burnt element

jonnybeer · Post by **jonnybeer** » Wed May 16, 2007 5:23 pm

hello everyone i'm new to the site, only my 2nd posting so another help question. I've been ag brewing for about 9 months and earlier on I managed to burn the hops on the element in my burco. Since then i've used hop bags, a bit of a pain with prep. cleaning etc. Does it reduce the hop extraction if they are in a bag and does anyone know a sure way to clean the element. I've tried sanitiser, stainless wire wool and wire brushed it but still it remains blackened by my error or shall I just buy a new one? How do I stop it happening again. Cheers!!

drinking, Castle Eden and Abbot(both clones)
secodary, a mixture of left over ingrediants
primary,London Pride and another Abbot

steve_flack · Post by **steve_flack** » Wed May 16, 2007 8:12 pm

Boiling in a hop bag does reduce utilisation a bit but not by much - around 10% less - so maybe use 10% more hops to make up it.

BarryNL · Post by **BarryNL** » Wed May 16, 2007 8:44 pm

jonnybeer wrote:hello everyone i'm new to the site, only my 2nd posting so another help question. I've been ag brewing for about 9 months and earlier on I managed to burn the hops on the element in my burco. Since then i've used hop bags, a bit of a pain with prep. cleaning etc. Does it reduce the hop extraction if they are in a bag and does anyone know a sure way to clean the element. I've tried sanitiser, stainless wire wool and wire brushed it but still it remains blackened by my error or shall I just buy a new one? How do I stop it happening again. Cheers!!

I had the same problem - I used the back of a knife to scrape the black stuff off.

ColinKeb · Post by **ColinKeb** » Thu May 17, 2007 9:27 am

surely if you add the hops well into the boil the circulation of the water will keep them off the element? Ive never had any problems with them burning on.

PieOPah · Post by **PieOPah** » Thu May 17, 2007 9:36 am

When I have had problems with burnt stuff on my elements, I have boiled in water with some citric acid and used the back of a knife to scrape it off. It's a bit of graft but eventually it comes up sparkling clean.

One thing I have recently tried is using a grain bag to put my hops in. This works quite well but with no weight the bag does balloon up a bit.

Next time I boil I am either going to use hop bags or will try and weigh the grain bag down somehow (not quite sure how yet).

jonnybeer · Post by **jonnybeer** » Thu May 17, 2007 2:21 pm

Thanks to you all for the replies, I think I'll try the citrus boil and knife blade.

jonnybeer · Post by **jonnybeer** » Thu May 17, 2007 2:25 pm

Further to that i've in the past sandwiched the hop bag in the boil between 2 dinner plates to keep it below the surface and off of the element. Seems to work but make sure you don't use the best dinner service!!!

PieOPah · Post by **PieOPah** » Thu May 17, 2007 3:49 pm

DaaB wrote:A mashing and sparging bag will allow them to roam freely about the boiler while keeping them off the element.

This is what I have been doing recently. The problem though is that with the rolling boil, it causes the bag to balloon up. While alone this has no impact on the brew, it does cause the wort to leak over the sides of the boiler (messy!)

If I can find a way of weighing the bag down then I will continue this method. If not then I will probably just use hop bags.

BarryNL · Post by **BarryNL** » Thu May 17, 2007 3:59 pm

PieOPah wrote:
DaaB wrote:A mashing and sparging bag will allow them to roam freely about the boiler while keeping them off the element.
This is what I have been doing recently. The problem though is that with the rolling boil, it causes the bag to balloon up. While alone this has no impact on the brew, it does cause the wort to leak over the sides of the boiler (messy!)

If I can find a way of weighing the bag down then I will continue this method. If not then I will probably just use hop bags.

Sounds like a job for marbles.

PieOPah · Post by **PieOPah** » Thu May 17, 2007 4:02 pm

I have thought about marbles, but they will drop to the bottom and pull the bag in to the centre. This will restrict movement.

I was thinking of sewing some kind of weighted rim at the base - would make washing it a problem (I bung in the washing machine) though

Post by **Andy** » Thu May 17, 2007 4:23 pm

DaaB wrote:I'm not entirely sure how you manage to burn hops onto an element, the vast majority of brewers here will use a hop strainer and allow the hops free movement about the boiler without any problems.

Ditto. I use a Burco also and have never managed to burn hops on the element and that includes a monster IPA with over 400g of hops

jonnybeer · Post by **jonnybeer** » Thu May 17, 2007 5:22 pm

hello all, it may have been some previous damage to the element that caused snagging and then built up. The boiler was second hand so it's a possibility. The only other thing in the boiler with the hops was the liquor. I love to see the hops rolling around in the boil and oh. the smell. I'm doing a brew this Sunday and at the moment trying to decide which one from Dave Lines BBLTYB. I'll clean it first with citric acid and if I get around to it, take some pics. before and after. Thanks for your help.

jonnybeer · Post by **jonnybeer** » Fri May 18, 2007 4:43 pm

Hello everyone i've boiled 8 pints of water with 1/2 cup of caustic soda, left it to stand 'til cool,poured it off then wire wooled and scraped the element and it's come up really well. I boiled fresh water several times and it seems to be clear of any unusual smell. I'm brewing this weekend but still can't decide what yet so am looking forward to placing the hops in loose instead of bagged. I'll post the pics. when I get around to it and thanks to everyone for their suggestions

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burnt element

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