1/2 volume wort

[brewwitch]

I read that it is near impossible to get 5 gallons to a rolling boil with an electric range. (I have one of those flat tops .. hate it)

Anyway, it was suggested to do the boil with about 3 gallons and add cool water to make 5 gallons when ready to start fermentation.

I have a 5 gallon pot and plan to do create a 3 gallon wort. I figure I'll have enough head room for a decent boil.
However, I also read (other source) that doing that tends to create a darker beer because more of the malt sugars are in contact with the pot surface.

Has anyone used the method I describe? Have you results been satisfactory?
Do you have extra boil over concerns?

Thanks again!

[Cosmic Charlie]

While not answering your question - I want to bring up the issue of boiling concentrated wort. If you use extract, you might want to add half of your extract at the beginning with your hops, and add the rest at the end of the boil. The main benefit is increased hop utilization. Another benefit is less color development during the boil.

Have you seen this article? http://www.byo.com/feature/1536.html This may not be the way you brew, but it touches on the "extract late" method.

By the way, I boil 3 gallons (partial mash, and adding all of the extract at the end of the boil). I often make light colored brews - although I really care about taste and not so much with color.

[dparsons]

I've boiled over 5 gallons on an electric range. Big tip is to keep the lid on.

[brewwitch]

Thanks!

As far as it being the way I brew or not.. well who knows as I had never brewed before. I brewed 3 gallons instead of the suggested 4.5. I used a 5 gallon pot. The lid had to be kept on to maintain a nice boil.

I'm going to post my "experience" in hopes of getting feed-back...

thanks

[btsager]

I did my first batch 5.5 gallons on my electric stove top, its the coiled tungston type, it worked but the weight and heat caused the stove to sag a little and my wife got a little upset, it raised back up as it cooled though. I switched to an outdoor propane burner after that.

[brewwitch]

I can see why she'd be upset. I'd have been, too! LOL

Well, right now I have one of those flat tops. I am not fond of it and dream of
a big kitchen with a REAL stove top, industrial style.. gass, heavy iron burners,

oh a deep sink, nice spigot, walk-in fridge kep at just the right temperature...


sigh.. one can dream, huh?

[Bob E.]

I've never used an electric stove to brew, but on my gas stove I position the brew pot over 2 burners. It brings it to a boil a lot quicker and sustains a nice rolling boil. I decided it wasn't as wasteful to move it to one burner, with a less rolling boil, after it got started. Then boil overs became less of a problem.
I'm also a practitioner of late extracting and countertop partial mashing :D

[Cosmic Charlie]

I want to throw out the issue of DMS. Should you remove the lid when you achieve a boil so DMS is driven off?

[darylM]

yes, keeping a closed lid is asking for DMS.

[brewwitch]

Ummm what's DMS?

I had the lid on most of the time, removing for stirring. Also the vent on the lid was open.

[brewwitch]

Never mind. Googled it....