Bigarcherynut
Well-Known Member
Well after reading this thread, a thread linked to this one and another link on lower boil-off rates, I decided to do a test run on my system to see what I could end up with for a boil-off rate.
Here's where I have been and what I ended up with today after the test run.
Current boil-off rate - 2.1 Gal./Hr. This is with my controller set to 100% which gives me a temperature of around 210 - 212 degrees which I had read 6 years ago when I started BIAB brewing in regards to your boil. With this rate, my boil-off percentage is around 25% which is well above the 4-10 % which is talked about.
I developed my own brewing software program with the help of two designers that are on this forum. It is set for my unique home built E-kettle for BIAB brewing and is very helpful to have consistent numbers and brew great beer unlike in the past.
The last batch I brewed I started with 8.6 gallons of water and a post mash volume of 8.4 gallons. With the current boil-off style which is a huge rolling boil, I ended up with 5.85 which ended up with a rate of 2.75 Gal/Hr. Higher yet.
Today I started with a pre-boil water amount close to what my last batch had. I set the controller to 100% to get it to a boil. I did this with the lid on the kettle. Once the very rapid boil started with a temp of 208 degrees, I removed the cover, put a large baking sheet on the kettle with about a 1" gap in the back to vent. I reduced the controller to 50% output and monitored the boil. It was much less but still noticeable. I boiled like this for 30 minutes taking readings along the way. Temps where steady at 206 degrees. With this 30 minute run, I reduced my boil-off rate to .45 gallons for 30 minutes or .9 Gals/Hr. which would be about 12% boil-off rate. A huge improvement.
The next 30 minutes I reduced my output to 40%. The cover was left the same as with the first test run. The boil now was reduced to a mild simmer with still some mild movement of the water. My boil-off rate ended up being .3 gallons for 30 minutes or .6 Gal./Hr. giving me a boil-off percentage of about 8% which is in the range.
I'm going to brew the same beer again with the new boil-off method. Curious to see if there will be a difference in taste, especially mouth feel, which I seem to lack with some beers but make changes to improve that.
Input is appreciated.
Here's where I have been and what I ended up with today after the test run.
Current boil-off rate - 2.1 Gal./Hr. This is with my controller set to 100% which gives me a temperature of around 210 - 212 degrees which I had read 6 years ago when I started BIAB brewing in regards to your boil. With this rate, my boil-off percentage is around 25% which is well above the 4-10 % which is talked about.
I developed my own brewing software program with the help of two designers that are on this forum. It is set for my unique home built E-kettle for BIAB brewing and is very helpful to have consistent numbers and brew great beer unlike in the past.
The last batch I brewed I started with 8.6 gallons of water and a post mash volume of 8.4 gallons. With the current boil-off style which is a huge rolling boil, I ended up with 5.85 which ended up with a rate of 2.75 Gal/Hr. Higher yet.
Today I started with a pre-boil water amount close to what my last batch had. I set the controller to 100% to get it to a boil. I did this with the lid on the kettle. Once the very rapid boil started with a temp of 208 degrees, I removed the cover, put a large baking sheet on the kettle with about a 1" gap in the back to vent. I reduced the controller to 50% output and monitored the boil. It was much less but still noticeable. I boiled like this for 30 minutes taking readings along the way. Temps where steady at 206 degrees. With this 30 minute run, I reduced my boil-off rate to .45 gallons for 30 minutes or .9 Gals/Hr. which would be about 12% boil-off rate. A huge improvement.
The next 30 minutes I reduced my output to 40%. The cover was left the same as with the first test run. The boil now was reduced to a mild simmer with still some mild movement of the water. My boil-off rate ended up being .3 gallons for 30 minutes or .6 Gal./Hr. giving me a boil-off percentage of about 8% which is in the range.
I'm going to brew the same beer again with the new boil-off method. Curious to see if there will be a difference in taste, especially mouth feel, which I seem to lack with some beers but make changes to improve that.
Input is appreciated.