9 replies to this topic

[realbeerguy]

I lose 1 gal/hr/6.5 gal preboil volume. Double is the correct answer for my system.

[Sharkman]

I have an ESB house beer that I have just perfected. I would like to begin to have this beer on hand at all times, I just cant get enough of this beer! The best way I can think of to do this is take the jump to 10gallons. I already have the equipment to do it and I use Beersmith exclusively. Beersmith is nearly doubling my boil off when I use the "scale-up" feature. I wouldn't think that you boil-off is more when you have a bigger batch size! Has anyone noticed this when they made the jump?? Is your boil-off more at 10 gal as opposed to the normal 5 gal?? Am I missing something?

I don't use Beersmith, but Promash lets you set your evaporation rate as either a percent per hour or a constant per hour. You should set it to a constant per hour, your boil off is generally the same regardless of the volume, for the same vessel.If you are using a different set up, you may need to adjust your boil rate, but again, it will be the same per hour regardless of the volume.

[ncbeerbrewer]

I made the jump to 10 gallons for a few of the beers that I brew regularly and used Beersmith as well. I followed Beersmith and they have all come out great. I would suggest as well to measure what your final volume in the kettle is and mark it on a stick or yard stick. I suggest this so that you can base how the boil off is going and then you won't come up short. For my system I don't boil off double the volume from 5-10 gallon scale up either. Hope that helps. Enjoy the added volume you get used to it quickly and its a lot of fun.

[djinkc]

I brew inside with a relatively constant environment and electric heat source. It is more a function of the surface area of your kettle than anything else inside. I've tested it and my boiloff in gallons/hour is the same with 5, 10 or 12 gallons in the kettle. Outside brewing is less predictable, ambient conditions, flame strength ect ETA - ten gallon batches are great

Edited by djinkc, 17 August 2010 - 07:18 PM.

[EWW]

For 10 gallon batches I start with 13 gallons and finish with 11 after a 75 min boil...just another data point

[Sidney Porter]

Another thing to keep in mind with you equipement is do you manually lift anything. Manual lifting with 5 gallons is possible but much more difficult with 10. With 10 you will more than likely need a pump or gravity to move the liquids.

[beach]

I use BeerSmith and set my evap rate to 12% for my system and it works out well.

Another thing to keep in mind with you equipement is do you manually lift anything. Manual lifting with 5 gallons is possible but much more difficult with 10. With 10 you will more than likely need a pump or gravity to move the liquids.

I picked up an 8' roller conveyor for $5 at a garage sale, I just roll my kettle up to a stand and gravity feed into the fermenter and push with CO2 from there. The 10 gallon jump is definately worth a little extra work.Beach

[ncbeerbrewer]

Another thing to keep in mind with you equipement is do you manually lift anything. Manual lifting with 5 gallons is possible but much more difficult with 10. With 10 you will more than likely need a pump or gravity to move the liquids.

+1 on this comment. 10 gallons is way heavier than 5 gallons. I don't do pumps but a jump like this makes you think about it more. Its doable but be careful and only lift when you must.