Pliny clone question

[KJ]

I would like to brew a double batch of Vinnie's Pliny the Elder from Zymurgy (2009). However, I can only boil about 14 gallons at a time. The recipe calls for collecting 16 gallons in the kettle.

Should I scale the recipe down using the percentages and end up with less beer?
Or, is there a way to use the same recipe and boil less?

Thanks for the input.

KJ

[whoateallthepies]

Depends on a few things.

If you can mash more grain and sparge less, you can get the same amount of sugars from the grain. You may wind up with more malt character than the original recipe would give you as a result of this method. Then...

If you have the same amount of sugars in less volume, your utilisation will be reduced and you will have to add more hops at the bittering end to get the same IBUs in the end product. Then...

You can add back boiling water at the end of the boil to get your volume back up to the target. This should also get your OG down to the target OG.

Things to consider: Hops utilisation in a more concentrate wort than the recipe calls for will be lower, so you will have to calculate for that. Calculating IBUs, you will have to keep in mind bitterness units as a whole, because you will be topping up the volume at the end of the boil. eg 100IBU in 20L = 80IBU in 25L.

You may be better off scaling the recipe down to suit your system. This is probably what I would do.

[brewinhard]

Give it a shot at the volume you can boil and see what you end up with. Maybe use some hop bags to minimize the amount of wort loss to hop absorption. Then when you brew it again you will know where to adjust if need be. I bet you would be fine with a 14 gallon boil for 90 minutes even with all of the hops in the kettle. I bet you will end up with close to 10 gallons packaged after dry hopping.

[KJ]

Thanks for such quick replies and for the good info. Will probably try using the same recipe and boiling 14 gal using a slow, rolling boil.

Whoateallthepies: That is a very thoughtful response. Thanks; you have inspired me to learn more about hop utilization during the boil!

[spiderwrangler]

Another option would be removing a portion of the base malt to allow it to work within your system, do all your hop additions and and in an equivalent amount of DME at the end of boil, then top with water...

[Joe'Bronco]

Keep in mind that the recipe has already been calculated for evaporation loss. Doubling the recipe does not necessarily double the evaporation loss as your surface area and boil time remain the same. The original recipe calls for a FINAL product of 5 gallons (after evap, trub loss, transfer loss, ect) with 8 gallons to start with. I dont think your going to lose 6 gallons.

I would personally keep the recipe the same with 14 gallons of water and a slow boil. Your still going to make beer and chances are a Hell-of a good one.

[CRBrewHound]

You could run it has specified collect the the full 16 and hold 2 gallons back. As you boil off your wort you could then add back the 2 gallons as space allows. Just make sure you can boil the whole thing for at least 15 minutes to make sure everything is good and sanitized before tranfer.

[KJ]

All good ideas. I will be brewing this on Friday and will let you know how it goes!

With this hop load, would you all recommend using hop bags or just pitch the pellets de novo?