tgolanos
Well-Known Member
I just did my 2nd BIAB partial mash on Friday evening, an Märzen-ish beer:
2kg (4.4lbs) Dark Munich Malt
1kg (2.2lbs) Pilsner Malt (2-row)
200g (.45lbs) Carapils
1.5kg (3.3lbs) Amber LME
40g (1.4oz) Tettnanger Hops at 60 minutes
15g (0.5oz) Tettnanger Hops at 20 Minutes
Whirlfloc tab at 15 minutes
10g (0.35oz) Saasz Hops at 10 minutes
1 pack Safale US-04, rehydrated
I had my processes all written down and followed them exactly. While it went relatively smoothly, two big issues that cropped up along the way:
Issue 1: Digital Thermometer crapped out at beginning of the mash. I was planning on mashing at about 65°C (149-150°F) but my thermometer stopped reading above 42°C and then flat-out died. I'm positive I was well above 42°C, but I have no idea what my actual mashing temperature was. Same goes for my sparge water, which was supposed to be 72°C (161°F). Again, no idea what my actual temperature was. Overall I'm pretty sure this led to a lower-than-expected extraction.
Note to self - buy new thermometer.
Issue 2: Hydrometer tube was warped. I went to check my pre-boil gravity and I only measured 1.020, giving me an efficiency of about 43% according to Brewer's Friend. Not terrible for a newbie, but I was expecting more around 55-60%. Upon closer inspection I noticed my hydrometer tube had a noticeable curvature. I assume this would affect the reading, as the hydrometer doesn't have the proper space to float? My wort had a slight sweet taste so there was some conversion that took place, but I have no idea what the actual, more accurate pre-boil gravity was.
Note to self - buy new hydrometer tube.
I proceeded with my standard 60-minute boil- added my LME, hops, and whirfloc and let it cool to 24°C (75°F) before pitching my yeast and topping-off my fermenter to 23L (6.1 gallons). I took my OG reading (knowing the tube was warped) and got 1.032. I was expecting more around 1.038-1.040, but I'm still wondering if my lower reading has to do with the curve in the hydrometer tube, the inaccurate mash temperature, or a combination of the 2.
However after less than 12 hours, fermentation had taken off. I woke the next morning to the sound of steady bubbling from my airlock and this morning (about 36 hours after pitching) I'm getting about 2 bubbles per second and there is about an inch-and-a-half layer of kräusen floating on top. It's the most vigorous fermentation I've had since I started brewing. I'm expecting a FG of about 1.007. We'll see in about 10 more days. Who knows, maybe this will be my best beer yet.
2kg (4.4lbs) Dark Munich Malt
1kg (2.2lbs) Pilsner Malt (2-row)
200g (.45lbs) Carapils
1.5kg (3.3lbs) Amber LME
40g (1.4oz) Tettnanger Hops at 60 minutes
15g (0.5oz) Tettnanger Hops at 20 Minutes
Whirlfloc tab at 15 minutes
10g (0.35oz) Saasz Hops at 10 minutes
1 pack Safale US-04, rehydrated
I had my processes all written down and followed them exactly. While it went relatively smoothly, two big issues that cropped up along the way:
Issue 1: Digital Thermometer crapped out at beginning of the mash. I was planning on mashing at about 65°C (149-150°F) but my thermometer stopped reading above 42°C and then flat-out died. I'm positive I was well above 42°C, but I have no idea what my actual mashing temperature was. Same goes for my sparge water, which was supposed to be 72°C (161°F). Again, no idea what my actual temperature was. Overall I'm pretty sure this led to a lower-than-expected extraction.
Note to self - buy new thermometer.
Issue 2: Hydrometer tube was warped. I went to check my pre-boil gravity and I only measured 1.020, giving me an efficiency of about 43% according to Brewer's Friend. Not terrible for a newbie, but I was expecting more around 55-60%. Upon closer inspection I noticed my hydrometer tube had a noticeable curvature. I assume this would affect the reading, as the hydrometer doesn't have the proper space to float? My wort had a slight sweet taste so there was some conversion that took place, but I have no idea what the actual, more accurate pre-boil gravity was.
Note to self - buy new hydrometer tube.
I proceeded with my standard 60-minute boil- added my LME, hops, and whirfloc and let it cool to 24°C (75°F) before pitching my yeast and topping-off my fermenter to 23L (6.1 gallons). I took my OG reading (knowing the tube was warped) and got 1.032. I was expecting more around 1.038-1.040, but I'm still wondering if my lower reading has to do with the curve in the hydrometer tube, the inaccurate mash temperature, or a combination of the 2.
However after less than 12 hours, fermentation had taken off. I woke the next morning to the sound of steady bubbling from my airlock and this morning (about 36 hours after pitching) I'm getting about 2 bubbles per second and there is about an inch-and-a-half layer of kräusen floating on top. It's the most vigorous fermentation I've had since I started brewing. I'm expecting a FG of about 1.007. We'll see in about 10 more days. Who knows, maybe this will be my best beer yet.