BREWING NOW: Advice on boil please

[UKSkydiver]

Hi all
Currently have a brew on.

First time using my 40 lit Buffalo

Only a small batch, about 16 litres going in to boil.

Problem is it’s not getting up to boil. Took ages to get up to 97c and now it’s falling, currently 93c.

Suggestions? I can tell you I didn’t move the thermostat sensor? The long silver tube thing. I’m pretty confident the cut out hasn’t activated, as I changed that to a 135c one.

Worst case is I can transfer to my SS pot and finish the boil off in that. Bit of a pain tho.

Cheers

 

[UKSkydiver]

Oh. And what about me hops? FWH have been in for oven an hour and not put my 15 mins hops in yet.
Cheers

 

[Pennine]

try stirring it, does this have a flat burner on the bottom? if so try to scrape it with a metal spoon. sometimes there is a layer of maillard reactions that insulate the heater.

 

[UKSkydiver]

Been stirring like my life depended on it.

I’ve transferred to my (smaller) SS pot fo now. Still yet to see the bottom of the urn as there is still 3 litres in there. Will update.

 

[Pennine]

the grainfather also has a overheat switch on the bottom that sometimes gets tripped. its possible yours might have this as well.

 

[Pennine]

yep it does
External thermal safety reset button
find that and reset.

 

[UKSkydiver]

Cutout on mine is auto start. And I've replaced it with a higher temp one anyway. So not likely to be that.

There is some crap on the bottom that I would describe as light. Certainly a light rub with a plastic stirrer removes it. Metal spoon / effort not required:

Currently getting it up to the boil in my little pot. I have added my 15 min hops and will boil for 15 mins.

No idea how this turd will turn out.

 

[Pennine]

thats not really that bad, i usually scrape it when im bringing them up to a boil and stir once it gets noisy. sorry no other ideas to help.

 

[Pennine]

also dont worry it will probably still be good. different maybe but i am sure good. the fwh shouldn't change with an extended boil much.

some people only boil for 15 minutes and they make beer.

 

[UKSkydiver]

Thanks for your help.

Right now, I’m not too worried about the beer, but my volumes are way off. Should have been about 16 litres into boil and about 12 post.

Bearing in mind it been sitting in the 90s for nearly two hours, and I’ve been boiling in the pot for a bit, now I’ve transferred it all from the urn, there is still about 16 litres in there.

To get down to 12 litres I’m going to need to boil for another hour, no?

 

[Pennine]

it depends on the boil quality, the more rigorous the quicker it will go. i would say between 1 and 2 hours, probably closer to 2.

i always find it easier to boil less and then add water after the boil to hit your expected gravity versus boiling to get there.

 

[UKSkydiver]

Thanks. Will just have to wait. SWMBO isnt going to be happy with this extended brew day

I appreciate to your time.