Go to advanced search

1. Topics

   1. mashout at 80c

      by alanem, 9 years ago in Intermediate Brewing

      First post

      ---

      

      just a quick question regarding mashout.....
      
      After a 90 min full volume mash at 66c I always do a 15 min mashout at 78c (172f) (after reading somewhere it improves efficiency,) that is except for this morning, for some brain-faded reason while doing an APA I have inadvertently done my 15 min mashout at 80c (176f) :blush:
      
      Now I have heard bad things can, and do happen if the Mashout gets to 80c and above, but just what I don't know....can anyone please enlighten me as to what the consequences...

      Last post

      ---

      

      Sorry, in a rush, but two quick ones...
      
      With the mashout, it's a preferable (but not necessary) step for a few reasons. One reason is that, on average (see this thread ), it will give you a few extra percent in kettle efficiency. As for the turbidity BeachBum, your BIAB bag will have a lot do with that. Obviously, a coarser bag is going to give less clear trub than a finer one. I reckon if agitating your grain during mash-out (from memory, I don't think you agitate it during the mash but I...
      8 Replies
      11760 Views
      PistolPatch
      9 years ago
   2. grain temp

      by alanem, 12 years ago in Grains (Malts), Extracts, Sugars and Adjuncts

      First post

      ---

      

      Just dawned on me that with the weather we are having (43c today,) and as I have my un-milled JW Pilsner stored in my shed I was wondering if it was ok.
      It is stored in one of those willow Eskies, the ones with the 2 wheels on, and the grain is still in the bag it came in as well.
      Anyway I just went out and opened the Esky (just love that aroma of grain) and checked the temp and it was 33c in the Esky, I never opened the bag to get grain temp but it didn't seem overly hot by feel.
      I know that...

      Last post

      ---

      

      Just found this topic pretty useful. I was going to post for opinions on a 5kg bag of crushed grain I found sitting under the house. It will have been there for getting on to 18months now, albeit in a sealed plastic bag away from light and dampness. Should be be good when considering PP's flour comparison :)
      
      Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
      3 Replies
      12228 Views
      GrainGrub
      10 years ago
   3. WLP001 direct

      by alanem, 10 years ago in Yeasts

      First post

      ---

      

      At the moment I am in the process of using a liquid yeast for the first time, more out of curiosity than anything else.
      I intend to use White Labs WLP001 California Ale Yeast in a DrSmurto Golden Ale. I'm not really fussed about splitting or making starters etc as I haven't the equipment, (eg: mason jars or flasks etc), my ambition is to shake the crap out of the vial and use it direct in my 19l 1.047 Ale and aerate by shaking vigorously for a while.
      I know white labs and such say you should...

      Last post

      ---

      

      @Alanem, I'm with Todd. Keep it simple. Use 2 vials, don't secondary and pitch onto yeast cake. There's no reason that this won't make excellent beer. If you're relatively new to this don't overcomplicate it
      
      Mate, you and Todd have both won me over with simplicity, I think using LY for the first time and on a trial and error basis, this is perhaps the best idea so that's how I will go.
      
      Maybe at a later date, and I am happy with the brewing results from liquid yeasts, I'll then establish a...
      6 Replies
      17414 Views
      alanem
      10 years ago
   4. Gravity probs

      by alanem, 11 years ago in Intermediate Brewing

      First post

      ---

      

      Hi, I have brewed up a Dr Smurto Golden Ale and I'm having troubles with my gravity readings, it seems just all up the creek... My OG was two points down on the expected 1.044 and my FG after 16 days is 4 points up on my expected 1.013.......... My Brix readings 3 days after pitching (Tues 9 Dec) was 7.8 that was followed by 7 or thereabouts right through until Tues 16th when I dry hopped, I then got to 7.8 last Thurs and then on Saturday it hit 6.8 and has been consistently the same over the...

      Last post

      ---

      

      Thanks PP all is good, I have bottled it and will just wait and see what happens, maybe I'll do another JSGA brew with a high ABV and then shandy the 2 brews when drinking time comes around
      cheers
      5 Replies
      8061 Views
      alanem
      11 years ago
   5. finding BIABacus

      by alanem, 11 years ago in BIABrewer Old Hands

      First post

      ---

      

      I am in the midst of trying to get someone to try the BIABacus software.
      I have easily directed him to the biabrewer.info website but when it comes to BIABacus it becomes a lot more difficult to get to with loose ends everywhere.
      Could/would it perhaps be a good idea to have in the forum pages a forum that is just titled BIABacus Latest Versions or just BIABacus with discussions and such on BIABacus directed into that one forum with the latest version pinned for easy access?
      I'm sure it would...

      Last post

      ---

      

      Pat, I realise your paid work comes before anything else and that BIABacus is a special project on the side and I greatly appreciate the work and hours that you put into the project.
      After reading your post and others on the subject I now fully comprehend the reasons and understand the situation much more clearly now, so as far I'm concerned this topic is closed.
      
      Cheers and thanks for a great program
      Al
      PS. If the new BIABacus 1.0 when released is an improvement on PR 1.3T then it's going to...
      9 Replies
      14582 Views
      alanem
      11 years ago
   6. templates

      by alanem, 11 years ago in Intermediate Brewing

      First post

      ---

      

      Recently I queried about using my old Ipad out in the shed with Biabacus installed to edit and such as I go along instead of having a pile of scribbled and hard to decipher notes to copy into my Biabacus page when I went back into the house.
      I have now devised for myself 2 simple templates that keep my figures tidier and much easier to copy onto the main sheet back at the house, also they give me an indication as I brew of my measurements / Vol. etc,..... it suits the purpose well for me.
      The...

      Last post

      ---

      

      Just let me know of any alterations if you see the need for such, as I say the idea was just for my basic brews and to make it easier to keep records I take into the house after brewing to enter into Biabacus :)
      6 Replies
      8993 Views
      alanem
      11 years ago
   7. Biabacus on ipad5

      by alanem, 11 years ago in General Chit-Chat, Nonsense & Rambles

      First post

      ---

      

      I have an old ipad5 sitting around doing bugger all at the moment and thought it would be great out in the brew room to access my Biabacus as I brew instead of copying figures and notes on slips of paper then going inside to transfer them later on.
      I read here somewhere that QuickOffice was ok but apparently Google are no longer making Quickoffice available for download but instead have an app called Google Sheets .
      Has anyone used the Google Sheets App?.... if so what is it like?...... Will it...

      Last post

      ---

      

      It's still the best software Tool out there so a few inconveniances arent the end of the world.
      
      Happy brewing! :thumbs:
      
      Bundy
      
      Couldn't agree more Bundy, Biabacus is so much more advanced than any other software available
      :salute:
      Cheers
      Al
      6 Replies
      8147 Views
      alanem
      11 years ago
   8. Biabacus Gone loopy

      by alanem, 11 years ago in Intermediate Brewing

      First post

      ---

      

      Hi,
      I put down a brew of APA the other week and when I went back into checking the recipe out today I noticed a huge difference between the original ingredients and the What you will need ingredients in both the hop bill and the grain bill ( Sec.C) and (sec. D) which in turn has made my water measurements in section K all loopy.
      
      I dont know a lot about spreadsheets (lets be honest, I know stuff all about spreadsheets!) but can I remove the contents of a recipe in Biabacus and then replace it...

      Last post

      ---

      

      Yes GM and John I was still wondering on that question and I thank you for that information, it sounds good and in future that is what I will do. (Next wet and cold winters day I will find a blank biabacus form and sit down and fill out a few with the standard entries for future recipes.)
      
      Cheers and Thanks :salute:
      Al
      8 Replies
      11213 Views
      alanem
      11 years ago
   9. bad head retention on a mid ale

      by alanem, 11 years ago in Intermediate Brewing

      First post

      ---

      

      Hi folks,
      A fair while back when I was searching in another forum for a nice summer mid-strength beer I was given this recipe ( see attachment ) it is due to be bottled in a few days but on doing a hydrometer test (1.007) this morning I had the customary taste from the tube and it seemed lifeless.
      I have brewed this brew 3-4 times and even though it is a nice refreshing drink, it seems rather thin and refuses to hold a head. I don't expect to get a full bodied glass of beer from a mid-strength...

      Last post

      ---

      

      Al , add the carapils to the last 30 min of the mash. I mill mine but hold them back from the grains.
      9 Replies
      11456 Views
      jhough
      11 years ago
   10. motorising a corona mill

       by alanem, 12 years ago in Bags, Mashers, Thermometers, Kettles etc.

       First post

       ---

       

       Anybody got any thoughts on a motor for motorising a Corona mill? It would need to be a simple setup and as I am on the pension not overly pricey. I have thought of somehow using my press drill but can't get it to drill horizotally..... Any one with any ideas???
       Cheers

       Last post

       ---

       

       I have a very old Corona style mill... it has at least 40 years, it was used for grinding corn to feed the chickens, but it works great. Is true that it makes some flour in the process, but my biab does not mind the flour :D
       
       To motorise it, i welded an old drill bit end on that shaft, and use my Bosch drill (cord, not cordless, LOL), and i go trough 7 kg of grain in less than 10 min... next time i will measure the exact time.
       9 Replies
       10773 Views
       bionut
       12 years ago
   11. Dial Thermometer

       by alanem, 12 years ago in Bags, Mashers, Thermometers, Kettles etc.

       First post

       ---

       

       Hi Guys, I have a 19L SS kettle with a weldless tap set up and also I have a Dial Thermometer With 2 Probe that is set about 2 up from the bottom which I then cover with a SS cake stand with SS bolts as legs so as not to snag the bag.
       I have seen numerous photos of kettles with the Dial Thermometer sort of integrated within the tap setup.
       As I am on the lookout for a larger SS kettle (approx 40L) in the near future I have wondered about this sort of set up instead of the probe and cake stand...

       Last post

       ---

       

       Bob, I had one very important post I really wanted to write tonight here before I travel but spent three and a half hours writing individual answers here first on BIABrewer and so lost my steam.
       
       I'll try and write a full answer to your tap question above when I next get a chance but I have a lot on in the next few weeks. I have written on why taps are a problem before. A search of posts written by me with the keyword 'cylinder' and/or 'sphere' I think will give the answer to your bazillion...
       8 Replies
       8673 Views
       PistolPatch
       12 years ago
   12. OG is taken when??

       by alanem, 12 years ago in General Chit-Chat, Nonsense & Rambles

       First post

       ---

       

       Dumb Question I know but after reading some pretty conflicting articles I am a tad confused.
       at what stage do we take our actual OG reading?? is it just before the yeast is added in the FV or is it on completion of the boil?
       at what stage do we take our actual FG reading?? is that before bottling as I believe it is.
       Also SG readings, are taken when??? and are they of importance?
       I think I am right just need clarification on the matter.......Thanks guys

       Last post

       ---

       

       Thanks guys for your input, appreciate your help. It was about what I thought was the case, maybe I should quit reading so many articles on the same thought. Thanks again
       Al
       3 Replies
       8088 Views
       alanem
       12 years ago
   13. When to add top up water

       by alanem, 12 years ago in Full-Volume Variations - FVV (diluting and/or sparging)

       First post

       ---

       

       I keep getting a sort of bitter taste with most of my brews and I'm just not sure what it is, so I thought maybe a bigger brew may be the answer.
       I mash/brew in a 19ltr SS kettle for a usual 10ltr brew of a basic APA or a Dr Smurto DSJA but I would now like to go bigger to say a 15 ltr brew.
       I have read that a 15ltr brew is possible in a 19ltr kettle by doing a mash of say 16 ltr then while that is mashing heat up another 3 ltrs in another pot for a 10 mins rinse/sparge then using that to top...

       Last post

       ---

       

       Al, the basic rule with dilution is to do it as soon as you can. In other words, any time you have room in your kettle, add some water. Post-boil dilutions are the least desirable and should be minimised.
       
       The Sweet Liquor Shop posts mally linked explain how more grain is needed when dilutions are used. The hop bill is also affected. The only 'software' that handles these calculations is the BIABacus. You might need a hand with it on your first recipe. If you do, just post the recipe you want...
       2 Replies
       12894 Views
       PistolPatch
       12 years ago
   14. DSGA Stuff Up

       by alanem, 13 years ago in Intermediate Brewing

       First post

       ---

       

       Just a quick question, when milling my grain for my 15 ltr DSGA instead of milling the .600g wheat malt I mistakenly grabbed a bag of munich2 instead and have milled that into my dry grain mixture before realising the mistake.
       This dry mixture has given me a Base Malt (JW Trad) of 56.47% and a 43.53% mixture of .600g of munich1 and .600g of munich2 plus .187g caramunich1 ... Question is Could I brew the grain mixture as is with the .120g of munich1 & 2 which all up gives me a an OG of 1.050 and...

       Last post

       ---

       

       I've been doing the same thing with Vienna malt, it's especially yummy with Styrian Goldings.
       
       ---Todd
       5 Replies
       7084 Views
       thughes
       13 years ago
   15. help with a recipe

       by alanem, 13 years ago in Intermediate Brewing

       First post

       ---

       

       I'm not sure I am in the right Forum here but I need a little bit of advice with forming a recipe from my bits and pieces if that's possible? What I have in my stock cupboard is the following....
       Pilsener Malt x 2500g
       Caramunich1 x 400g
       Caramunich2 x 1090g
       Choc malt x 1000g
       Carapils x 1090g
       Munich2 x 800g
       70gms or so of Amarillo.
       can anyone fathom out a drinkable brew from that?? I would be very grateful for any ideas or any help given.
       Also I know this is a dumb question but regarding the...

       Last post

       ---

       

       There'll often be a small amount of variation between different recipe calculators (although I don't know how no chill could increase efficiency). 1.048 is good, it just means you'll be getting slightly more alcohol. The balance of malt flavour is more important than the exact OG. Anything between 30-35 IBU should be fine for an American Pale with that OG, it just depends on how much bitterness you like but the hop bill I posted before should still be fine.
       
       The easiest way to modify the...
       6 Replies
       7877 Views
       alanem
       13 years ago
   16. cubing

       by alanem, 13 years ago in BIABrewer.info and BIAB for New Members

       First post

       ---

       

       I've been having trouble with my BIAB'S tasting sort of sour/bitter and I am not sure why. I am very thorough and careful with sanitation and clean/sterelise everything post boil. I have been eliminating any and all causes of the problem and I have come down to the cubing. I usually wait for 10mins after I finish my boil then I put a sterelised funnel into my cube and turn the tap on my kettle and let it run down into the cube, lately I have been doing a lot of reading up and it appears that is...

       Last post

       ---

       

       I pulled it apart and there was no smell/no grime etc whatsoever Bugger! I was hoping for an easy fix :lol:.
       
       Three things for the moment...
       
       1. Fine Grind - As hashie said above, it's not a good idea to fine grind although you'll often see it stated on the net that with BIAB you can grind as fine as you like. (I'll add some more below on this.)
       
       2. Different Palates - If someone says, I always fine grind and never have a problem with astringency, you shouldn't believe that it doesn't cause an...
       10 Replies
       10207 Views
       PistolPatch
       13 years ago
   17. "blueing" on borrom of pot

       by alanem, 13 years ago in Gas-Fired BIAB

       First post

       ---

       

       I have a pretty basic $20 BigW S/S boiler that I use to do my BIAB's in, I have been having trouble with a bad taste in my beer with no idea what it was. I was blaming the hops in it but then someone told me that if the bottom of the pot goes blue from overheating then that will cause a taint through the beer. Is this really true? Or is it just folklore?? (Mine has blue marks on the bottom,) If it is true is there a way out without spending $200+ for a heavy duty one from LBS? is there a...

       Last post

       ---

       

       alanem,if your are brewing to end up with 20 liters you are probable going to want at least a 40 liter kettle.
       12 Replies
       14787 Views
       Lylo
       13 years ago
   18. yeast starter

       by alanem, 13 years ago in BIABrewer.info and BIAB for New Members

       First post

       ---

       

       Hi people, I have never really made a yeast starter except for early on in HB days with kits when I made one with just warm water and a packet of yeast in a pot, covered it in cling wrap and let it sit for an hour.
       now I look online and find its like a bloody chemistry course and you near need a diploma in chemistry to make one.
       can some one please tell me a simple way of making a yeast starter that I can add to my fermenter after I empty my 15 litre BIAB cube into it? I would normally just get...

       Last post

       ---

       

       I have some Nottingham in my fridge and I noticed on the packet it has to be dehydrated , not sure now what to do...
       
       That looks like a typo to me. We only want to rehydrate dry yeast be it in tepid water or wort.
       Personally I sprinkle it on top of the wort once I have aerated it. I'm lazy so this removes an extra step for me to do!
       
       HC
       
       Typo all fixed :thumbs:
       13 Replies
       15006 Views
       alanem
       13 years ago

Go to advanced search