I've just returned to brewing after a three year hiatus. I am pretty sure I made a number of mistakes, but want to ask about just one. I did not oxygenate following the boil. I recirculated the wort in my Anvil Foundry 10.5 through a cheap plate chiller for a very long time before transferring to the fermenter. I figure that took the place of oxygenation and so I skipped that step. Does that make sense?
Normally, I figure I'd answer my own question on how fast and how vigorously it began fermenting, but I threw in another mistake that seems to take away that option. San Diego Super yeast says to ferment at 65-68 degrees. I chilled to 62F and did not catch my mistake for roughly a day. Nothing happened at 62. Fermentation is happening now, but it is a little soon to judge the vigor of same.
Oh, one more thing. I projected pretty low efficiency from my Anvil Foundry 10.5 because I remembered efficiency problems in the past. But I also tried several things to increase efficiency and they worked. As a result, what I was projecting as a blonde with a potential ABV of 4.7% now has a potential of 7.6%. White Labs says I should either use a starter or two packets of yeast for that ABV. I did neither.
Thoughts?
Normally, I figure I'd answer my own question on how fast and how vigorously it began fermenting, but I threw in another mistake that seems to take away that option. San Diego Super yeast says to ferment at 65-68 degrees. I chilled to 62F and did not catch my mistake for roughly a day. Nothing happened at 62. Fermentation is happening now, but it is a little soon to judge the vigor of same.
Oh, one more thing. I projected pretty low efficiency from my Anvil Foundry 10.5 because I remembered efficiency problems in the past. But I also tried several things to increase efficiency and they worked. As a result, what I was projecting as a blonde with a potential ABV of 4.7% now has a potential of 7.6%. White Labs says I should either use a starter or two packets of yeast for that ABV. I did neither.
Thoughts?