How important is a full 60min boil?

WDT · Nov 17, 2011

All the extract kits i've done call for a 60 min boil after bringing the wort to a boil post extract addition. How important is boiling for the full 60 min?

If I were to only boil for say 40 min, what are the consequences? Haven't done this yet but just curious.

Yooper · Nov 17, 2011

WDT said:
All the extract kits i've done call for a 60 min boil after bringing the wort to a boil post extract addition. How important is boiling for the full 60 min?

If I were to only boil for say 40 min, what are the consequences? Haven't done this yet but just curious.

The boil is for hops utilization. 60 minutes is standard for extracting the maximum amount of hops bitterness. Some beers don't have 60 minute hops additions, but instead have, say, 45 minute bittering additions. In that case you'd boil for 45 minutes. If you were supposed to boil a beer for 60 minutes after you added the hops, but only boiled it for 40 minutes, you'd have far less bittering in the beer to balance the malt.

Brewpastor · Nov 17, 2011

In addition to hop utilization, the boil has other uses in brewing. One important result is the volatilization of DMS. This is especially important in using pilsner malt. 90 minutes is often the recommended time with these malts. DMS can give a cooked corn flavor and isn't really very pleasant. The boil is one of those places you should just make the commitment and go all the way.

Also, a 60 minute boil should not be from the point of boil to the end. It should be from the point you start seeing hot break in the kettle. It is at that point you add the 60 minute hops and the timer. This means you really have a 75 to 80 minute boil.

It is also important to have a strong, rolling boil with good ventilation. A covered boil or a whimsy one is not as effective at volatilizing the elements you want to remove.