Urgent Advice!!!

[Ranting Lad]

I have just got a brew boiling and need to know should I leave the lid on or off during the boil. If I leave the lid on I am presuming steam will condense on the lid and drop back into the boiler. I am worried that by leaving the lid on I will end up with a weak wort. If I take the lid off I may evaporate too much water. I started with 26.5 litres and hope to end up at 23 litres. I would be very grateful for any advice

[ade1865]

lid off, due to dodgy things being released by the boil that you don't want running back into yer boiler. If u end up with less wort than you wanted, just add treated water upto the desired amount, before fermantation preferrably.

good luck

[Jim]

Leave the lid off.

During the boil compounds that cause off-flavours evaporate and are driven off. If you leave the lid on, they'll stay in the beer and spoil it.

Some people leave the lid half on, and they reckon that works OK.

EDIT: just beaten to it!

[booldawg]

Leave it off. The steam carries off undesirable tanins from the hops which could impart harsh flavours. This would fall back into your brew if the lid was left on.

It may be the case you will under collect as the hops/trub soak up about 3L and condesation usually uses up a further 4L. I've often topped up the brew to the final volume using bottled water but not sure how recommendable that is.

EDIT: beaten to it x2

[Ranting Lad]

Thanks for quick replies - cheers

[BillyB]

Is this OK? Note this is from my old defunct brewery and not my new planned shiny one! I had thought along similar lines for the new brewery?




Basically it is a large cut down funnel attached to a large whole in the plastic lid, venting outside the shed via the ali trunking.

[maxashton]

Lad, lid off.

Billy, that should be fine.