19 replies to this topic

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

So I'm considering boiling down some portion of my wort separate from the main boil to create some extra caramelization. For a 5 gallon batch - what amount should I start out with and how much should I boil it down?Note that I am already planning on an extended boil (90 mins). Should I still do this as well?

[denny]

Start with at least a gal., boil down to a qt. or less. Won't hurt to do a 90 min. boil.

[BarefootBrews]

So the procedure would be....collect approx 1 gal first runnings in a saucepan and begin to boil this down to about 1 qt....meanwhile continue sparging into boilkettle...add the concentrated/caramelized 1 qt of wort back to the boil kettle and proceed with a normal 60-90 min boil?

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

So the procedure would be....collect approx 1 gal first runnings in a saucepan and begin to boil this down to about 1 qt....meanwhile continue sparging into boilkettle...add the concentrated/caramelized 1 qt of wort back to the boil kettle and proceed with a normal 60-90 min boil?

I think you can boil down the 1 gallon and add it into the main boil whenever it's ready.

[harryfrog]

Is it to add more caramel or to increase perceived maltiness?We've been having an interesting discussion within our brew club about efficiency and taste in a beer. One of our guys has been experimenting with no-sparge batches to try and get a fuller flavor. He found he preferred the maltiness on beers such as english bitters with a no-sparge, low efficiency (65%) to his brews made on his recirc system that was around 78% efficiency.I would think this would be similar to Denny's suggestion of concentrating some of the first runnings...or is there something about reducing the liquid that really increases the caramelization?

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

Is it to add more caramel or to increase perceived maltiness?

I'm shooting for a richer, more caramel tasting brew.

[ChefLamont]

I cant remember where I read it, but I thought, historically, the scottish beers like this were boiled for a LONG time. Like in some cases over night. However, I just went and searched through my Scotch Ale book (from the Classic Brewing Series) and I cant find it in there. Actually it says that scotch ales should not be boiled more than 90 minutes or so because it affects the delicate malt aroma. Hmmm interesting.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

I cant remember where I read it, but I thought, historically, the scottish beers like this were boiled for a LONG time. Like in some cases over night. However, I just went and searched through my Scotch Ale book (from the Classic Brewing Series) and I cant find it in there. Actually it says that scotch ales should not be boiled more than 90 minutes or so because it affects the delicate malt aroma. Hmmm interesting.

overnight boil? I don't think I have the propane for that

[cavman]

I'm shooting for a richer, more caramel tasting brew.

I tasted my scottish style dark mild/stout that the first runnings were boiled down last night, it has a nice toffee flavor among the expected flavors.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

I tasted my scottish style dark mild/stout that the first runnings were boiled down last night, it has a nice toffee flavor among the expected flavors.

Can you provide some info on batch size, amount boiled down (start and ending volume of boil down)? Thanks!

[cavman]

Can you provide some info on batch size, amount boiled down (start and ending volume of boil down)? Thanks!

Yeah 5.5 gallons final batch size; first 1.5 gallons were boiled down to .75 gallons, total wort collection was 8 gallons with a 90 minute boil.Recipe:6# Maris Otter.5# Torrified wheat.5# Chocolate(300L).25# Crystal 40.25# Crystal 902 oz Roasted Barley(525L).75 oz EKG for 60 minutesWLP028 Edinburgh Ale yeast fermented at 64.

[denny]

I'm shooting for a richer, more caramel tasting brew.

That's pretty much what you get from a boildown.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

Yeah 5.5 gallons final batch size; first 1.5 gallons were boiled down to .75 gallons, total wort collection was 8 gallons with a 90 minute boil.Recipe:6# Maris Otter.5# Torrified wheat.5# Chocolate(300L).25# Crystal 40.25# Crystal 902 oz Roasted Barley(525L).75 oz EKG for 60 minutesWLP028 Edinburgh Ale yeast fermented at 64.

Sounds pretty good. My recipe is slightly diff, 9.5# GP, 0.3# C120, 0.5# C65, 0.125# RB. I use a little more EKG than you and also do some late additions (but nothing too extreme).

[cavman]

Sounds pretty good. My recipe is slightly diff, 9.5# GP, 0.3# C120, 0.5# C65, 0.125# RB. I use a little more EKG than you and also do some late additions (but nothing too extreme).

I was planning for a dark mild originally, then changed my mind at the last minute when I decided to do the boil down. That's part of the reason for the minimal hops, I wanted it to be a malty beer and wanted to see what the boil down added.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

I was planning for a dark mild originally, then changed my mind at the last minute when I decided to do the boil down. That's part of the reason for the minimal hops, I wanted it to be a malty beer and wanted to see what the boil down added.

Still a fine looking beer.

[cavman]

Still a fine looking beer.

more importlantly it's a fine tasting beer.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

more importlantly it's a fine tasting beer.

respekt

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

So I pretty much mimicked what cavman did for the boildown. My kitchen got a little steamy so I may have to do it prior to starting my main boil next time around. Between the boil down and the 90 min boil it will be interesting to see how much wort I'm going to end up with. I did add in a little extra water to my mash and sparge but I don't think enough to counteract the amount of boil off I just achieved. Chilling it down right now so I'll know soon enough...

[cavman]

So I pretty much mimicked what cavman did for the boildown. My kitchen got a little steamy so I may have to do it prior to starting my main boil next time around. Between the boil down and the 90 min boil it will be interesting to see how much wort I'm going to end up with. I did add in a little extra water to my mash and sparge but I don't think enough to counteract the amount of boil off I just achieved. Chilling it down right now so I'll know soon enough...

Cool, I'll be interested in your thoughts of the beer when it's ready. What did you brew for this beer?

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

Cool, I'll be interested in your thoughts of the beer when it's ready. What did you brew for this beer?

Since I only ended up with 4.5 gallons it is a little stronger than anticipated (1.064). Another reason for the loss is it seems like leaf hops absorb a lot of liquid. This beer is meant to be an 80/-.