blitz wrote:Thanks for the inputs,
i've read the other thread, very informative, thanks!
When I get some time, I'll add some 'hard and fast' rules to the article. If there are any other ways that I can improve it, you or anyone else can let me know here or via PM. It's certainly not a straightforward area
.
blitz wrote:So just to summarize: because i can't sparge right now, next best method is adding water before or during first part of the boil, and i can do this.
I wouldn't call adding water, before or during the first part of the boil, "the next best method." In most situations, it is, by far, the preferred method.
I know it's a long article but full-volume variations, are, for the most part, black and white, however, when you want to stretch your kettle to extremes, then you need to be a master of that article, and, understand that everything you do has an impact
Post #7, and the last post of that article, show just how little you will gain by sparging as compared to early dilutions in a situation, such as yours, where you can't full-volume brew.
In your situation, I think that you would easily be able to sparge with the maximum amount you can. In your case, all you need is a food-grade bucket, and a good-sized stock pot, heated on your stove.
...
To even get half-way close to what you are trying to acheive, you'll need to employ all available full-volume variations, and, fully understand all the costs that come with each variation.
In the article,
How much beer can I get from my kettle, I have explained these costs, but, I see that the BIABaci' spreadsheets, in the article, have only been downloaded twice in almost 48 hours
. I hope you are one of the two Blitz, because, that tool is the only one that can even deal with the most basic aspects of 'Full-Volume Variation (FVV).'
Any 'fast' answers that do exist on FVV's, I'm pretty sure, you'll only find in that article, and until you study it and understand it, you'll never really know if you are making the right decisions.
I do full-volume variations all the time.
If you do take the time (and it might take you a few hours, over several days), to study that article, you'll be in a very rare group of brewers. Firstly, you'll begin to see that the true, pure mathematics of brewing should be focussed on inter-relationships, not a primitive and abused understanding of averages.
Then, you'll
know your numbers. They'll be easy/comfortable.
If I am planning correctly, I know, I should always end up having to dilute a little into the fermentor, but, I would not plan a brew to do that; that's my reserve, my safety margin, and, I should end up using at least a tad of it on every brew.
On double-batches that are a bit big for my kettle/s, I do plan to, and I do, add water before the boil; I fully understand the cost and benefits, and I get nice beers from those kettles (should sell one or drink more
).
One Big Thing to Learn...
No matter how much you hope, wish, want, or pray; no matter how much dodgy software you use; no matter how many online people tell you a gigalitre of beer can be produced from a thimble; the sooner you realise that your kettle has real volume limits, just like your fermentor, but better disguised, the faster you will get to FunLand.
Funland is not a make-believe world, it's the real world, where, whether you are in a small boat, or, a large ship, you can focus on the beauty of the sea.
PP
P.S. Hope the above reads okay, but, bear in mind, I spent 14 hours yesterday writing 'the article' mentioned above, and another 21 hours today, concentrating on some other educational brewing stuff.
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, probably shooting just for a 5-8% increment in volume, just to top a bit a 60liters fermenter
. 
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, look here 
