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1. Topics

   1. Need some help with my wheat Beers

      by bundy, 10 years ago in Intermediate Brewing

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      Hi Guys,
      
      I need some help from the wise heads here. Being Summer I like to have a Hefe in the fridge for sipping, however I have made this same Recipe 3 times now and each time have struggled with hitting my expected numbers with GIB 7 - 8 points low on each occasion. (Expected GIB 1.041 achieving around 1.034)
      
      The Original Recipe is from Brewing Classic Styles so has integrity and should be relatively easy to follow as there's not much to a Hefe.
      
      this is the Recipe from BCS -...

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      Bundy - I am sure the spreadsheet is easy to use/understand but on the few occasions I have tried I just find it overwhelming/cumbersome. :angry:
      
      I am sure that EZ spreadsheet will help others that browse through here though.
      Glad you have got to the point where you think your water is sorted :salute:
      11 Replies
      14524 Views
      mally
      10 years ago
   2. Time saving ideas on Brewday

      by bundy, 11 years ago in Intermediate Brewing

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      Just been thinking of ways I can save a bit of time on my Brewdays. I'm pretty organised prior to starting and use Solar Hot Water to reduce heating times but even then I find it a good 5 - 6 hour process from start to finish. (Including cleaning up) I use an immersion chiller so that also takes a bit of time.
      
      I know its not considered ideal but as time is an issue for me today, I've decided to stop the Mash at 75 minutes, raise the bag and bring my kettle to mash out temp. It's going to take...

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      Apart from no chilling have you considered getting an over the side element? This would speed up your ramp times a fair bit which based on how you outlined your brew day is the main area you could save time.
      16 Replies
      19587 Views
      Contrarian
      11 years ago
   3. Adjusting BIABacus KFL?

      by bundy, 11 years ago in Intermediate Brewing

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      Gents, Just finished a brew day and going over some old data and looking at what may be a bit off.
      
      One thing that is standing out over my brew history is KFL is a fair way out.
      
      From 6 brews of NRB's APA with all the Same Grain bill I average a KFL of 3.8 litres. BIABacus is showing me an esitmate of ~ 2.5 litres, so I am constantly getting low VIF numbers
      
      I'm wondering if this is a technique error on my part or do I just need to adjust BIABacus?
      
      I use an Immersion Chiller, Hopsock and 1/2...

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      Bundy, trying to wrap my head around this... Sometimes the simple questions are the most overlooked.
      1) Did you squeeze the bag? Seems a stupid question , but .
      2)I do use a funnel with a screen, it does seem to help EIF.
      3)I use an Immersion chiller, funnel with screen, and 1-2 tsp Irish Moss (rehydrated for 3 hours ) and I cut down my KFL by .5gal and VIP another .5 gal.
      4) As far as GIB and EIF , after I started milling my grains a little finer my efficiency went up.
      In conclusion, maybe...
      19 Replies
      24084 Views
      jhough
      11 years ago
   4. Brewing Classic Styles (BCS) recipes and hop adjustments.

      by bundy, 11 years ago in Intermediate Brewing

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      There has been some discussion on the recipes contained in the popular book Brewing Classic Styles written by John Palmer and Jamil Zainasheff.
      
      Although considered a high integrity source of recipes for both All Grain and Extract there was debate in regards to the conversion of the Hop bill from Extract to All Grain and Hop utilization between both brewing styles. (Both recipe versions carry the same Hop Bill)
      
      This thread hopes to clear up that confusion and continues on from here
      
      From my...

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      Excellent work Bundy. This is very informative and interesting.
      Thank you for taking the time to chase this down.
      19 Replies
      23532 Views
      Lumpy5oh
      11 years ago
   5. Useless beer gadgets

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

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      Mrs Bundy was browsing a Xmas shopping mag and came across this Beauty....
      
      The beer foamer
      onclick= window.open(this.href);return false; ... -p182.aspx
      
      Needless to say I declined the offer of adding to my Xmas Wishlist!

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      Bundy, Useless beer gadgets ? Did not know there was any such thing !
      7 Replies
      9192 Views
      jhough
      11 years ago
   6. Using BIABacus in Chrome Web browser.

      by bundy, 11 years ago in Measurement, Mathematics and Records

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      Guys, I just tried using BIABacus with Google's new Add-in for Chrome Office Editing for Docs
      
      and lo and behold BIABacas seems to work perfectly.
      
      My testing wasn't thorough but I tried changing a few things such as;
      
      Desired VIF
      Hop AA%
      Desired Gravity
      Changed Evap Rate
      Desired IBU's
      
      Each time the BIABacus Spreadsheet Recalculated and did what it was supposed to. :thumbs:
      
      This may be a very handy add-in for those living in the Apple or I-Pad worlds (Yet to test it on those platforms,...

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      There's always something bundy :roll:.
      
      LibreOffice works well on any platform and stays protected as long as users always save the file as an .xls. The only change that occurs is in the colours but that is not much to worry about.
      
      (See you Saturday :drink:)
      1 Replies
      7936 Views
      PistolPatch
      11 years ago
   7. Thermometers - How to check your calibration at Mash temp

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

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      I've had lots of time to think about all things beer lately as I recover from a bout of Man Flu
      
      Anyway one thing that came to me as I was coughing up half a lung one afternoon was about Calibrating Thermometers. There's been lots written on here by PistolPatch about not trusting one single thermometer, even if its tested correct with Freezing Water and Boiling water at 0'C and 100'c (32 F and 212 F for our US friends) it doesnt mean that it's right at our most important temp which is Mash...

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      Mally, I learned never to boil Methanol, the Gas Fumes is Very Poisoning if you ever breath it!!
      
      Since, Some of use boil off the Ethanol from a BAD batch of beer, the Fumes Are Wonderful(Hic).
      
      Also 174F is a good Number to set/differ to when use that thermometer when Mashing.
      5 Replies
      11304 Views
      joshua
      11 years ago
   8. BIABicus and priming sugar calculation

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

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      Gents, I just want to see if I am using BIABIcus correctly when it comes to priming calculations.
      
      I put in my CO2 volume into section H as well as my Fermentation temp. With that in Section Q it shows the amount of corn Sugar / dextrose to use per bottle. As well as bottles needed etc.
      
      In my case I have 21.5 litres going into 500ml bottles. I want a CO2 volume of 3.0, BIABIcus tells me I need 43 bottles and 3.6grams per bottle (Using 500ml Bottles) Now I bulk prime so 43 x 3.6 is 155grams (or...

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      Bumping this thread to ask...
      
      If you have feedback on what priming sugar rates are working for you, can you please post them in this thread even if you have already done so above? This would really help to finalise the BIABacus priming formula.
      
      Please note your height above sea level as well if you can. Much appreciated :peace:.
      6 Replies
      10058 Views
      PistolPatch
      11 years ago
   9. Generic yeast v Branded?

      by bundy, 11 years ago in Yeasts

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      Folks, up until now for my Apa's I've used a no name / unbranded US05 from my local HBS. Supposedly it's US05 but I'm now having my doubts.
      
      Last brew I used branded Safale US05 and compared to previous ferments this one has been extremely active. So much so it's blown out through my airlock.
      
      Being I am yet to taste and this is the first time I've gone with the real thing, I'm wondering what others thoughts are on this.
      
      Generic yeasts v name brand. Anyone noticed this as well? Or is it...

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      bundy,
      
      I haven't run into a generic yeast before? Packets of yeast react differently because of age also. Maybe one beer was oxygenated better? Maybe you just had a old packet? I never even thought about counterfeit yeast? I have had slow or bad fermentations before. A yeast can be shocked into dormancy by cold wort, hot wort?
      
      redo, rebrew recheck?
      1 Replies
      5412 Views
      BobBrews
      11 years ago
   10. VFO when jusing a Hop sock

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

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       Guys, Qstn for the gurus. (Probably one only Pat can answer but we will see)
       
       First time I have used a Hopsock today (Must say I ask myself why I haven't before)
       
       Anyway, when using a hopsock does BIABacus expect you to take measurements with the hopsock still in the Kettle? Or do you remove and measure your EOBV?
       
       When removing the hopsock I had maybe 0.5L of Trub in my sock which I guess without a sock would normally be there??
       
       Anyway just clearing up as to what others do

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       Thanks Mally, good pickup. I obviously have an old biabicus version and just glanced at the fields to be sure I was talking about the right fields. I'll have to make sure I am using the latest one next time though so as to avoid confusion.
       
       Cheers
       6 Replies
       8744 Views
       bundy
       12 years ago
   11. What to do with Left over hops?

       by bundy, 12 years ago in Intermediate Brewing

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       Guys, just wondering what you do with left over hops from previous brews?
       
       I seem to be getting a stock of a bit of this and a bit of that laying around and may never use them again. If it's a hop I use regularly it's not an issue, but some brews I've tried I'm very unlikely to bother with again.
       
       Are there any smart ideas to use these hops up or is it pretty much a case of not worth the hassle?
       
       I've read some people substitute bittering hops with something similar, but has anyone tried doing...

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       That's a great idea from BlackIslandBrew and a hopped starter is preferable if my memory serves me correctly. Welcome aboard BIB :peace:. ...If I use bittering hops that are totally not suitable to a brew style will they not be tasted down the track? Will they affect the beer adversely in any way?
       Eg using Hallertau hops as bittering in an APA would that just be stupid or wouldn't really matter? Two things here that I should have mentioned above...
       
       1. Don't necessarily do a complete...
       13 Replies
       13764 Views
       PistolPatch
       12 years ago
   12. When Brewdays go bad.....

       by bundy, 12 years ago in Brew Day Stories and/or Pics

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       Well after my success with brewday #1 I was champing at the bit to put down # 2
       
       Decided on a Hefe this time around.
       
       Day started well enough, mash in at 50 for 20 mins, up the temp to 63 for another 75 and mash out for 1 min at 78.
       
       So far so good. Lifted the bag, squeezed the grain with my new Tennis Racket inspired bag squeezer, and all good. Up the Temp to max and sit and wait, getting close. 96 degrees then....... My 8 week old Electric Urn dies!!!!!!! Arghhhhhhhhh :argh:
       .
       In...

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       That's a cracker Lemon :lol: :lol: :lol:,
       
       It's always super impressive when an error like that occurs at the beginning of the brew day - sober! Well done :salute:.
       
       Just to make you feel a little better, one day here we were doing some stupid brew as much as you can in one day thing. I was crushing the grain pouring it from the sack into the mill and then emptying the bucket of crushed grain into another sack and then doughing in. Was doughing in the first of three brews and just at the end of...
       17 Replies
       18908 Views
       PistolPatch
       12 years ago
   13. First BIAB brew day. NRB's APA - So far so good

       by bundy, 12 years ago in Brew Day Stories and/or Pics

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       After much reading and research I put down my first AG BIAB yesterday. I used a Buffalo 40L electric urn, with some Swiss Voile from Spotlight. A home made immersion chiller (which I also used an Ice bath recirculating with a pond pump for the final temp drop)
       
       I used the BIABicus with NRB's All Amarillo APA Recipe as my first brew. So far it seems to have gone well and I think I have got pretty close or exceeded all the expected measurements. I also took lots of readings for Gravity and Boil...

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       The all amarillo ale often reminds me of a very balanced version of LCPA so I can understand your thinking perfectly bundy.
       14 Replies
       12832 Views
       PistolPatch
       12 years ago
   14. When to adjust Evap Rate in BIABicus?

       by bundy, 12 years ago in Intermediate Brewing

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       Guys I am only a few brews in but already I am seeing a trend that my boil off rate seems to be a fair bit lower than what BIABicus calculates for me.
       
       Obviously plenty of variables, including weather, location etc. But I am thinking the biggest factor affecting my evaporation rate is the Power input when I am boiling.
       
       I use a 40L electric Urn with a 2.4kw element. I have searched back on the forum when PP was getting data for Boil off rates back in 2010. People were posting evap rates of 3.1...

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       Thanks for both the birthday wishes as well as the official ok from head office to tweak my biabicus!
       
       :-)
       6 Replies
       7261 Views
       bundy
       12 years ago
   15. Insulating an Electric Urn - (with pics)

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

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       I've read of various methods of insulating Urns. Sleeping Bags and Doona's seem popular and whilst I used that myself on my first brew I found it had it's drawbacks. The Sleeping bag in my case got wet and dirty and whilst it insulated well, to me it was far from ideal.
       
       So I thought I would share my setup. I have an electric Urn but I am sure this would work on a Pot or Gas setup just as well.
       
       Also as I am a tight a$$, and believe as much of my Homebrew Kit as possible should be salvaged or...

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       Thanks Bundy,
       
       I have tried various foil bubbly wraps and closed foam style insulations, but to no real avail. Still losing 2-3 degrees every 15 mins (I brew out doors).
       
       So was looking to move over to the sleeping bag method.
       
       They are building 270 new houses just across the street, so my see what I can scrounge from the brickies, and give this a go.
       2 Replies
       5665 Views
       Yettiman
       12 years ago
   16. A simple tool for Squeezing a hot BIAB Bag

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

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       I know some like to squeeze their bags and some of you don't but for those who do this solution might work for you.
       
       After my first BIAB session one (of the many) things I learnt was squeezing a hot bag full of grain is not that easy with your hands. Although I had my bag suspended on a pulley and left to drip whilst the Urn reached boiling temp there was still a lot of moisture trapped in the grain. I had read many peoples ideas on Bag Squeezing from letting hang to drain by itself (didn't...

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       Brilliant way to upcycle someones failed attempt at keeping fit!
       
       You should be recognised for your services to BIAB. :roll:
       3 Replies
       6774 Views
       Adman1966
       12 years ago

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