Doubling up & watering down

[ercol]

Hi,

Due to boiler size i only have the capacity to make approx 12L at a time. The rest of my gear (mash tun, fermenters, etc) is big enough to take the standard 23L.

It has occurred to me if i wanted to make a 4% beer, could i effectively double up the recipe in to an 8% beer, then water it down to the desired quantity/gravity post-boil?

Has anyone tried anything along these lines?

Cheers,

[jmc]

I do this regularly to do 2 x 20L brews from a 33L (to brim) boiler

Bear in mind hop utilisation will be a bit less as (probably) will mash efficiency.
I'd add an extra 10-15% malt & hops to the 23L recipe's amount and try it out.

For those who want to do 2 brews you can split the concentrated wort 55% : 45% to get different strength brews (like I did with recent brew AG74A - Proper Job / AG74B - Little Job). You can of course experiment with different yeasts too.

[ercol]

Good news, thanks boss.

Now to double up and be frightened by the quantity of ingredients going in!

[Dave S]

I do this regularly to do 2 x 20L brews from a 33L (to brim) boiler

Bear in mind hop utilisation will be a bit less as (probably) will mash efficiency.
I'd add an extra 10-15% malt & hops to the 23L recipe's amount and try it out.

For those who want to do 2 brews you can split the concentrated wort 55% : 45% to get different strength brews (like I did with recent brew AG74A - Proper Job / AG74B - Little Job). You can of course experiment with different yeasts too.

Do you treat the water you use to water down?

[jmc]

I do this regularly to do 2 x 20L brews from a 33L (to brim) boiler

Bear in mind hop utilisation will be a bit less as (probably) will mash efficiency.
I'd add an extra 10-15% malt & hops to the 23L recipe's amount and try it out.

For those who want to do 2 brews you can split the concentrated wort 55% : 45% to get different strength brews (like I did with recent brew AG74A - Proper Job / AG74B - Little Job). You can of course experiment with different yeasts too.

Do you treat the water you use to water down?

I have very hard water, but for dilution-water I just add campden tablet to remove chlorine / chloramines.
Equivalent of 1/2 tablet per 25L water. To make adding campden tablets easier and consistent I make up a 1% solution and dose with this.

This dilution water in not going in the mash or boil and so I don't think pH is as important, and I've been happy with results so far.
(I'd be interested if others think that's incorrect and I should be adding acid / salts)

[Underground Joe]

I use Tesco Ashbeck water as I've always got some of this ready for Starsan use and it also means that I don't have to treat it for chlorine etc.

[jaberry]

I use Ashbeck and in fact have just done my first maxi-BIAB diluting my 1.070 wort down to 1.048