half covering the pot though. Don't even worry about it.

 

[justtaint]

I must have gotten lucky. My gas stove can boil 5 gallons just fine.

 

[OHIOSTEVE]

I am very lucky.. my electric stove can get 7 gallons rolling.. BUT I wrap the heck out of the pot with aluminum foil.. up around the handles and everything so there is no escape for the heat.

 

[user 19629]

Hello,

I'm new to brewing and I've been brewing on my stovetop. I covered my brewpot during the boil on my first batch not knowing that I wasn't supposed to. I brewed my second batch last night and I only covered until I could get the boil rolling. But when I take it off, my stovetop just isn't powerful enough to maintain the boil. I found that leaving it on about 3/4 of the way allows the boil to continue and also lets a lot more of the steam come out than if covered. Do you think this method is acceptable? I do think I'm still trying to boil too much - probably closer to 4 gal - and plan on only boiling about 2.5 gal in the future. So hopefully that will help as well.

Taste and smell the beer.
Do you taste or smell DMS?
Cooked corn/vegetal?
If so you have a problem, if not keep on doing what you are doing.

 

[jangelj]

I thought DMS wasn't a problem with extract brews?

 

[user 19629]

I thought DMS wasn't a problem with extract brews?

Good point, I didn't think of that.
Since they are basically making wort when they make the extract one could assume that the DMS is boiled off?