Losing a gallon of beer each time

[pingeyeg]

I recently got a new kettle with a spout so I can use a plate chiller, but I'm a little confused on something. Seems each time I use the plate chiller, I'm left with roughly a gallon of wort in the kettle, therefore only getting 4 gallons out of a 5 gallon batch. I use Beersmith to calculate my water amounts, but I'm still losing. Any thoughts as too what I'm doing wrong? Is it do to where the spout is located? Maybe it's not low enough?




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[geoffm33]

Can you tip it when the volume gets low so you get more through the ball valve?

 

[Brewsncrabs]

You are going to lose more in the chiller and hoses. Either tip kettle to get more out or adjust your profile in Beersmith to account for it.


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[BackAlley]

I installed a 90 elbow on the inside of my spike kettle aimed down as a pickup tube


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[pingeyeg]

Well, I was hoping to bypass a lot of the trub by going this route, but if I have to tilt it then I'll be getting that mess. I guess adding an extra gallon is what I'll have to do.


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[pingeyeg]

@backalley, that's not a bad idea.


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[pingeyeg]

But, I guess I would need a pump to make an elbow possible...? Right now I'm gravity feeding the wort.


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[Brewsncrabs]

Gravity will work but you will pick up the junk possibly. That pick up tube will do the trick but easier to change profile IF your kettle is big enough.


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[cjgenever]

I use a pickup in my bk. As long as you don't close the valve after the wort level reaches the valve it will continue to siphon.

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[Gunfighter04]

But, I guess I would need a pump to make an elbow possible...? Right now I'm gravity feeding the wort.


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Nope you won't need a pump, as long as the elbow and tubing is airtight it will siphon below the level of the valve.

 

[cjgenever]

You also need to be sure the pickup is air tight. Introducing (edit; air) into the siphon will break the vacuum

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[BackAlley]

Nope you won't need a pump, as long as the elbow and tubing is airtight it will siphon below the level of the valve.

+1. Here's what mine looks like

That's a small length of hose going into the carboy.


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[pingeyeg]

Cool, I'll add the elbow and still gravity feed the wort. Excited about my next brew.


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[pingeyeg]

Well guys, I installed an elbow as you guys said to do, but I'm still losing close to a full gallon of wort. Maybe I need to add an extension to the elbow...?




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[doc5md]

I would just account for it in brewsmith if it were me. How much over the opening in the bottom of the elbow is the wort when you are done draining? if it is well above it, there is some other problem going on (like air getting in to break siphon).

 

[kh54s10]

I bag my hops in a 5 gallon paint strainer. I take it out after the boil and squeeze the wort out using a colander. Next, I drain as much as I can out of the kettle valve. I then pour the rest into the fermenter. I lose less than 1/2 cup.

Are you accounting for grain and hop absorption? or are you really leaving a gallon in the kettle? If you are worried about trub, use a strainer and pour all the wort into the fermenter.