Pilsner Urquell - 28.5.07

[Frothy]

Des. Yes the boil is a point of contention, 7-12% boil reduction is recommended and I did have one great brew with hop flavour as a result of running out of propane 1/2 way through. I think the majority with electric boilers would not suffer with similar problems although USA brewers seem to use much more powerful burners than mine. I've turned the burner down recently and still had similar un-hoppy results however so I think I may still have to up the late hops in particular. My current thought are along the lines of allowing 10% for hopping losses in the fermentor, as many brews smell great but have lost aroma by the end of primary. Allowing 60% of the stated AA units for hops & possibly trying hop pellets as these are supposed to have a higher surface area and thus a greater exctact efficiency.


Frothy
P.S. the burner would have no problems with 60L, there is somebody on the forum using it on a 100L boiler although I have yet to try a double batch in my 50L

[SteveD]

Don't boil late hops more than 5 mins, steep some on switch off, but only add them once the wort has dropped to 80c. You can dry hop too. That will sort you out

[Vossy1]

I've been quite concerned over my boil recently. I use 2 x 2.5kw electric elements to get to the boil and have been leaving both on throughout the boil (60ltr boil).

This leaves me with about 9% evapouration loss. I ask swimbo if with 2 elements on it looks like a rolling boil and she says it's too vigorous.

I turn one element off and it slowly returns to what she would call a rolling boil

I also add my aroma hops 15 min before lights out....is this too soon?

I followed SD's advice on my last brew with regard to adding 50% more aroma hops and by the gods it's worked

[SteveD]

This leaves me with about 9% evapouration loss. I ask swimbo if with 2 elements on it looks like a rolling boil and she says it's too vigorous.

9% over what period of time? The ideal is said to be 10% per hour. So it looks like your boil isn't too vigorous.

I also add my aroma hops 15 min before lights out....is this too soon?

Yes. I find very little hop aroma or flavour remains in beer if the late hops are boiled for the "15 minutes before end" recommended in so many books. I'd not add them earlier than 5 minuted before the end. Plus, for the steeping hops, I've been recommended not to add them till the wort has dropped to 80c, at which point you get good extraction, but don't lose the volatile aromatics.

I followed SD's advice on my last brew with regard to adding 50% more aroma hops and by the gods it's worked

Cheers Vossy I'm glad I was able to help.

[Vossy1]

Cheers SD, 9% over 2 hours

It still spit's s**t all over the place and it drips of the ceiling all over the place

I can actually confess to mopping the ceiling (artex) during the brew

5kw for a 60ltr brew still seems excessive though

Perhaps a controller on 1 of the elements is in order

[PGSteamer]

If you're getting water drips on the ceiling then it sounds to me as if your boiler has no problem with the boil and plenty of moisture is being sent into the air. I think the problem is a lack of ventilation - the moisture is just hanging in the air around where you brew. You shouldn't be turning the room into a sauna

I don't know if you do this already, but is it possible to open more windows and get a fan running? You need to get a good breeze going and move all this wet air out of the house.

[SteveD]

As PG says, it's condensation making you think your boiler is in overdrive. 9% evaporation over 2 hours is not excessive in the least so your boiler is not overpowered for 60 litres. In fact your losing less than half the 'recommended' ammount!

[PGSteamer]

I'm wondering that it's a lack of ventilation, not the power of the boiler that is causing the lower evaporation rates for Vossy. He says the boil spits s**t all over the place - that sounds pretty strong rigorous.

He's getting drips on the ceiling, which suggests to me that the air is reaching 100% humidity. Once the air reaches 100% humidity it can't hold anymore water. In this circumstance, no matter how strong the boil is it you won't see much evaporation.

I think that the way to solve this is not to put more power into the boil but get some air circulation going to get rid of the wet air and bring in some dry air that can suck up some more water.

But then again without seeing the boil I can't be sure. Any way of posting some piccies, Vossy?

[Vossy1]

Hi guys, There's no problem with ventilation, 2 windows open and the kitchen door to the garden

The dripping of the ceiling is caused by the lack of air current above the door jam. As in any room there is an area above the windows and doors which, in my case, on brewdays, has a permanent cloud layer in it

I need a brew shed and fast

[SteveD]

Hi guys, There's no problem with ventilation, 2 windows open and the kitchen door to the garden

The dripping of the ceiling is caused by the lack of air current above the door jam. As in any room there is an area above the windows and doors which, in my case, on brewdays, has a permanent cloud layer in it

I need a brew shed and fast

In that case your boil is not too vigorous.