Help with getting boil-off consistent.

[Otter]

I am having a real problem getting my boil-off to be consistent batch to batch. I try to adjust the flame to the same intensity, but still I'm still having problems dialing it in. My rate will vary from 1.05g/hr to 1.25g/hr and sometimes even higher.

I'm using a converted keg, with the Bayou Classic square propane burner. I thought about leaving the regulator at the same setting, and just using the valve on the tank to turn it on and off.

Does anybody have any tips for locking this in? What do you do with yours? are you just "eyeballing" it?

[seanhagerty]

The truth is, I generally have slight variances with my boil off also. Ambient temp, regulator adjustment, relative humidity, all have a bit of influence on how musch we boil off.

I try to eyeball it, and am able to do a fairly good job of it, but I do see some slight variance.

Good Luck with it.

Sean

[ApresSkiBrewer]

Also, the methods for measuring volumes (unless you have a really nice, calibrated sight glass).... tend to give you quite a bit of variance too. I eyeball the vigerousness of my boil though... and roll with it.'

I forget what I was listening too for a show (it was a recent one), but I remember Jamil saying that, yes a rolling boil is very important... it doesn't need to be jumping out of the kettle - just a nice rolling boil. Ever since, I have been trying to dial my boil off to about .8-1 g/hr. Because before it was much higher when I had my bayou rippin.

[Bugeater]

Sean outlined a lot of the variables affecting boil off in his post above. These are things out of your control. In addition, there is only so much you can do to control your boil. If you don't boil it hard enough you will have problems. If you boil it too hard you will have other problems. Follow Jamil's advice about the intensity of the boil and live with the variation in boil off.

That said there is a way around this that I often use. Use a refractometer to monitor your gravity and kill the flame when you hit your desired OG.

It is a little more complicated than that however. First you still need to have your boil off rate figured to be in the ball park so you aren't cutting your boil too short or running it too long. You shouldn't have to adjust the boil time more than about 10 minutes at the most.

This method can also create some problems with hopping, particularly with the later hop additions normally done 10 to 30 minutes before the end of the boil. I get around this by using those additions as First Wort Hops. This way the only boil additions I have to do are the bittering addition at 60 minutes and the additions at knockout or shortly before. This also avoids the nasty habit of forgetting those midboil additions when you have been drinking too much or otherwise distracted during the boil.

Wayne

[Otter]

Yeah, that's where I usually run into problems, is my hop additions.

I have no problem boiling for longer than 90 minutes, but if I've already added my hops I'm screwed.

I've already brewed about 9 times this year, and I've been pretty worried about variation in the boil-off.

At least now I know I'm not far off the mark. I just need to try and be more consistent with the flame intensity and checking the boil with my refractometer.

thanks for the help guys