Couple of Q`s

[JayBee]

Looking forward to starting my first extract brew next week. I`ve got all the ingredients and shall be attempting the 10 litre one hop recipe which seems a great starting point. I shall be using a large stock pot on the stove by the way.
Just a couple of small queries really. When you add the second bag of spraymalt do you just chuck it in to the boiler? The only time I`ve added it to anything other than luke warm it was a pig to dissolve.
The other thing is once its boiling away and the hops are in do you cover it or just leave it open and stir occasionally or leave well alone.
I`m sure I`m worrying too much but I`d like to get the first one right before experimenting further.

[badgerdan]

I could be wrong here as I'm too about to start my first extract brew but I've done nothing but read, read ask questions and read some more so may be talking some sense?

I'd dissolve all the DME you're using when the water is really hot but before boiling; that way it'll be hot enough to dissolve it better and also maybe pour it in slowly and stir as to not get it clumping up. Once it's all in get it to a vigorous boil and whack your hops in. I think you need to stir it now and again just to make sure the extract isn't sticking to the bottom as it'll then burn and give it a bad taste that some say doesn't go away.

Don't cover it up, check the quote below from Jahon Palmer's How To Brew site http://www.howtobrew.com

Once you achieve a boil, only partially cover the pot, if at all. Why? Because in wort there are sulfur compounds that evolve and boil off. If they aren't removed during the boil, the can form dimethyl sulfide which contributes a cooked cabbage or corn-like flavor to the beer

Anyway, hope someone can actually come on here to say I'm right or indeed change anything that's wrong

Good luck with yours I just need my DME to turn up then I'm on my way

[MightyMouth]

DME is a pig when adding to hot water, it starts clumping up before it leaves the bag then if the water is already boiling it will foam up like a big foamy thing. If at all possible you should add the DME to cold water but if that isn't an option the clumps will eventually dissolve in the boiling water, just watch out for the foaming.

[JayBee]

Thanks both. I might gradually warm up the second lot of DME in a seperate pot before adding to the main one. Thanks for the link too. If this first brew goes well I`ll invest in one of the books available, probably the Graham Wheeler one and take it from there.

[Chase24]

Is there any reason why you can't add the second bag of spraymalt at the same time as the first? Are you boiling less than 10 litres and hoping to extract more from the hops? To be honest the difference in extraction rates is really only a technical detail - its better to keep things simple until you've built up the experience, IMHO.