my not so big wort pot

[SeanyP321]

I just got the biggest cooking pot available and it just holds 5 gallons but it's up to the tippety top.

I'm sure this has been answered before... but could I boil say 1 gallon, pop it in my fermenter. then boil the other 4 gallons, add extract, cool, add to fermenting bucket and pitch.

Otehrwise I reckon I'll get boilovers and when I put my cooler in, it will overflow!

 

[Jun]

I would suggest buying a bigger brew kettle, you'll need it later anyway.
If that is not an option I would use two pots and boil them at the same time, it will prevent wort from aerating that could cause your beer taste like cardboard.
Not to mention that boiling both at the same time will save you time.

morebeer.com has good deals on rather good brew kettles.

 

[lordbeermestrength]

I just got the biggest cooking pot available and it just holds 5 gallons but it's up to the tippety top.

I'm sure this has been answered before... but could I boil say 1 gallon, pop it in my fermenter. then boil the other 4 gallons, add extract, cool, add to fermenting bucket and pitch.

Otehrwise I reckon I'll get boilovers and when I put my cooler in, it will overflow!

I have the same pot. I can do 4gal boils with no problem. As long as you watch it and pull it off the heat whenever you start getting a boilover, after no more than 10 minutes it should be good to leave alone. Matter of fact I did a beer yesterday and didn't even have to watch it.

But yes, a bigger pot and a propane burner would be the best. I have a keggle, just no money for a burner. So I am using my lame ass pot for all-grain as of now.

 

[Yooper]

Actually, most recipes for extracts and most kits tell you to do just exactly what you described! I think most extract recipes call for a 2 or 2.5 gallon boil, and have you add water after the boil to get to 5 gallons. You can always boil more than that, of course, and I think that it makes better beer (less carmelization and better hops utilization) if you can boil closer to a full boil.

Even with 4 gallons in your 5 gallon pot, though, you'll be very likely to boil over. I wouldn't use more than 3 gallons in a 5 gallon pot. By the time you get the extract in, you'd be near the top and you want a nice rolling boil for your wort.

 

[Maveric777]

+1 to YooperBrew

 

[SeanyP321]

so should I have the other 2 gallons boiling too and then add just before the cool down, or just add it pre cooled? I know thats what kit instructions recommend but wanted to start doing it the "right way" so when I'm ready to move on...I'm used to the correct method. Plus Im hoping it will make better beer.

 

[gator_brewer]

I personally use about 3 gal for the boil, and put the rest in the freezer to get cold to speed up the cooling of the wort. If you want to boil the water so its clean, you can boil ahead of time, then put in the fridge/freezer.

 

[rocketman768]

so should I have the other 2 gallons boiling too and then add just before the cool down, or just add it pre cooled? I know thats what kit instructions recommend but wanted to start doing it the "right way" so when I'm ready to move on...I'm used to the correct method. Plus Im hoping it will make better beer.

I would add the water after it has been boiled (to sanitize) then cooled to help chill the wort. You can even add it as frozen ice to very quickly chill the wort down to pitch temperature. I used to freeze 1 gallon of spring water in the jug (this takes a couple of days in the freezer) and ladle the hot wort over it and then add an extra gallon of spring water after that.

 

[RedIrocZ-28]

OP- you can do a lot with a 5gal pot. I have done a nearly full boil All grain brew with 2 of them. Yes I am crazy, but you can boil about 4 gallons of wort (with a low gravity wort) in a 5gal pot.It sure was nice only using 1 gallon of top up water.

Thus far, I have never used anything bigger than a 5gal pot. I've done 6 brews so far. You'll be fine. Start saving your pennies for that 7.5gal pot so you can turn your 5gal pot into your mash tun when you go all grain.

 

[althalos]

The problem with brewing lower volumes of wort is that your hop utilization suffers, as a result of the wort being more viscous. I don't know if you are doing extract, specialty grain, partial mash or all grain, but if you are doing extract or specialty grain, you could boil the max volume your kettle will hold with a little extract or the brewing liquor from steeping your grains, as this would yield a very thin wort and ensure good hop utilization, and then add the rest of the extract later in the boil, when the volume has gone down. This is referred to as the "late extract method", and is described here:

http://byo.com/component/resource/article/619-extract-method-to-your-madness

There are a couple of other methods, as you can read.

I would make sure you are getting the most out of your hops, with the current shortage