Pre boil volume seems low

[Joe Klem]

Hi -- I'm using BeerSmith to plan an extract batch. Aiming for 3.5 lb. LME, 60 minute boil and approximately 2.5 gallons into fermenter. I chose the preloaded equipment profile called "Extract Mini (3 gal)".

BeerSmith is telling me to use a pre-boil volume of 2.12 gallons. (See screenshot.) My kettle usually boils off about 1.5 gallons per hour, so that would leave me with only 0.62 gallons after the boil. It probably assumes that I will top off with more water when I transfer to the fermenter, but even so, it seems that toward the end of the boil, my wort would be a bit too thick, maybe even risk burning it (!!)

John Palmer suggests using half the DME for the boil, and adding the other half at flameout. I could do that to avoid the thickness that I'm worried about. But I'd like to know what is causing BeerSmith to recommend this water volume. What assumptions is it making that I'm not aware of? Thanks.

 

[Kevin58]

You have chosen an equipment profile for extract brewing called the Mini but is that the equipment you are using? Before you start making a recipe you need to create an equipment profile based on what you are actually using. And FWIW the preloaded profiles are good starting points but I always recommend to new brewers... or those new to BS software... to use those only as a starting point for creating your own.

Most, if not all, of the profiles you will find loaded in BS were supplied by users. You and I both could have the exact same brand, make and model of brewing equipment but we might not use them exactly the same. And that can cause differences in the output. So first start out by identifying your equipment. Then work on creating as accurate a profile as possible.

For an extract brewer when setting up an equipment profile using the set up wizard all you really need to pay attention to is your batch volume (how much you want to end up with in the fermenter), your boil time, boil off rate, loss to trub and chiller (all of your volume losses post boil), any top off water to the fermenter, and fermenter loss. You will need to enter your elevation and if you whirlpool add the length of time to let the software calculate your hop utilization.

If all you will ever do is extract batches then Beersmith may be more than you need as far as software goes. It can be helpful however if you create your own recipes. In that case having a custom and accurate equipment profile can help.

 

[Joe Klem]

You have chosen an equipment profile for extract brewing called the Mini but is that the equipment you are using? Before you start making a recipe you need to create an equipment profile based on what you are actually using. And FWIW the preloaded profiles are good starting points but I always recommend to new brewers... or those new to BS software... to use those only as a starting point for creating your own.

Most, if not all, of the profiles you will find loaded in BS were supplied by users. You and I both could have the exact same brand, make and model of brewing equipment but we might not use them exactly the same. And that can cause differences in the output. So first start out by identifying your equipment. Then work on creating as accurate a profile as possible.

For an extract brewer when setting up an equipment profile using the set up wizard all you really need to pay attention to is your batch volume (how much you want to end up with in the fermenter), your boil time, boil off rate, loss to trub and chiller (all of your volume losses post boil), any top off water to the fermenter, and fermenter loss. You will need to enter your elevation and if you whirlpool add the length of time to let the software calculate your hop utilization.

If all you will ever do is extract batches then Beersmith may be more than you need as far as software goes. It can be helpful however if you create your own recipes. In that case having a custom and accurate equipment profile can help.

Good points, thanks @Kevin58. I didn't see any generic equipment profile for a stainless steel boil kettle, so I chose the closest thing. But ultimately, since I already know a lot about my equipment, I guess it's best to just create a custom profile, as I did for my all-grain equipment and have used successfully in BeerSmith for several batches. When I did that, the software gave me the pre-boil volume that I expected.