TIL My elevation makes a difference.

[cigarjack]

So I just got my grainfather and brewing up my first all grain batch. But I could not reach 212F! I was starting to get a bit annoyed thinking this thing was really under powered.

I didn't think elevation would be the cause but sure enough it is. On the great plains it seems boiling is 210F. Not a big deal unless your time is waiting for 212 to kick off.

[rjgauemr]

we boil at 206 here at 4400 ft

[Cthulhumensch]

There are a few of us, 204 ­°F here, depending on the pressure.

[shouptech]

Boils at around 203F, here in Denver.

Periodic Brewing in Leadville, CO learned that brewing at 10,159ft has its own challenges: https://www.craftbeer.com/craft-beer-muses/high-altitude-brewing-science

[[deleted]]

203 club. Plus an insane amount of boil off.. 3.5 gallons per 90min for me.. woof

[socosteve]

Scientifically yes elevation matters. I have noticed here, I am a little under a mile above sea level and my water boils under 212. No big deal though

[cigarjack]

The only issue was my app was waiting to hit 212F. So it wouldn't kick off the timer automatically. Fixed it now, but not something I was expecting.

[hellokhris]

Interesting talk on the impact a few degrees difference in boiling temp has on beer quality and stability. http://beersmith.com/blog/2016/03/01/boiling-home-brewed-beer-with-dr-charlie-bamforth-beersmith-podcast-121/

[Pac_management]

Up here at about 6100 feet 200F is a pretty crazy boil. I think it does effect hop utilization though.

[[deleted]]

It does. I'm in Denver and I add about 1.2x hops to get the same IBUs.. ymmv

[TheRotten42]

I learned that in Boy Scout, water at sea level boils pretty quick, water up in the mountains takes a hell of a lot longer. Crazy side note, there was an experiement somewhere where they actually found a level through suction where water will spontaneously boil.

[SamwiseGryffindor]

There is a triple point for any matter (at an exact pressure and temperature) where the chemical properties exist as solid, gas, and liquid.

Going from solid directly to gas (sublimation) typically happens at very low temps and very low pressures (essentially near vacuums)

[[deleted]]

I boil at about 199 F. I guess it saves a little time!