Kettle and Fermenter Volume Calibration Markings

[Mike at Bay]

As you'd expect both my SS Brewtech kettle and fermenter have gallon and liter markings. I work in gallons. My question is how do you dial in volumes using these markings. Once you have wort you can't really move the stuff from one measuring vessel to another without risk of spillage or contamination.

Strike volume (BIAB) is not an issue because I can measure out gallons using a "scientifically" calibrated scale on the pitcher. I have done a test boil off with the kettle so I know I normally boil off 1.7 gallons. However, that is where the science ends and the estimation begins for me. Can I get close.....sure...."that looks like about 5.8 gallons". I take pics of all the stages of the brew in the kettle and fermenter so I can torture things after the brew.....but with these markings angles and level vessels make a difference.

And as you'd expect even slight differences in volumes change efficiency and gravity measurements.

Any advice (like don't get hung up on ounces)?

Signed, Wannabe Chemist.

 

[west1m]

Before I installed a sight glass, I used a piece of PVC pipe with level markings on it.

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

a site glass is also good for a stuck mash level, hard to tell otherwise

 

[jschein]

I marked a dowel at 1/2 gallon increments , you can get more precise if needed

 

[Donoroto]

Water expands with heat, so the markings I have get less and less accurate as temperature increases, and the bubbles in the boil throw it way out, so I just brew with ‘my eyes closed’ (figuratively).

 

[Mike at Bay]

Water expands with heat, so the markings I have get less and less accurate as temperature increases, and the bubbles in the boil throw it way out, so I just brew with ‘my eyes closed’ (figuratively).

That's what I'm talkin' about!!!!! LOL. Good advice. I am just hoping to get PreB, PostB and Fermenter volumes to be a little more accurate.

 

[Craigerrr]

I don't get too sciency about precise water volumes either, the Brewzilla level markings are off by an amount that seems to work for me.

 

[Craigerrr]

The really sciency way to do it is by weight. The apparent volume changes with temperature fluctuations, but the weight does not change as the volume changes due to temperature.

 

[Donoroto]

That's what I'm talkin' about!!!!! LOL. Good advice. I am just hoping to get PreB, PostB and Fermenter volumes to be a little more accurate.

Many here advise to brew for gravity, not volume.

I do check gravity, but do little or nothing about it if there is something off a bit. Maybe a bit less or more sparge water.

 

[Ward Chillington]

Many here advise to brew for gravity, not volume.

I do check gravity, but do little or nothing about it if there is something off a bit. Maybe a bit less or more sparge water.

Yeah, this is a good approach since there are so many variables that can play with your targets and expected results. Trying to hit them can lead to frustration and you're doing this for fun...right? Being is the ballpark is a better goal IMHO. You want to know your starting gravity so you can figure out the FG and know that you were at least in the cheap seats and not in row Z 15 of the parking lot!
Just remember.....malted barley wants to become beer!

 

[Minbari]

Really wouldn't get that worried about it.

You don't brew for volume, you brew for gravity! When done mashing and boiling, test the gravity and add water to fix it. Get the gravity right and the beer will turn out the way you want it. Better good beer that is off a bit in volume, than correct volume and compromised beer

 

[Mike at Bay]

Thanks all! Agree....I am not brewing specifically to the volume per se but the equipment profile and thus recipes are built on assumptions that I would like to be able to validate with some accuracy. In theory, the more I can measure with confidence, the less "why did that happen?".

I recently started logging numbers into a spreadsheet so I can track averages over time. I am going to go the dipstick route for now, I think that should help.

 

[Minbari]

At our scale, there are so many variables that contribute to variance in the results. It hard to nail it down to one or two things. I tried for years, now i just accept that i may get a really good efficiency one day and not the next and it makes my brew day happier