So I've brewed about 5 all-grain batches so far. The first few I did I started with 6.5 gallons pre-boil because that seemed to be the norm. It was nowhere near enough to end up with 5 gallons in the keg. The last one I did I batch sparged until I had 7 gallons in the BK. This was the first time I used leaf hops, 4.5 oz and I'm going to use 3 oz to dry hop. So I wasn't accustomed to the huge loss to the leaf hops even though I squeezed the heck out of them.
Even at 7 gallons in the BK, my last runnings were about 1.03, so I know I can get more wort out since I can get down to 1.01.
I lose a lot to evaporation because I'm doing 5 gallons in a 15 gallon Blichmann Boilermaker so there is a ton of surface area (got the 15 gal. since I'll do 10 gallon batches eventually and it seemed silly not to get it for the marginal price increase compared to buying a whole other pot later) and I'm using a turkey fryer burner which I try and keep low so it isn't a ferocious boil.
So my question is, is it OK to have like 7.5 or 8 gallons in the BK pre-boil as long as my final runnings aren't below 1.01 so that I can still end up with 5 gallons in the keg? Thanks.
Even at 7 gallons in the BK, my last runnings were about 1.03, so I know I can get more wort out since I can get down to 1.01.
I lose a lot to evaporation because I'm doing 5 gallons in a 15 gallon Blichmann Boilermaker so there is a ton of surface area (got the 15 gal. since I'll do 10 gallon batches eventually and it seemed silly not to get it for the marginal price increase compared to buying a whole other pot later) and I'm using a turkey fryer burner which I try and keep low so it isn't a ferocious boil.
So my question is, is it OK to have like 7.5 or 8 gallons in the BK pre-boil as long as my final runnings aren't below 1.01 so that I can still end up with 5 gallons in the keg? Thanks.