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mbfolk
Joined: 21 Jul 2019 Posts: 2 Location: Denver, NC
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Link Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2021 7:55 pm Post subject: Kettle Question |
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I am still really new to brewing and I have finished building my panel, I am looking at buying kettles now and wanted some input before I dropped the money. I am torn between 10 gal and 20 gal kettles. I want to get 20's but I dont think I will brew 10 gal batches very often if ever at the moment. I know its never a bad thing to buy bigger but if I am only wanting to do 5 gal batches should I stick to 10 gal kettles? I don't know if there are issues with brewing a 5 gallon batch in a 20 gallon kettle either. I appreciate the input!!
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kal Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11121 Location: Ottawa, Canada
Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter
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nickey
Joined: 07 Feb 2022 Posts: 31 Location: Kentucky
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Link Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2022 1:50 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Kal,
I am wanting to do some smaller 5 gallon batches and found this thread. The recipe I am going to be using calls for 7 gallons pre boil, then boiling down to 6 gallons. My system has a Blichmann 20 gallon kettle which, as far as I can tell, was built using your specs. I put 6 gallons of water in the kettle and it covers the element by an inch or so. Is this enough coverage to enable me to do the 5 gallon batches? I would think that I might not be able to boil as hard as I would if the batch was a normal 10 gallon.
Thanks for any advice you can give.
nickey
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kal Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11121 Location: Ottawa, Canada
Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter
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Link Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2022 2:26 pm Post subject: |
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nickey wrote: | I put 6 gallons of water in the kettle and it covers the element by an inch or so. Is this enough coverage to enable me to do the 5 gallon batches? |
As long as the element remains covered during the entire boil, you're ok. You need to know your boil off rate to figure this out. Take your pre-boil volume and minus your expected boil off volume expected. If that volume still has the element covered at the end of the boil, you're ok.
Boil off rate can vary depending on many factors (how hard you boil, kettle geometry, humidity level, if there's any wind, etc).
Kal
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