Investment in Eletric Boiler - advice needed

[safcraft]

Hi all,

I decided to "upgrade" to doing All Grain batches, from Kit malt extract.
I will probably build my own mash tun from a cooler box, and then transfer the wort to the boiler for adding the sugars and hops.

I am planning to buy an Electric Boiler, as i dont have the space or means to use a gas kettle.
Most recipes i find/want set the target for 20L to 23L.

I am looking at Brewferm / Bielmeier boiler with 27L capacity.
Maybe this is too small for controlling the hot break ?
With a stove (electric or gas) we can remove the pot and control the boilover, but in a all in one electric kettle....by the time one switches off the thermostat....the foam will be over the top !

Will i be limited to 10L batches, using a 27L kettle ?
Does anyone use an electric boiler of this size, and brews all grain ?

Thanks!

 

[h22lude]

I'm a little confused. If you are buying an e-biab system, why do you need the mash tun?

Nothing is too small to control boil over if you know how to stop it. Cheapest method, spray bottle with water in it.

I would say most people that brew e-biab brew AG.

Most recipes you find will be 5 gallons (about 19 liters).

 

[safcraft]

With a mash tun i can easily drain the wort to the boiler, making sure its clear.
If using the boiler to do the mash...i have no way to remove the grain (unless i use nylon or muslin bags).

Goal is to mash the grain with no bags, and obtaining a clear wort in the end of the mash.

Do you think i can control the hot break in an electric boiler whith 20L of wort?
I was thinking of doing one of the following alternatives:
1. Split the wort in 2 after the mash and do 2 batches of boil, and then join them in the fermenter
2. Do a partial boil of the wort and add water at the end of the boil

 

[h22lude]

You can make crystal clear beer with an e-biab system just as you can with a mash tun. I think you should do some research on e-biab systems before you buy one. It sounds like you want a 2 vessel system and not a biab system.

Putting your grains in a bag has nothing to do with how clear it is.

If you are buying a 20L vessel, you can't do a full 5 gallon boil.

 

[madscientist451]

Here in the US we usually think in the archaic gallons not liters, but I'm thinking you want 20 L as a target to the fermenter? I figure 5L per hour as boil off, so your initial volume would be about 25L. Your evaporation rate could be different depending on several factors, you'll have to experiment. Anyway your 27L electric kettle is a tad too small to boil 25L of wort. You'll almost certainly boil over. But there are a few ways around this including: Start with less wort and top up with more wort after 15 mins of boil, add water at the end of the boil or have a 16 quart side pot boiling on the stove with about 5L or wort and combine both boils when there is room. You could also scale back your recipes to fit the available gear, make 15L brews instead of 20, for example. I'd say just go ahead and start brewing, you'll figure it out, good luck!
PS: some brewers worry and fuss and buy expensive gear to get clear wort, but some (including me)
don't worry about it at all, the beer clears by itself and tastes (to me) better than the expensive, clear store bought beer. Just my 2 cents....or 2 pence or whatever you have over there...