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topping off the kettle

Post #1 made 15 years ago
by Nikobrew
I'm sure this has been asked somewhere I just can't find it :P I'm using a 7.5 gal turkey fryer pot and with 7lb grain and only going for about 3 gal post boil, and I don't know if I'll be able to put my full volume in the kettle at once. I know there will be some different calculations to make of course but is it a big deal if I just use as much water as I can fit, boil, and add some water to top off to hit my volume (of course calculating my proper gravity as well), sort of like making an extract beer partial boil.

Post #2 made 15 years ago
by hashie
Absolutely no reason why you can't do that Niko.

Have a read of Ralph's mini BIAB guide. Ralph has done a great job writing it and it has a wealth of information.
Last edited by hashie on 18 Oct 2010, 15:24, edited 5 times in total.
"It's beer Jim, but not as we know it."

Post #4 made 15 years ago
by Nikobrew
sigurdur wrote:If you are worried about the space needed, take a look at the Green Bay Rackers calculator page. To be more specific, you should take a look at the 'Can I mash it?' calculator. The calculator needs the total weight of the grain bill and the mash thickness.
Given that you need 3 gallons post boil, I assume 4 gallons pre-boil plus a quart per 2 lb of grains (losses to the grain).
This gives me a total of 19.5 quarts of water, and a mash thickness of 2.79 (qt/lb).
Putting those variables to the calculator I get the space requirement of 5.44 gallons, so I believe you will be safe with your 7.5 gallon pot :)
Thanks I was figuring about 5 1/2 gal as well due to boiloff and maybe 1/2 gal left in the fermentor, going by about .06gal per lb absorption what I didn't have a calculation for was approx how much the grain ITSELF took up. Starting now *yawn* i'll post how it goes! Thanks for all the responses.
Last edited by Nikobrew on 18 Oct 2010, 19:23, edited 5 times in total.

Post #5 made 15 years ago
by PistolPatch
Don't forget The Calculator here on BIABrewer.info

In Cell B21 of the first sheet it tells you the Approximate Mash Volume. This tells you how big a pot/kettle you need for your proposed brew and has been adjusted to BIAB.

The Calculator is simple but very detailed and is especially good on volumes. Anyone wanting to convert a recipe to The Calculator format should read and then use this thread as it will answer heaps of questions and someone will sort you out fairly quickly.

Recipe conversion is not always simple regardless of what method of brewing you use. On this site, The Calculator, is a worthwhile spreadsheet to explore and ask questions about as the "master" often sits there with a few minor errors before anyone notices!

;)
PP
Last edited by PistolPatch on 18 Oct 2010, 21:05, edited 5 times in total.
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Post #6 made 15 years ago
by Two If By Sea
One thing to keep in mind about any of those volume calculations is that they don't take into account the fact that you'll be pulling a bag full of grain out of the mash tun. You want at least a few inches from the top of the kettle to the water surface because it will rise as you begin to pull out the bag. You can really slowly pull it out to ensure the water level won't rise over the kettle top but it is much easier if you've got some extra room. And of course, as you get closer to the top of your kettle with volumes, that means you are getting heavier in your grain bill so pulling the bag out is getting harder too. It might be easier to mash a little thicker and add water preboil, or decant some liquid out into a pail to go back in the kettle before you pull the bag.

Just something to keep in the back of your mind when you are filling the tun.
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