Seems like it could be a bit finer for BIAB, but it doesn't really matter so long as it's consistent and your numbers are repeatable.View attachment 19984 Right now, I’m heating ~4 gallons of water to mash these 5 pounds of grain. That is the crush I get from my lhbs when I request it ground for BIAB process.
Underneath what you see in the photo, the crush was much finer. It was a good mix of solids and flour. There are 6 ounces of flaked oats in there too, adding to the “solids” appearance. I was targeting 160F for my dough in, which I caught, then after stirring to break up clumps, the mash temp was right at 154F, as planned. If my mash goes as usual, it should be around 150F after an hour. It smells good in here.Seems like it could be a bit finer for BIAB, but it doesn't really matter so long as it's consistent and your numbers are repeatable.
Will be looking for some Stout brew-day updates!
Smell like Chocolate cookies?Underneath what you see in the photo, the crush was much finer. It was a good mix of solids and flour. There are 6 ounces of flaked oats in there too, adding to the “solids” appearance. I was targeting 160F for my dough in, which I caught, then after stirring to break up clumps, the mash temp was right at 154F, as planned. If my mash goes as usual, it should be around 150F after an hour. It smells good in here.
Wow that is an intense hot break!View attachment 19987 Hot break!View attachment 19988 Boiling now, with 60 minute Magnum hops addition.
I know, it looks like a brownie from the oven.Wow that is an intense hot break!
6 points? Leave it be and let the yeast rip. What was projected OG/FG? I guess you could add DME/sugar to the fermenter to make it up but if it were me I'd leave it be and learn from it next timeOK, so I have a minor problem that I hope someone here can talk me off the ledge. I guesstimated my preboil volume at 3.65 gallons at 150F, which calculated to 3.6 gallons (.05 gallon short) - no big deal, with SG 1 point higher than projected. So I boiled for an hour, collected a sample and put the kettle in an ice bath. Wort is now at 70F, gravity is much lower than expected (6 points low), but my boiloff was weak. Postboil volume looks to be about a quart and a half greater than target. This means I should have kept boiling, and likely achieved projected gravity and volume. But I don’t have any more ice, and I hate wasting water.
Now I’m pretty easy going, so I know I could just call it a day and accept my first stout for what it is. What say you fine folks out there in the beer universe?
Projected OG 1.056, actual 1.050. Projected FG 1.015 using WLP051.6 points? Leave it be and let the yeast rip. What was projected OG/FG?
Does your predicted FG change a lot at 1.050 vs 1.056? You could easily add more fermentable sugar but I don't think you need toProjected OG 1.056, actual 1.050. Projected FG 1.015 using WLP051.
This is what I get for fooling around with my equipment profile.
I never gave it any thought that the OG would affect the FG. It’s probably best just to get this in the fermenter and let the yeast get to work. Thanks for the feedback.Does your predicted FG change a lot at 1.050 vs 1.056? You could easily add more fermentable sugar but I don't think you need to
God speed little yeastiesI never gave it any thought that the OG would affect the FG. It’s probably best just to get this in the fermenter and let the yeast get to work. Thanks for the feedback.
It is done - yeast pitched, fermenter is in the closet for at least 3 weeks. I think it will turn out fine.I was going to say: pitch it. It will come out awesome!
OMG little buggers give em a dunk in some water to think about itI have been cleaning my brew area and set up a baby batch of primitive cider using some debris from my "not really a tripel". Just added a bit of apple juice to it. If it starts going I'll add the remainder of the juice. It's sort of a primitive starter
While doing that, I noticed that my syphon pipe looked like it had some rubbish inside, so went to clean that. It's rock solid and looks like the start of a hornets nest. Nasty things.
Managed to unblock with the help of a kebab skewer. Grabbed a cloth to clean out the outside as well and got stung by a wasp
Now sitting feeling sorry for myself
Like Sunfire said, let it buck as is. Next time boil for gravity, not volume or even time. Boil rates change in the homebrewing world because our control isn't super tight. When I boil I check gravity with a refractometer several times during the boil. I extend the boil when the gravity is low and add water when the gravity is too high. Most bittering hops are 60 minutes additions, so if the boil goes longer it's not a big deal because extending the 60 minute addition doesn't create much in the way of bittering because the AA's are already in solution.OK, so I have a minor problem that I hope someone here can talk me off the ledge. I guesstimated my preboil volume at 3.65 gallons at 150F, which calculated to 3.6 gallons (.05 gallon short) - no big deal, with SG 1 point higher than projected. So I boiled for an hour, collected a sample and put the kettle in an ice bath. Wort is now at 70F, gravity is much lower than expected (6 points low), but my boiloff was weak. Postboil volume looks to be about a quart and a half greater than target. This means I should have kept boiling, and likely achieved projected gravity and volume. But I don’t have any more ice, and I hate wasting water.
Now I’m pretty easy going, so I know I could just call it a day and accept my first stout for what it is. What say you fine folks out there in the beer universe?