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Author Topic: Should I begin doing a full boil?  (Read 9833 times)

Offline goybar

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Should I begin doing a full boil?
« on: November 24, 2009, 03:31:37 pm »
Hi All,

New to the forum.

I haven't brewed anything in about 10 years.  

Decided to start up again.

If I'm brewing with extracts only, do I need to or should I do a full volume wort boil?  Or is it OK to only boil a portion and have the rest of the water in the fermenter?

Thank you,

Chris
« Last Edit: November 25, 2009, 01:03:42 pm by bonjour »

Offline tom

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Re: Should I being doing a full boil?
« Reply #1 on: November 24, 2009, 03:33:56 pm »
A concentrated boil will decrease hop utilization and darken the wort. No big deal. Just adjust your bittering hops for the concentrated boil and you're good to go.
Brew on

Offline deepsouth

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Re: Should I being doing a full boil?
« Reply #2 on: November 24, 2009, 03:37:26 pm »
i'm pretty new to homebrewing and did my first half a dozen batches inside on the stove doing partial boils, but the time it took me to get just 3 gallons of water to boil is what ultimately did me in and i went out and bought a ten gallon pot and a bayou classic burner.  of course that lasted six batches and i just ordered an all grain system from northern brewer this week.

good luck whatever you choose and welcome back into the hobby!!!!!
Hoppy Homebrewers of South Mississippi (est. 2009)

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bottled:     white house honey ale

Offline tomthebrewer

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Re: Should I being doing a full boil?
« Reply #3 on: November 24, 2009, 03:39:57 pm »
IMO, I think full-volume boils are worth it. Like has been said before, partial-volume boils decrease hop utilization and darken the beer. If you have the means, I'd do so. It will take longer to cool, but I think you'll see an improvement in you finished product.
618 Country - Southern Illinois

Offline slimsparty

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Re: Should I being doing a full boil?
« Reply #4 on: November 24, 2009, 03:41:28 pm »
you can always buy more stuff...or build it.  It is really easy to make an immersion chiller out of soft copper.

Offline goybar

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Re: Should I being doing a full boil?
« Reply #5 on: November 24, 2009, 04:03:35 pm »
Thanks everyone.

I have been looking at an outdoor propane burner, I guess that will be the next purchase, along with a larger brew pot.

Offline cracklefish

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Re: Should I being doing a full boil?
« Reply #6 on: November 24, 2009, 06:06:54 pm »
Now is a great time of year to get the turkey fryer set on sale...
I'm under attenuated on you

Offline tom

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Re: Should I being doing a full boil?
« Reply #7 on: November 24, 2009, 08:22:38 pm »
There will probably be good sales after Thanksgiving.

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone.
Brew on

Offline majorvices

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Re: Should I being doing a full boil?
« Reply #8 on: November 25, 2009, 04:23:04 am »
Let me just add a BIG +1 to full boils AND moving the brewing operation outside of the house. Especially if you love your stove like I do. Spilled, burnt wort on a stove top will NEVER (and I mean NEVER) come off.

Offline bluesman

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Re: Should I being doing a full boil?
« Reply #9 on: November 25, 2009, 05:01:26 am »
I do full volume wort boils because it works well for me. I use an IC to chill the wort after the boil. You may get away without a full volume boil, but I would suggest you aim for a full volume boil in the future.
Ron Price

Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: Should I being doing a full boil?
« Reply #10 on: November 25, 2009, 06:01:17 am »
For burnt wort on a stove top use a fairly concentrated paste of Barkeepers Friend.  I have done this with success.
Jeff Rankert
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Home-brewing, not just a hobby, it is a lifestyle!

Offline mtbrewer

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Re: Should I being doing a full boil?
« Reply #11 on: November 25, 2009, 12:13:58 pm »
Full boils all the way!! Once you start, you will be A.G. Before you know it.
All you will need is a MLT, it's all down hill from there. ;)

Offline goybar

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Re: Should I being doing a full boil?
« Reply #12 on: November 25, 2009, 12:51:46 pm »
AG not likely to happen anytime soon (if ever).  I don't have the time.

Maybe some steeping or partial mash, but that's about it.

Chris

Offline weazletoe

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Re: Should I being doing a full boil?
« Reply #13 on: November 29, 2009, 10:40:57 am »
Full boils all the way!! Once you start, you will be A.G. Before you know it.
All you will need is a MLT, it's all down hill from there. ;)

+1   After my third extract, I had posted that I wanted to do full boils, which lead me to thinking of doing a mini mash. A fellow poster said if you are gonna do a full boil mini mash, why not just go AG. So, two years ago Christmas day, I did my fist AG, Guiness Extra Stout clone, and never looked back.

   Just go AG man! you know that's where you are headed, so get it over with now!   ;D
A man works hard all week, so he doesn't have to wear pants all weekend.