- Joined
- Dec 16, 2015
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I finally figured out why I keep missing targets, and I feel stupid for not realizing it before. Trying to figure out how I should adjust my methods to make beer smith work with my process.
I use BIAB, but because I have a smaller than necessary kettle (8.5gallon) I usually can't do full volume mashes. Typically I'll hold back 1-2.5 gallons depending on what I"m trying to make and use that to "sparge". In this case sparge is defined as placing the squeezed grain bag into a double bucket setup and pouring the extra water over in an effort to wash out more sugars.
In beer smith, under the "vols" tab, I've been changing the kettle top off box to this volume with the assumption that it would change calculations elsewhere, but that doesn't seem to be the case. My mash profile is a full vol BIAB. When I change that kettle top off the expected post mash and pre-boil OG don't change, and they should in my mind. I assumed the post mash would show higher than the pre-boil when I change kettle top off since I'd be diluting it (and since mash would use a lower volume of water).
With this setup, I usually nail the post mash gravity. But obviously once I add the "sparge" addition the gravity drops, so I'm usually low. My volumes are all more or less where they should be. It appears that beersmith is just ignoring the volume change since I have full vol BIAB selected.
Anyone know a good way to set this up properly in beer smith? Or am I just missing something else?
I use BIAB, but because I have a smaller than necessary kettle (8.5gallon) I usually can't do full volume mashes. Typically I'll hold back 1-2.5 gallons depending on what I"m trying to make and use that to "sparge". In this case sparge is defined as placing the squeezed grain bag into a double bucket setup and pouring the extra water over in an effort to wash out more sugars.
In beer smith, under the "vols" tab, I've been changing the kettle top off box to this volume with the assumption that it would change calculations elsewhere, but that doesn't seem to be the case. My mash profile is a full vol BIAB. When I change that kettle top off the expected post mash and pre-boil OG don't change, and they should in my mind. I assumed the post mash would show higher than the pre-boil when I change kettle top off since I'd be diluting it (and since mash would use a lower volume of water).
With this setup, I usually nail the post mash gravity. But obviously once I add the "sparge" addition the gravity drops, so I'm usually low. My volumes are all more or less where they should be. It appears that beersmith is just ignoring the volume change since I have full vol BIAB selected.
Anyone know a good way to set this up properly in beer smith? Or am I just missing something else?