Lutra likes it hot. You might want to try wrapping your fermenter with a towel or blanket to keep the temps between 75F - 85F. It will probably eliminate the need to use the mat.
Like Miraculix said, I'd be curious if there is a taste difference with just and airlock vs. 15 psi.
I'll try it again without the pressure, just a blow off tube. I'll let you know what I think.
Do you ferment and serve from the same corny?
I do, it's much easier, and I wind up with around 4.5 gallons (1/2gal of garbage in the bottom of the corny), which is fine for me. At least recently since we haven't had too many parties the past year, so 4.5 gallons last long enough.
Care to share your Vienna lager recipe and brew stats??
Sure.
Vienna lager
Type: All Grain
Batch Size: 5.00 gal
Boil Size: 6.52 gal
Boil Time: 60 min
End of Boil Vol: 5.98 gal
Final Bottling Vol: 4.60
Fermentation: Lager, Two Stage
Equipment: Pot and Cooler ( 5 Gal/19 L) - All Grain
Brewhouse Efficiency: 76.00 %
Ingredients
Amount | Name | Type | # | %/IBU | Volume |
---|
3.50 g | Calcium Chloride Mash 60.0 min | Water Agent | 1 | - | - |
1.00 g | Gypsum (Calcium Sulfate) Mash 60.0 min | Water Agent | 2 | - | - |
5 lb | Vienna Malt (Weyermann) Mash (54.1%) - 3.0 SRM | Grain | 3 | 54.1% | 0.39 gal |
4.0 oz | Chocolate Malt Mash (2.7%) - 350.0 SRM | Grain | 4 | 2.7% | 0.02 gal |
4 lb | Pilsner (Weyermann) Mash (43.2%) - 1.7 SRM | Grain | 5 | 43.2% | 0.31 gal |
0.25 oz | Hallertau Magnum First Wort Addition (13.1 IBUs) | Hop | 6 | 13.1 IBUs | - |
0.50 oz | German Tradition Boil 15 min (5.1 IBUs) | Hop | 7 | 5.1 IBUs | - |
0.50 oz | Hallertauer Mittelfrueh Boil 15 min (3.4 IBUs) | Hop | 8 | 3.4 IBUs | - |
1.0 pkgs | Saflager Lager DCL/Fermentis #W-34/70 | Lager yeast | 9 | - | - |
Gravity, Alcohol Content and Color
Est Original Gravity: 1.053 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.012 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 5.4 %
Bitterness: 21.5 IBUs
Est Color: 11.2
Mash Profile
Mash Name: Single Infusion, Medium Body, Batch Sparge
Sparge Water: 4.99 gal
Sparge Temperature: 168.0 F
Target Mash PH: 5.20
Total Grain Weight: 9 lb 4.0 oz
Mash Steps
Name | Description | Step Temperature | Step Time |
---|
Mash In | Add 11.56 qt of water at 162.5 F | 151.0 F | 60 min |
Sparge: Batch sparge with 3 steps (Drain mash tun, 9.98 qt, 9.98 qt) of 168.0 F water