Oops, fermented first 12 hours @ 32F!

First post by phishie, 8 years ago

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Ahhhhh so a bit of user error here! I have a fridge on a temp controller with a digital thermometer to read the internal fridge temp. Unfortunately I had it set to read the ambient temp instead of the probe temp. So when I thought the fridge was at 64F it was truly at 32F! D'oh!

Sooo yesterday I made two 1 US gallon brews; one is Flower Power Clone with US-05, the other is a Kentucky Common with Saflager W-34/70. Pitched both yeasts at about 66 degrees after each was rehydrated for about an...

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Swirl them up, let them come to temp, tell us what happens. Hopefully the yeast just went to sleep, if no activity in a couple of days you could always repitch.

---Todd

Thanks! Just gave them a good hard swirl and put all that stuff back in suspension. Hopefully they're re-awake and all will be well. At least I got a nice preview of what the cold crashed color would be!

FWH in biabacus

First post by Northseaguy, 8 years ago

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Hi all. After trying to input several different recipes that call for FWH I failed to get the desired IBU. What time do you or in the box? Full boil time or time it takes to reach boil plus boil time? Just a bit confused. Thanks

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In a rush and keyboard sticking but most of you will not have studied this thread .

FWH'ing has been bastardised in its definition and use. Essays can and should be written on this.

:peace:

First BIAB Brew

First post by TheSeaWolf123, 8 years ago

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On Sunday I brewed my first BIAB batch. I was wanting to make a hefeweizen, but I messed up the grains I needed to use.

Here is the recipe I used:

Batch Size: ~2.5 Gallons
Grains:
2.5 lbs Maris Otter
2.5 lbs German Pilsner

Hops:
~0.4 Oz. Hallertau Mittelfruh Pellets (60. Min.)

Yeast:
Wyeast 3068 Weihenstephan

Mashed around 160 degrees F. Ended up at 153 degrees after an hour in the oven.
Cooled after boiling to around 75-80 degrees F. Hydrometer read 1.049, which should be adjusted to...

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Check out the BIABacus software, Section E Mashing Instructions. It estimates the temperature drop after adding grain. You have to list the temperature the grain is at before adding. For me at my last brew session last spring it was very minor, less than a degree - 0.8 degrees Fahrenheit... No reason to wing it...

So just use the BIABacus software like PP says, and post it for review. There are some really smart cookies that hang out on this site, and will be able to help.

Suggestins needed for Caribou Slobber

First post by gvhorwitz, 8 years ago

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Howdy,

Earlier I posted a note regarding my first BIAB,

Mad_Scientist kindly pointed out some reasons for my low original gravity. Yesterday, I racked to a secondary and my gravity was 1.007 bringing my ABV to around 4.5. I'm assuming that I might get a little more attenuation, but not much, so I'm expecting a sweeter beer than expected.

Do you have any suggestions in balancing my brew? I've never dry hopped before, is this a viable solution? If so what type of hop do you recommend?

Any...

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11Bx (1.0424) to 5.5Bx (1.0107) seems about right for 4% and attenuation in the right area for Windsor too (73%).

As for your OP about balancing; I would give it a taste and see if you think it needs anything.
Although it is not as strong as expected, it still may be a great beer as is.

Large Grain differance from original recipe.

First post by bruiser, 8 years ago

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I'm trying to add a recipe from the book Modern Homebrew Recipes by Gordon Strong and I've noticed a large differance in the total grain bill once the grain is entered into BIABacus.....yet only a 2 litre difference in VAW.

The recipe is the Galaxy Pale Ale and the total grain bill is 5967g for a VAW of 25 litres. Quote from the book....My recipes measure the volume of wort left in the kettle at the end of the boil, not the amount of beer in a keg when packaged .

My desired VAW is 23 litres...

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Cheers Mally...this will be only my 2nd BIAB....so still getting my head around it all.

Getting to appreciate BIABicus and this forum more and more now I'm using it in anger!

Cheers Mark

First Brew - Caribou Slobber (Northern Brewer)

First post by gvhorwitz, 8 years ago

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Hi all,

I've brewed (a few weeks ago) a Northern Brewer, Caribou Slobber. This kit came with the BIAB starter kit that I bought from them. I'm thrilled with the kit, unfortunately the Caribou Slobber comes only with this kit, so I won't be able to purchase another of the same brew kit. There are others anyway, maybe I'll get the gut's to make up the Krispy Kolsch you've posted here.

I've tried to input this information into my Beer Smith application. It tries to change my initial water needed...

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A 1.060 at 3 gallons equals 1.045 at 4 gallons. In part, you started with too much water and/or not enough evaporation.

Sent from my XT1053 using Tapatalk

First of all, thank you for taking the time to respond. I appreciate your huge work at this site.

I see your point, Northern Brewer called for 5.5 gallons of water initially, but that's way more than biabacus calls for. I'm sure that my boil wasn't vigorous enough. I'm sure the folks at Northern Brewer know what they're talking about, but...

First brew

First post by specs3000, 9 years ago

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Hi Everyone,
I am a hombrewer in Northern California USA. I have done a few extract brews but am taking the leap into all grain. I am getting ready to do my first BIAB brew in a week or two, and I have been working with the Biabacus. I think I have an ok handle on it, but I would sure appreciate some experienced eyes to take a look and let me know if there are any areas that could be improved. I am trying to brew a BIAB version of Northern Brewers Caribou Slobber brown ale. I have attached a...

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Congrats on the brews.
You definitely could use fewer transfers. What I did and would do for bottling is add your gelatin and cold crash right in the primary bucket. Once everything has settled to the bottom use an auto siphon and not the spigot to take the beer off of the cake without stirring up the trub. You can siphon the beer into your bottling bucket on top of the priming solution and then into bottles.

First galaxy biab attempt

First post by flitters, 9 years ago

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Well this is my first shot at creating something similar to old golden hen. I have a 100g of galaxy and will use whats left over in the dry hop.

Oh and it's my second biab too :thumbs:

All thoughts welcome
galaxy single hop.xls

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Hi Mally

Thanks for the reply, your thought are very much appreciated, I've reset the VAW, still getting to grips with biabcaus. :headhit:

I usually don't add the hops until the hot break is done anyway which usually take a while. This is my first brew using the software so it could be hit and miss, hopefully more hit though.

Well Ive tweaked the hop schedule to a 45min, 10min and 5min so less bitter and hopefully more flavour and aroma, I will be using what ever is leftever for dry...

Opinion on my recipe citra/cascade

First post by Viper5110, 9 years ago

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Hi guys. Hope somebody would be helpful enough to have a quick look at my recipe (see biabacus file)

1- I'll be using a 32L boiler and I'm determined to get between 21-22L (hence the volume alterations)

2- With regard to the recipe this is my first attempt at my own after doing a few based on messer Wheelers book
I'm aiming for something with a bit of punch, very hoppy e.g. Joker IPA, Proper job, Ghost ship etc but I want something around the 4.1-.4.4% Mark. I think an IBU of 70 would get me...

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Section B says you have 32 L (8.46 gal) kettle capacity and Section K says your mash volume will be 31.96 L (8.44 gal). Just above where it says Section B there is a red warning - Mash volume approaches kettle limits. I do not think you will be able to stir that without spillage, and if you have some sort of bag protector on the kettle bottom that holds the grain bag up, it gives even less space at the top (volume of the thing, if not its height). It would be easier and a simpler brew day if...

Am I reading this Biabacus correctly?

First post by injac, 9 years ago

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So having plugged the recipe into Biabacus and already done a few brews...all along should I have actually been putting in the 'What you will use' amounts from the right hand side?!

Feel like a right 'nana if true.

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Gents! All of ya!

biabacus post boil dilution and laws of physics help

First post by Viper5110, 9 years ago

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Hi Guys

I have attempted the attached brew. Its only my second one and I managed to get 20L of wort into the fermenter at the right OG :thumbs: So happy days but I want to improve

Trouble is at the moment I am using the Biabacus retrospectively. Looking at the numbers it seems impossible so I'm guessing I have something fundamentally wrong (albeit I haven't fine-tuned it for my boil off etc)

Retrospectively to get section K to show my actual numbers I have tinkered with section W. (I.E. I...

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Thanks for all the replies. I have now bought a 33L boiler and a larger mash bag. Getting 20L of 1.046 wort from a 19L pot was an interesting experience though and It can be done. Nothing wrong with the taste to me but if a full volume version will be an improvement then cant wait.

biabacus manual

First post by gvhorwitz, 9 years ago

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Hi
Now I KNOW that there is a manual (with pictures) for the biabacus, I've seen it. But, dad-nabit, I can't find it.

I'd like to send it to my work place and print it on their color printer.
Any help will be appreciated.

Also, is it in a separate file that I can download?

Greg
South Windsor, Connecticut, USA

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I thought I posted a thank you. Please forgive me for not doing so. I think you all answered my question.

Greg

14l stockpot recipe suggestions....

First post by Blinky, 9 years ago

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I have a 14 litre stock pot and want to try some BIAB/All Grain brews that I can then use a Demijohn as a FV - aiming to get around 4 litres/8 bottles. I just like brewing and experimenting and if 4 litres goes down the drain it aint so bad!
Never (obviously) done this before so is it doable? and any recipe suggestions?

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Okay that makes some sense, malts are high in magnesium and potassium generally and some of which would remain in the Sweet liqour. In general the hardness and calcium will decrease during a boil, which will change the beer slightly under most circumstances and will definitely not cause a beer to taste like cat piss...

The issue of hardness and calcium can be easily adjusted as well using simple mineral additions and boiling the water, in a tea kettle or smaller pot, before adding during the...

hop sock beer thief!

First post by Viper5110, 9 years ago

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Quick question guys. I've brewed a couple of beers now in my 19L stockpot. With post boil dilution Ive managed to get about 20L so far.

My last brew required 3 hop additions (one bittering and two different hops toward the end) In total I used 3 hopsocks. By the time I removed them before I chilled my wort I was almost crying at the amount of wort those socks can actually hold and therefore steal from me :nup: :nup: :nup: .... I didn't want to squeeze as im not sure if its the done thing

So...

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Thanks for the replies guys. Marigolds at the ready then.....

Preparing for 1st Biab. Only done one kit before this...

First post by MrChris, 9 years ago

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Evening

Ok. I am planning to have a crack at my first BIAB this weekend but am definitely starting to over-think.

I have used the Biabacus to adjust the NRB Amarillo recipe for my pot. For simplicity, I decided to go mini-BIAB from my 30L kettle, and then if the results were terrible, I have enough ingredients remaining to try again. I am not a big drinker so smaller amounts works well to experiment.

My Biabacus is attached.

Questions so far:
1) The kettle says it is a 30L capacity, but...

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Chris, depending on how much you are a Hop-Head, you could add 1/2 an amount of hops, at the Krausen drop, and taste the beer after a week, and then add more, if you need More Hoppiness , and wait another week to test again. Time is What the Dry hopping Needs.

If you can see this Google

it shows the Distillers in east Tn.

Kettle Headspace

First post by LavaChild, 9 years ago

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Hello!

Can anybody tell me what a 'recommended' kettle headspace is for during the boil? I'm aware that during a vigorous rolling boil the wort may begin splashing and also violently (and quickly) rise during the hot break. As such, how much space do you try to leave to account for this? Clearly a kettle cannot be filled to the brim without resulting in a very messy hob... But how much to account for this?

On a similar note, is there a 'minimum' fill level required? For example, if I use a 21...

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Or a video on YouTube by Fluidjuice here

Preparing for my first biab

First post by bryamill, 9 years ago

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On Goulaigan's recommendation, I wanted to start a thread here and have somewhere to ask questions as I get closer to my first biab brew this weekend. I've downloaded the BIABacus and I also have BeerSmith. My biggest question is about the correct amount of water to start with. Do I need to put the actual recipe in or can I just put my kettle dimensions in and get that information?

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Oh and something many don't realize right away about volumes that I find really handy, and that I didn't discover until a few batches in, is that beside each volumes to the right, in section S and T, it tells you what depth your water should be to achieve this and what depth your headspace should be. (as long as your kettle dimensions are correct) This makes it incredibly easy to get the volume correct, just use a ruler and measure the headspace.

There is also a nice little calculator in...

My first attempt at brewing.

First post by robertz64, 9 years ago

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Greetings!
Attached is a file for my fist brew. I am wondering what the BIABrewer Link refers to in the Recipe Overview, what is Natural Priming in the Fermentation Bill and if any other key information is missing?
Is 1 yeast pack enough for 6.5 gal?
My plan is to bottle directly from a BrewTech BrewBucket (fermenter) using carbonation drops.
I appreciate your advice and comments.

Robertz

BIABacus PR1.3T - Amber Ale - Batch 1.xls

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Ok I'll use the BIABacus calculations as posted as soon as I get a fermentation chamber setup.

Dry Irish Stout - Dark Amber Color (Not Black)

First post by Scott, 9 years ago

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I used the BCS book recipe. My 4th BIAB. Overall went pretty well but I undershot my OG. Was 1.038 instead of 1.041. A couple things, and will chalk it up to user error. Evaporation not what it has been (dialed back boil a little bit) and put a little too much water in the brew kettle.

Light in alcohol - 3.7% ABV or so - and really easy to drink. But the color is too light. 1 lbs. Black Roasted Barley, and in the book they say to run it through a coffee mill or use a rolling pin to turn it...

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I guess I had been under the understanding that all malted grains are fermentable and non-malted are not... That still appears to be the case however not everything is fermentable at the same level (and that is not really a surprise either...).

Nilo's experiment was interesting. A little thick , like a lot of this stuff, but interesting. Looked to me that crystal malt is fermentable but less so than 2-row...

Joshua, with the steeped vs, mashed, Palmer talked about steeping grains added...

Questions about my first AG and BIAB brew.

First post by sh3rlock, 9 years ago

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Hi all,
Yesterday I finished my first BIAB brew and it went ok. I'm going to end up with beer so I'm happy, but I came in 10 pts low on my gravity. I was trying to brew BierMuncher's Cream of Three Crops but I did something wrong somewhere. Anyway, I was hoping that those more experienced than I could take a look at my BIABacus and try to shed some light on what I can do better next time. I filled out the chalkboard tab of it with notes that I took during the brew, too to try and give the most...

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The BIABacus performs calculations out to thousandths and displays it in that format.

MS

Makes perfect sense! :thumbs: Thanks!

First BIAB and AG NRB's Pale Ale

First post by ribbe, 9 years ago

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Brewing NRB's All Amarillo Pale Ale right now, but with a twist as my brewshop didnt have any Amarillo in store. So i'm going with centennial as bittering hops and then cascade for the later additions (BIABacus was a great help here). I hope that will still give me a very enyojable pale ale.

My first rookie mistake was to start mashing at a little bit to high temperature as the stove still heated my pot even though i did turn the plate off (so simple and dumb yes). So i added some cool water...

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I think any trub, etc going into bottles is a non-issue. That being said, priming individual bottles may not result in as consistent a level of carbonation as is possible by simply racking from primary into another container sufficient to hold the full volume for bulk priming. As to you using a bottling bucket: I see no real increased risk of infection as the beer has already fermented and contains alcohol. If you rack gently and already have your priming solution in the bucket prior to racking...

No chill

First post by kmmacker, 9 years ago

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Ok...newbie question!

If I do a mash, boil it and leave it to cool overnight. can I pitch the next day if left in the boiler, taking into account that the wort and boiler would be sterile due to before mentioned boiling being done?

It would split my brew sessions and make life a little easier, ie brew session one evening...finish the next?

What's the thinking on that? :shoot:

Cheers
K

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Bed sheet, cut to size....much easier to iron and sterilise and clip down me thinks!

Good shout Joshua!
K

1st & 2nd BIAB Beers Brewed - some issues with the BIABacus

• 1
• 2

First post by Scott, 9 years ago

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Well, finally did it. Wife got me a bunch of new brew equipment for Christmas, so I was able to do 5 gallon BIAB brews. (5 gal into Corny Keg). Before this, just have been extract with grain mostly, and a partial mash... So going backwards, was shooting for 5 1/2 gallon into fermenter and roughly 6 gallon or just a little more, in the bottom of the boil kettle when done.

Did two first batches at once. One a German Pilsner and the other a Vienna Lager. Using trash cans for a water bath to help...

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Well, I am brewing my 4th BIAB today, a Dry Irish Stout. Not a large grain bill. Discovered that with some vigorous stirring, the temperature is the same in the center of the mash as the outside brew kettle temperature gauge. I was prepared to pour from the kettle into a pitcher and back into the wort (the BobBrews method described above), but it was not necessary. Maybe it would be a help if the mash was double the size...so good to know the technique, in case it is needed in the future.

Natural priming in BIABacus

First post by Steeveo, 9 years ago

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when using the BIABacus there is a spot for natural priming (y/n). Maybe I am just having a brain fart here but is natural using co2 gas or priming dextrose?

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perfect. That's what I was thinking. No keg and normally do not condition with sugar and just let the bottle of CO2 do it thing. Thanks

Amarillo IPA

First post by tota76, 9 years ago

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Hi folks,
after long time whitout brewing,
next week I'll brew thi recipe,
what do you think about?
some advice, something to improve the recipe?

thank!

Amarillo - Columbus IPA
Style: American India Pale Ale
ABV: 5,8%

Original Gravity (OG): 1,06
IBU's (Tinseth): 50
Bitterness to Gravity Ratio: 0,83
Colour: 12,7 EBC = 6,4 SRM

Kettle Efficiency (as in EIB and EAW): 75 %
Efficiency into Fermentor (EIF): 70,3 %

The Grain Bill
84,6% Pale Malt Maris Otter (5,5 EBC = 2,8 SRM) 11000 grams =...

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Ahh.. I didn't understand!
yep I have to re-proctect.