Over sparge and over boil - chances of success?

[Kev888]

I 'finally' got time for a brewday yesterday; only for a neighbour to rather thoughtlessly have an accident and need help with bandages. Naturally it was during the sparge.. I was surprised to find it wasn't all over the floor, but I had got about 50% more wort in the boiler than intended, at something like 1.028 instead of 1.040. So I boiled for several hours through to the early morning to get to 1.040 and its now in the FV..

I wasn't there to measure or taste the last runnings so I don't know if I've over-sparged the grain - seems likely but being a stout its a bitter/sweet mix at this stage anyway and I can't decide from the taste. I also don't know if the several hours of boiling will have done anything to harm it, as I've never boiled for anything like that long; I doubt any colour shifts will matter as its pretty black anyway, but I guess it could taste stewed. Unfortunately I had a few First Wort Hops in there too so they certainly got the full treatment.

Has anyone ever gone this far overboard with sparging and/or boiling? What do people think the chances of success/failure are?

Cheers
Kev

[mark4newman]

Hi Kev

I've never boiled for that long. The only thing I have heard about extra long boils, is that the hot break can start to start to redisolve after two hours. Whether that is true or not I don't know.

[Kev888]

Thanks Mark, I'd not heard that one so something to investigate. It could be true as the filter didn't seem to struggle at all, which it often does if theres lots of break material.

In a way perhaps its been useful; I very rarely have brew-day problems as such, but lately I've been getting unduly frustrated with all the little things that don't go quite as I'd wish (probably due to increasing time pressure). So oddly its good to re-establish perspective - I should try to be more content with them.

Cheers
Kev

[boingy]

I'd say it will most likely be fine.
In fact, you better hope that it doesn't turn out too good otherwise your brew days are going to be a whole lot longer...

[Kev888]

Sounds encouraging - fingers crossed then.

Hehheh, it would be awful if this actually made it better; I'd have to brew all day then boil overnight.. Would be typical though; this stout (based on Graham's guinness extra) remains about the simplest/cheapest brew that I make, which is probably tempting fate... Though it was supposed to be for a friend's party at christmas so I'd almost accept that if it didn't taste pants on this occasion.

Cheers
Kev