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   1. Final Gravity reading

      by porchfiddler, 12 years ago in Measurement, Mathematics and Records

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      I just took a gravity reading from my latest beer to see if it was finished, as I generally do. I filled the test jar up and put in the hydrometer and took the reading 1.014, not finished, I need to give it some more time. Why do I need to take another one, can I not leave the beer in the test jar with the hydrometer in it, at the same temp as my fermenter and watch it until it is finished?

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      Thanks, PP. I kind of stopped taking final gravity readings too but some of my beers lately (the bottled ones) have seemed a bit overcarbonated and I wanted to squeeze all the gravity points I could out of this one. Also I've been doing cask ales and want to try racking to the pin a couple of points early instead of priming. As usual you have the answers!
      2 Replies
      5261 Views
      porchfiddler
      12 years ago
   2. Useful BIAB technique? Reiterated mashing.

      by porchfiddler, 12 years ago in Intermediate Brewing

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      I came across this article in Beer and Wine Journal and thought it might be a useful way to brew higher gravity beers with BiAB. Basically mash half of your grains as usual, empty the bag and mash again with a new set of grains in the wort produced from the first mash. I was going to try and Imperial Stout this way, anybody used this before?
      And also in a self promoting aside I got a silver for my Epworth Bitter in the in the English Bitter section with my first competition entry! Thanks all...

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      I'm pretty sure the efficiency of the second mash might be worse but it's worth a try
      
      Just to give you an idea of this reduced efficiency (this is a ball park figure for those gravities), 1.045 to 1.090 needs approx 25% more grain. i.e. 1.045 = 5Kg, 1.090 = 12.5Kg (not 10Kg).
      5 Replies
      9480 Views
      mally
      12 years ago
   3. Specific Gravity to Plato conversion for dummies

      by porchfiddler, 12 years ago in Measurement, Mathematics and Records

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      I needed to convert Plato to Specific Gravity today so I found this converter online with the formula and table. Looking at a few minutes I realized that if you take the specific gravity say 1.048 and divide the 48 by four you get plato 12 which is correct. Likewise 10 Plato * 4 = 1.040. I did not know that' did all y'all? I'm sure this is not new but it's nice to be able to do things quickly in your noggin. :headhit: Seems easier than the complicated formula below and works in the normal...

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      I haven't used plato, but this would be handy printed off and stuck to the brew fridge for a quick reference.
      
      :thumbs:
      
      Yeasty
      2 Replies
      6772 Views
      Yeasty
      12 years ago
   4. Help me I can't make up me mind! Recipe counseling

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

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      I have ordered a pin (cask) and I soon will have everything I need to do a proper cask ale, including beer engine, cooling gear etc. I've been waiting so long to do this that I cannot for the life of me decide on a recipe to brew. I want to brew something English and simple (like me) but as soon as I decide on something I change my mind. Here are a few recipes I fancy anyone willing to steer me one way or the other.? Anyone got a foolproof recipe for a cask virgin? I've brewed quite a few...

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      I ended up making a simple session bitter with First Gold hops. The final gravity sample tasted brilliant and I filled up my new cask! Thanks for the suggestions which I will try next time
      
      photo.JPG
      
      Brewer: Andy Cleveland
      Style: Ordinary Bitter
      Source Recipe Link:
      
      Original Gravity (OG): 1.038
      IBU's (Tinseth): 32.2
      Bitterness to Gravity Ratio: 0.85
      Colour:
      ABV%: 3.68
      
      Efficiency into Kettle (EIK): 87.9 %
      Efficiency into Fermentor (EIF): 79.2 %
      
      Note: This is a Pure BIAB (Full Volume...
      7 Replies
      10117 Views
      porchfiddler
      12 years ago
   5. Ferment Fail!!!

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

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      The other day I had a BRILLIANT idea to use my fermentation controller to keep the mash steady. The idea was that I would heat the mash to the correct temp and then have the contoller turn on a small electric cooker under the pot. I set the temp at 66 deg C and tried it out on some water. It didn't work very well. :headhit: Sooooooooo..... I returned the controller back to my fridge and the English bitter I was fermenting at 66 deg F. Unfortunately I was in a hurry to go out of town and...

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      porchfiddler,
      
      If I had a dollar for every good idea I ever had I would be happy. If I ha a dollar for every crazy idea I every had I would be rich! You are well on your way to be the richest man in Virginia. Good luck!
      1 Replies
      3922 Views
      BobBrews
      12 years ago
   6. First mention of IPA Australian?

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

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      I thought this might please our Aussie friends

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      Thanks, PP. That's a very cool link, love the hydrometer I'd prefer a 1050 to 1000 myself. My only ancient bit of kit is a flannel shirt from 1974
      4 Replies
      6129 Views
      porchfiddler
      12 years ago
   7. Temp controlled immersion heater

      by porchfiddler, 12 years ago in BIAB Automation

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      I use a propane burner for my brews, and although my mash temps don't wander much I was thinking a hybrid propane/electric setup might do the trick. Has anybody used propane to reach mash temps and then maintained with an external temp controller and electric wand? It would seem that a fairly low wattage device could maintain temps, no?

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      [ I got used clean sleeping bags at a garage (jumble?)sale real cheap. Someone once mentioned an electric blanket and I have been on the lookout for one.
      I've been using this but it doesn't like the cooler weather too much. I was looking for some automation but not quite ready for electric whole hog. An electric blanket does seem reasonable but water and it would scare me a bit. Thanks Guys I'll take my nap after the brew :)
      
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      4 Replies
      7784 Views
      porchfiddler
      12 years ago
   8. My first ever brew and BIAB success

      by porchfiddler, 13 years ago in Brew Day Stories and/or Pics

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      I did a lot of reading on this forum before I got started with my first brew. I had just got back from a trip to North Yorkshire where I attended a real ale festival in Richmond, the festival really got me interested in trying to create the northern pint back here in Richmond, VA. My favourite beer was the well documented and loved Tim Taylor's Landlord but Black Sheep's bitter was great too and I had listened to CYBI Black Sheep Riggwelter episode so I decided to go with Black Sheep's Bitter....

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      talkin of thermometers ..
      
      i floated mine .. and though it was faulty .. it was the insulation properties of the grain. .. :?
      
      i jugged some wort out and put the thermo in it and it wizzed up.. ;)
      
      i floated mine in a lid ..
      10 Replies
      9489 Views
      uk brewer
      13 years ago

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