Hi there
Just a quick noob question. Why does the calculator recommend a 90 min boil? If I want to brew a recipe that usually requires a 60 min boil, should I boil for 90 min if I am doing it BIAB or stick to the original recipe?
Cheers
Ben
Post #2 made 13 years ago
Hi there Ben,
A 90 minute boil is just a recommendation. It has a few advantages...
1. It is safer - Some water profiles and grains with low specs can combine to form problems in a 60 minute boil that won't be a problem with a 90 minute boil.
2. Slightly more evaporation means more water can be used in the mash allowing a small increase in efficiency depending on your evaporation rate.
3. There are no real disadvantages besides time, in nearly all recipes, to doing a 90 minute boil.
I always change a 60 min recipe to a 90 minute as it allows the boil to settle down for 10-15 minutes at which stage I add my bittering hops.
A 60 versus 90 minute boil is probably not critical in most situations so don't be afraid to try the 60 minutes and see how you like it.

A 90 minute boil is just a recommendation. It has a few advantages...
1. It is safer - Some water profiles and grains with low specs can combine to form problems in a 60 minute boil that won't be a problem with a 90 minute boil.
2. Slightly more evaporation means more water can be used in the mash allowing a small increase in efficiency depending on your evaporation rate.
3. There are no real disadvantages besides time, in nearly all recipes, to doing a 90 minute boil.
I always change a 60 min recipe to a 90 minute as it allows the boil to settle down for 10-15 minutes at which stage I add my bittering hops.
A 60 versus 90 minute boil is probably not critical in most situations so don't be afraid to try the 60 minutes and see how you like it.
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Post #3 made 13 years ago
Thanks PistolPatch!
Very good point about it having time to settle before adding bittering hops, the porter you recently helped me out with was far too lively to be adding hops at the start of the boil.
Cheers
Ben
Very good point about it having time to settle before adding bittering hops, the porter you recently helped me out with was far too lively to be adding hops at the start of the boil.
Cheers
Ben