Boil volume

[New_Brew26]

So what is the ideal boil volume for partial mash kits? thanks for input!

[sully626]

I think most of the northern brewer recipes state how much to boil, but I have gone with 1.5 gallons. That is what my first recipe called for and it has worked out well for me in my last couple of batches. I'm not sure if it would change if you are brewing a big beer.

[Mad Scientist]

Boil as much as you possibly can....which is what you should be doing for any extract/partial mash beer.

[New_Brew26]

Does the boil volume affect the gravity?

[Mad Scientist]

Once you have topped up the fermenter to the proper volume, no. But it will affect color and flavor...in that the smaller volume you boil, the darker it will be the end, and flavor may change as well. Also, a more concentrated boil can lower hop utilization.

[beerking]

Your total gravity points won't change based on boil volume or dilution.
That is, 2.5 gallons of 1.030 beer will contain 75 gravity points (2.5 X 30).
If you add another 2.5 gallons of water, you still have 75 gravity points, but now your specific gravity is 1.015 (75/5).
Likewise, if you start with 6 gallons of 1.060 wort, you will have 360gravity points.
If you then boil down to 5 gallons, your gravity will be 1.072.

[Undergradbrewin]

Boil as much as you possibly can....which is what you should be doing for any extract/partial mash beer.
So even doing an extract kit that asks for 2.5 gallons boil (then later ~3 gallon top off) if we have the capablity to boil more we should?

[beerking]

So even doing an extract kit that asks for 2.5 gallons boil (then later ~3 gallon top off) if we have the capablity to boil more we should?
Absolutely. The sooner you can go to a full wort boil, the better your beer will be. Better hot break, which equals better clarity, better and more consistent hop utilization, and other benefits.
Just make sure that in addition to having enough boiling capacity you also have enough cooling capacity to get your wort to pitching temp as quick as possible. You should get below 100*F in less than 1 hour, and 30 minutes is better. Once below 100, you can be a little slower about chilling, but ideally you want to get below 70 in 1.5-2 hours. Less is always better.

[Undergradbrewin]

Absolutely. The sooner you can go to a full wort boil, the better your beer will be. Better hot break, which equals better clarity, better and more consistent hop utilization, and other benefits.
Just make sure that in addition to having enough boiling capacity you also have enough cooling capacity to get your wort to pitching temp as quick as possible. You should get below 100*F in less than 1 hour, and 30 minutes is better. Once below 100, you can be a little slower about chilling, but ideally you want to get below 70 in 1.5-2 hours. Less is always better.

Whoa this is blowing my mind! I got a 5 gallon pot and have been doing partial boil extract kits. Once I get my hands on a basic wort chiller (my next purchase) I can take those same kits and just boil 4.5 gallons and do everything in that? Once I'm finished up I can just top off to a complete 5 gallosn in the carboy? -I feel like I'm being reborn this is way too exciting.

[Croesius]

Whoa this is blowing my mind! I got a 5 gallon pot and have been doing partial boil extract kits. Once I get my hands on a basic wort chiller (my next purchase) I can take those same kits and just boil 4.5 gallons and do everything in that? Once I'm finished up I can just top off to a complete 5 gallosn in the carboy? -I feel like I'm being reborn this is way too exciting.

I've found that the foaming action of adding the extract to a partial mash brew in a 5 gallon pot gets pretty tall. 4.5 gallons in a 5 gallon pot might be a bit risky at full boil...

[Undergradbrewin]

I've found that the foaming action of adding the extract to a partial mash brew in a 5 gallon pot gets pretty tall. 4.5 gallons in a 5 gallon pot might be a bit risky at full boil...
Well thay may have been a bit ambitous! But the idea still stays the same, I can boil ~4 gallons or so with a typical extract kit that calls for 2.5 and get the same results? Maybe better?
Running it through my head it makes sense. Typically I would just top off with un-brewed water in the primary. But less I have to use to top off the better? (this is like, a brewing revelation for me, and I cannot wait to do it on my next batch!)

[beerking]

If you can't do a full boil, boil as much as you can. 4 gal is better than 2.5.

[New_Brew26]

wow, thanks for the info guys! here is a new one, what about abv? i have 5 partial mash kit batches under my belt but they all have had lower than expected abv%.(under 4%). how can i get the alcohol content up and keep a good full bodied beer?

[Mad Scientist]

What is the typical amount of extract used, and your starting and ending gravities?