full volume boil

[flyingjax]

Is there a formula for knowing how much extra water to add in the beginning of a full volume boil t compensate for loss of water due to evaporation? Right now I am only guesstamating about a 1/4 of a gallon extra if i am making 5 gal of brew. Other literature has told me to add water after the boil, but I would like to add it in the beginning.

[HogieWan]

It depends on your equipment. I have to have 2.25 gals extra liquid to end at desired volume after a 75 min boil. Measure the liquid before and after, then compensate on the next batch.

[corkybstewart]

For a 5 gllon batch I would have at least 6 gallons of wort before I start boiling. You'll lose some to evaporation, some will stay in the kettle, and some will stay in the fermenter. How much you lose at each step depends on your brewing setup and equipment.

And for the question about coffee, there an active thread on the subject, use the search function and you'll find it as well as lots of other posts on the subject.

And welcome to the forum.

[nwcw2001]

easy way to figure this out for your system:


fill a measured amount of knock out temp water and bring it to a boil for your prescribed time. Then cool the water down to pitching temp and measure it. It has to be cool when you measure it because water expands when heated. Subtract the final amount from the starting amount and you have your boil off rate/hour.

Now just add the difference when knocking out to the kettle at brew time.

If you want to get anal you can also do it for 90 and 120 minutes to make sure it is constant for each time frame so you can adjust as your boil times change per recipe.



HTH

John

[Carl762]

Well, I'm doing 5 gallon batches with a 90 minute boil. I typically end up adding 2 gallons of water AFTER the boil. It's generally consistent.

Hasn't hurt a batch yet. I really don't see the advantage to adding before.

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by Carl762

Hasn't hurt a batch yet. I really don't see the advantage to adding before.

the main reason to to boil all the liquid and make sure it is sanitary. Also, a thinner wort will lead to more hop utilization and less caramelization of the wort - neither of which or necessarily good or bad.