23l brew with 5g boiler, how best to deal with it

[Brownster]

Hi everybody,
After reading this thread here:
viewtopic.php?t=9068&highlight=evaporation+top

I'm feeling a bit more confident about how to go about this but would like to run this past you guys to see if it's ok.

After fly sparging I end up with a quantity > 20ltrs - 27ltrs (stopping sparging when the gravity drops to 05)

I can safely fit 21ltrs in the boiler all well and dandy

the remaining wort I could boil up in a large s/steel pot that will hold a gallon easily, starting the 2 boils at the same time to ensure all the wort gets the full boil time.

Hopping into the main boiler only at the pre-determined times for the recipe.

As the main boiler content reduces, I top up with the wort from the s/steel pan.

At the end of the boil if needed, I top up with boiled water to 23ltrs before starting the rapid cooling with an IC

How does that sound, am I way off the mark or should this be ok?
Is there an easier, simplified way to achieve it with a 5g boiler?
Any advice greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks,

Wayne.

[Buzz]

Sounds fine, almost exactly what I do anyhow. As for the sparging, I would tend to stop at 1010 just to prevent any nasties coming through that might lead to haze.

I tend to cool with the IC and take a hydrometer reading before topping up with cold so I have an accurate SG - you might find you are down on volume but at the right gravity, so topping up will only make a weaker beer.

Have fun

[Brownster]

Sounds fine, almost exactly what I do anyhow. As for the sparging, I would tend to stop at 1010 just to prevent any nasties coming through that might lead to haze.

I tend to cool with the IC and take a hydrometer reading before topping up with cold so I have an accurate SG - you might find you are down on volume but at the right gravity, so topping up will only make a weaker beer.

Have fun

Great, thanks for the feedback, good point on the SG better to be the right strength than a weak beer

I've just bottled 40 pints of a all malt kit, BOB 'old english ale', should keep me going for a few weeks as I try and lay off the new beer once it's bottled!!!

ATB

Wayne.