Making a double batch from extract kits
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 4:32 am
by Firekja
I was going to make a double batch from an extract kit, do I need to adjust my hops one way or the other for this?
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:27 am
by DannyW
do you mean you are taking two 5-gallon kits and making a 10 gallon batch? If so, then as long as you boil in the same proportions as the instructions call for then you do not need to adjust anything.
What I mean is that if the kit is set up for a 2 gal boil with 3 gal of top up water, you can boil 2 kits in 4 gallons with 6 gal of top up water with no problems.
this could get complicated real fast so I'll stop now and see if that answers the question...
thanks
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:37 am
by Firekja
yes that helps, i usually do a full boil though. I just didn't know if it affected hop utilization or anything like that
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 12:09 pm
by Field
Hop utilization isn't affected so much with different extract gravities because there isn't much break material compared to all grain.
It's not really the gravity that decreases hop utilization. Hop acids like to stick to things, if they stick to break material they end up out of your beer and aren't utilized.
A high gravity wort will tend to have a higher amount of break material than a lower gravity wort, so it will have more stuff to pull hop acids out. It's not really the gravity doing it.
The extract producer already removed most of those break materials for you. So don't worry.
If you were going to start adding more steeping grains, or do a mini-mash, then you'd need to worry about the hop utilization.
Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 3:00 pm
by hansolo
I think you would be ok. I always check a calculation program to make sure of all the numbers. If you don't have one, TastyBrew has a good one for free that you can use online.
TastyBrew Calculator