There really is not big magic to this. Just take first runnings and put them onto a boil while you are spargin the rest. Your boil down will be done before you finish your main boil. Just add the caramelized runnings back to the main batch boil.
Get yourself a candy thermometer and watch for the caramelization to happen. You can find information on the topic here:
http://www.food-info.net/uk/colour/caramel.htmYou can't just wing the process. You need to be aware of it and watch it constantly as to make sure that it is done correctly. That being said it will make your beer so much better.
My Traq recipe with boil down instructions.
Traquair house Clone
(All Grain) 11 US Gallons
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This Homebrew Recipe was added by
Skotrat on November 12, 1997 at 19:50:39:
(Please contact them if you have questions about the Recipe)
Brewing Method: All Grain
Yeast: Wyeast 1728 Scottish Ale
Yeast Starter: 1/2 US gallon at High Krausen
Batch Size: 11 US Gallons
Original Gravity: 1.085
Final Gravity: 1.020
Alcohol Content: 8.64 %
Total Grains: 32.79 US Pounds
Color: 12-22 (depending on carmelization)
Extract Efficiency: 75 %
Hop IBU's: 28.6
Boiling Time: 2 hours
Primary Fermentation: 10 days @ 62f
Secondary Fermentation: 10 days @ 58f
Additional Fermentation: 2 months in brite tanks @ 45f
Grain Bill:
32.48 lb. Scottish Malting GOLDEN PROMISE PALE ALE 2 ROW (99%)
.31 lb. Roast Barley (1%)
Hop Bill:
1.57 oz. N. BREWER 6.9% 45 min
1.57 oz. N. BREWER 6.9% 35 min
Mash Schedule:
Single Step Mash:
90 minutes @ 154
10 minutes @ 168
Brewers Notes:
Yeast: WYEAST Scottish Ale
1728 Scottish Ale
Rich, smokey, peaty character ideally suited
for scottish style ales, smoked beers and
high gravity ales. Flocculation - high;
apparent attenuation - 69-73%. (55-70�F)
Notes:
Remove two gallons of first runnings and Carmelize it (boil down to about 1 pint and add back to boil). This will give the richer taste that you find in this finebeer.
Collect 15 gallons of Run-off and boil down to your 10 1/2 gallon target (the other 1/2 gallon will come from the 1/2 gallon starter of yeast slurry that you have made in advance).
Add 2-3 teaspoons of Irish Moss into the boil just because.
Traquair is the finest of all Scottish Ales. Their recipe is pretty easy and straight forward. 99% Pale Ale Malt, 1% Roasted Barley and 25-37 IBU's.
I have found this to be the common thread for this brew after reviewing about 30-40 recipes from Homebrewers that have cloned this brew.
About 1/2 of the recipes claimed that Traquair uses East Kent Goldings as the hop and the Other claim that Northern Brewer is the Hop.
I chose Northern Brewer because I am very fond of them as base hops.
I hope you like the recipe and if you brew it please let me know how it turned out and any changes that you have made.
Hope this helps
-Scott