mash/boil on a grill?

[MrFancyPlants]

Any one ever try getting a boil over a grill with charcoal or wood? I have a 15G kettle, but could run a partial BIB batch if 15G is too ambitious.

After a unplanned move I had to ditch most of my brewing equipment and I am slowly building it back up. I think I am shooting for a 220v induction "burner" as with my limited experience with a propane burner was not only inefficient, but ended up being literally out of gas at the worst times possible, like part way through a boil. I would have to do some more planning to get the induction burner working, like running a power line out to the shed etc. Any thoughts or recommendations?

 

[jschein]

There were videos of a couple brewing in Alaska on their wood burning grill a few years ago. I tried to find them but the HBT search app has been less than stellar or my search skills have crapped out

 

[jschein]

Found this ; https://youtu.be/9pNJ_LvwEFk

And this; https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=196648&page=2

 

[FloppyKnockers]

Did it with a 2-gallon batch on a Kamado Joe. I doubt briquettes can maintain a high enough temperature for that amount of time so wood or lump is the only way to go. Egg style cookers are notorious for their temp keeping so I had to try. The mash was flawless and the boil was kinda sketchy feeling, but successful. The beer came out a bit smokey (which I anticipated) so a porter was a perfect choice.

 

[bobeer]

If I'm doing a propane brew day I always make sure to have my backup cylinder full just in case the one that's hooked up runs out. I was able to go to my local junk yard and pick up a cylinder (expired) and swap it out for a filled one at a walmart. The walmart employees don't check the date on the tank so it was an easy way to acquire a 2nd take without paying the $50 for one.

With that said I think you'd be able to boil a 5 gallon batch with the right conditions. Lots of wood, not a lot of wind, and a decent ambient air temp. If all else fails you could break the batch into 2 smaller pots and put them side by side to boil on the grill if you have enough room.

 

[Norselord]

I know my grill isn't sized for 50lbs of meat, so i am not sure if it will hold a pot + 6 gallons of wort.

 

[Jim311]

I frequently cook over wood fires outdoors and see no reason I couldn't bring my brew to a boil over the same fire. It will require some firewood for sure though!

 

[bucketnative]

I frequently cook over wood fires outdoors and see no reason I couldn't bring my brew to a boil over the same fire. It will require some firewood for sure though!

You will definitely want to make sure that you grill and grate can support the total weight of the kettle plus wort. In a standard 5-gal batch, that can start at over 60 lbs.

 

[Jim311]

My fire ring is an old truck rim. I'd weld together a grate for it if I wanted to support a full keggle because you're right, that baby can get heavy.

 

[Spartan1979]

I tried boiling a starter on a gas grill once. It didn't work very well. I don't recall what the exact problem was. I think it just took forever.

 

[BeerAddikt]

What would this do to the bottom of your brew kettle? I'd imagine you'd have quite a bit of soot buildup.

 

[Jim311]

If you use wood it will leave a tarry kind of residue/discoloration that's damn near impossible to get off. But that will probably happen from spilling/burning the wort on the outside of your brew kettle too. Definitely a concern if you care to keep your cookware looking nice.