Watery beer

First post by yeriksen, 12 years ago

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Hi

Tasted my second brew today after two weeks on the bottle. It has nice color and good head, but the taste is watery, but no off taste that I can detect.

It was suppose to be a English Brown ale, and a it has gotten a lot of good review on the net. See Aberdeen Brown Ale on HomeBrewTalk.com.

I have attached the recipe if anybody can see what went wrong. All my numbers was close to what recipe say, only issue was that my liquid yeast did not work and I had to re-pitch it with dry yeast...

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Hi

The picture in post 1 is from the fermenter before the cold crash. After the cold crash I siphoned the beer on top of my priming sugar (no yeast as I wrote :)).

I guess a issue may may be that warm sugar solution does not mix to good with cold beer.

Positive feedback

First post by monkeyman, 12 years ago

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Hello, I am new to brewing, started at the beginning of the year with a one gallon kit from Northern Brewer, courtesy of my wife. Instantly fell in love with brewing but had one problem. I move every 3-6 months for work and everything, including my wife's stuff, has to fit into a Hyundai Santa Fe. I was really bummed bc I wanted to jump into AG brewing. Luckily I found this site and gave BIAB a try. I make small 1.5 to 2 gallon batches on the stove. I am on batch # 7 right now. Took your advice...

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What does AA% stand for?

First post by Pinchy, 12 years ago

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So I asked this question in a different topic. And I have been asked to post it as a new topic;

So here it is :thumbs:

Que PistolPatch.... :salute:

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Thanks Joshua for that hopunion link. It is now embedded onto my desktop.

First BIAB preperation help

First post by okutu, 12 years ago

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Hi All,
This will be my first attempt at a BIAB brew and I would really like some help from the community.

I have a pico electrum digital mashing bin with digital temperature control; it has a ±1 C temperature accuracy (apparently) but only has a ‘to brim’ volume of 34 litres (measured by cold water addition) and a stated capacity of 32 litres.I have a temperature controlled fridge (±1 C) that I use to ferment my beer in so like to crash cool.

I want to start off easy so plan to follow the...

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No probs okutu ;),

Conditioning in the corny should be fine if you do as you say. As for grain names, they are often totally bewildering :?.

If you are looking forward to making a starter and you are okay with the cost of the liquid yeast then go for it for sure. It will allow you to use a true kolsch yeast. You could even wash some of the yeast cake from this batch and use some of the yeast again in about a month or so?

If you decide to go with dry, one packet is fine for this volume into...

Did I do this right? (BIABacus)

First post by hejseb, 12 years ago

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Hey there. I found a nice recipe for a christmas inspired IPA, which made me a little curious. I've used it mostly as inspiration and created a similar recipe using Beersmith. Unfortunately I only have the iPad app so I cannot export it. I have a small pot (10L) and am thinking of trying maxi-BIAB next time, so I've tried to set it all up using the BIABacus (and the recipe is in there). Essentially, what I want to do is:
- Mash with as much water as possible
- Remove the bag, put it in a...

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Apologies hejseb, I see you directed some questions at me and I missed them. Been a bit busy but let's see if we can get some of them knocked off...

You asked. what does 3V mean? 3V is short for three vessel all-grain brewing. In other words,it refers to the traditional way of all-graining which involves an active sparge (batch or fly sparge). This is in contrast to BIAB, which in its pure form, means full-volume mashing in a single vessel.

...

You are worrying about getting the right amount...

Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout - BIAB way

First post by naptowndon, 12 years ago

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I have brewed about 6 BIAB batches normally just using the AG recipies. My numbers and gravity always seemed a bit off. With a longer mash it has helped to get closer then I found this site. So this is my fist BIABacus batch.

I am looking for a good Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout Clone.

Ingredients:
•8 lbs. pale two-row English ale malt
•1 lb. crystal malt, 60° Lovibond
•18 oz. Flaked Oats/Or roasted oatmeal
•0.5 lb. chocolate malt
•0.5 lb. roasted barley
•1/2 tsp. Irish moss
•2 oz....

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I did catch the flaked oats in section Y prior to boil. I have not measured down to the mm and which is why I need to spend more time with the equipment to dial that in. Flat bottom kettle so I was tracking the 3 values and recording the middle.

The beer always tastes good and was close. Just trying to figure out why I was off. As I was thinking I didn't account for the 80.6F temp that I took the gravity reading at either.

The SSOS fermented vigorously, a rolling fermentation, for 2 day...

First AG brew - Burton Bridge Golden Delicious

First post by alymere, 12 years ago

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I've finally got all the equipment I needed to attempt my first biab brew. I've made the bag, built a tripod for my hoist to go on and made an immersion chiller.

I ordered my grain and hops from the Malt Miller in the UK and received first class service. I ordered enough to make 5 batches, saves on the delivery charge.

I'll be using my 70 litre stockpot on a single spiral gas burner.

All of the recipes I'm attempting are from Graham Wheeler's Brew You Own British Real Ale .
I selected beers...

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alymere,

Nice pictures and nice setup. You did a bang up job of it! Your on a roll now. The beer will be as nice as your pictures so you are going to be a happy man. You will make new friends. They will come out of the woodwork to help you drink it up.

1st all grain, need help.

First post by Coromant, 12 years ago

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After reading through so many articles, I've decided that I must give it a try, especially BIAB. :thumbs:
I gotten this recipe from Northern Brewer website, from 1 of the link provide by Bob Brew!
As this is the 1st all grain, I try to get the actual ingredients or as close as I can, hope that it'll turn out to be ok.
After trying with the BIABacus, I'm unclear with the value 'K' and 'W'.
If you refer to the attached BIABacus, the total water needed is 19.21 litres.
I would like to check with...

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Thanks Mally, i plan to let it sit till this Sunday.
It's a very good learning experience!
Thanks mates!

Mash/Boil question

First post by JLS Brewer, 12 years ago

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Good Morning BIAB practitioners,
I have been a mash tun all grain brewer for a few years now but recently started researching the BIAB tech for a friend. On this forum many, if not most, recipes seem to suggest 90 min. mash and 90 min boil. I know 90 min. mashes and boils are sometimes done in the regular all grain tech, but usually a 60/60 mash/boil is recommended. Is this a standard practice to BIAB? If so please explain.
Thanks, John

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Jooshua & Pistol Patch
Thanks for your responses, they answer my question, great link
John

Multiple Mash Steps

First post by darren131, 12 years ago

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Hi team,

I'm going to give this recipe a go:

But I've noticed that there're multiple mash steps:
Protein Rest, 56°C for 20 min
Saccharification Rest, 68°C for 60 min
Mash-out, 75°C for 15 min

How does one do this with BIAB? And more importantly is it required?

Thanks!

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Thanks PP—it's good to see the detailed reasoning behind the steps.

Mash efficiency check

First post by weizgei, 12 years ago

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Now that I've started BIAB, obviously I'm keen to understand what efficiency to expect so as to formulate my recipes accordingly.

On today's brew, a Belgian Dubbel, I mashed:

2.5kg Bohemian Pilsner
150gm Medium Crystal
150gm Dark Crystal

into 16.6 litres of strike water. After my 75m mash @ 66.7, and a 10m mashout where I upped it to 75.6, I lifted the bag and put a fridge rack over the top of my kettle. Rested the bag on that, and used another fridge rack to squeeze down on the bag, hard,...

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Cheers again for the reply. I'm a bit confused though...didn't I put all that information in my original post above? Yes, you did Weiz. I'm sorry I missed that but I get involved in too many 'numbers' threads here and sometimes lose my place if that makes sense. Sometimes people don't reply for a few days (not you) and so I end up carrying a lot of thoughts around and sometimes get confused or just plain rushed.

Let's get you sorted...

You'll either get cranky with me or appreciate the below...

Squeezing the bag

First post by Algernon, 12 years ago

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Strictly speaking I don't use a bag, just a sheet of voile, but it's all the same in the end.
Anyhow, on my other forum there are many threads relating to not squeezing the bag too much or you get tannins released into your wort.
1. Is there much truth to this?
2. How hard is too hard when it comes to squeezing?

Thanks in advance,
Al

Edit: I think this has been answered to a more than sufficient level for my current set-up. Thanks guys.
In short, tannins are more a product of excessive heat...

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Algernon,

The pH strips at home brew stores have had a bad reputation acquired from years past. They are better now and can be used with more confidence. I have a pH meter bought last year and I find the strips are ballpark and easier to use. Cheers!

So could I split this into two

First post by seanbond10, 12 years ago

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Basically I have a 17 litre pan so looking at a max of 15 litre full to get around 11 litres into an Fv so I just wondered if I could split this into two

If anyone could give a 11 litre recipe for this would be good

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I'm thinking of an EKG smash using that recipe base but adding honey and root ginger .... Obvistly after the blue bird bitter

About to take the plunge to BIAB - pot & bag predicament

• 1
• 2

First post by gjs, 13 years ago

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Hello All.

I've done a few kits and have really enjoyed those, but it is now time to move on to making some better beer that I can properly create myself, and BIAB looks like a great way of doing it.

I've been trying to work out what will be best to get in terms of equipment, mainly in terms of pot and bag, so I wonder if anyone can give me some advice regarding these aspects.

Large pots in the UK are expensive and I'm trying to keep costs down, but I am also conscious of wanting to get...

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gjs ,

Nice going. Very well done. As you brew more the more comfortable you will become. Your patience on your first all grain BIAB is truly remarkable. I would have cut everything short just to try it! I find that I have become more patient if I have 3 or 4 fermentation buckets going at the same time? The problem is drinking all that beer! Good beer, good times! Bravo!

Help me a recipe

First post by seanbond10, 12 years ago

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So after discovering I couldn't just split an ag recipe in to two. I've thought about what I'd like from a beer or more importantly what my wife will drink. So after discussing with her it's going to be a very pale beer almost lager with some sweetness
So can some one help? What I currently have is

100g of challenger hops
60g of EKG
Chocolate malt

Obvistly ill need my base malt maybe even try a lager malt ?

The equipment I have is a 17 litre pan measuring 30cm across and 25 cm deep
I'm...

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sean

Biabacus for Bluebird can be found Here

If you have any questions regarding the recipe post them in that thread to keep things together.

:peace:

Yeasty

BIAB#2 - Witbier

First post by jdeiro, 12 years ago

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Hello, y'all!

My first BIAB went pretty smoothly and I've perfectly reached the target OG. I've had some trouble with fermenting, but it seems to be going okay (it does tastest delicious!), just a few more days to go and bottle it up.

Anyway, I'm already planning my next batch and, due to family demand, I'll be making a Witbier.

I've attached the BIABacus to the topic and I'd appreciate if you experts could evaluate my recipe. It's supposed to be pretty simple. The Centennial hops are only...

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Well, I'm part of a brazilian community of homebrewers and they say those steps are really important when brewing wheat beer.

However, I've never seen thhose steps applied to BIAB brewing, and that's why I brought it up here.

Do you guys feel that I really need to use them? It will be hard enough for me to do that, since I still brew on my kitchen stove, but I think that it's possible.

Anyway, I've actually made the recipe from scratch, based on other witbier recipes I've seen around. Do...

BIABacus Check

First post by darren131, 12 years ago

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Hi team,

The next beer I'm going to attempt is this beauty: onclick= window.open(this.href);return false; ... ipa-recipe

I've added in all the bits to the BIABacus and wondering if I've done it correctly. Would you smarter/more experienced provide any assistance or insight (especially around the hop additions).

Thanks in advance!
Darren BIABacus PR1.3 - Digital IPA-2.xls [ADMIN NOTE: Please see this post .]

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Never seen that BrewToad site before Darren. Unfortunately it looks like it has the same terminology problems we always talk about here. (See the Does this recipe have integrity? Can I copy it? thread for more info on this.)

Thanks for explaining the yellow hoses :peace:. We never see yellow hoses here in Ozland. I'm always interested in hoses as they can cause a lot of off-flavours, some even at cool temperatures. (We've all had water from a garden hose that doesn't taste quite right :argh:.)...

My First BIAB & First time using BIABacus

First post by Yettiman, 12 years ago

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Hi,

I have only recently started AG and have just brewed my first BIAB. I tried to use the BIABacus sheet, mostly as a way to learn to be honest.

I think I have filled it out correctly, I say think, because all of the data is correct, I might not have filled the form out right.

Would REALLY appreciate a more experienced BIABer taking a look and giving their comments. Please be as honest as you like, I will not learn otherwise. The Brewday went well, no issues, my new Burco, performed like a...

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Hi PP,

Just to let you know the beer was great, soft and mild in the mouth with a strong after taste of dark chocolate, even the wife liked it.

I am all set on the BIABacus at the mo, I will leave it here and when the heat wave is over will brew a new batch with it and my new understanding. I might even brew the same beer, just up the quantity to 4 Gals

Thank you again

New at this - Rye IPA recipe, could this work?

First post by dryhte, 12 years ago

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Hi folks,

after some friendly pointers in the long thread, I realized that I should decide to simply get a 50L kettle.

I tried to use BIABacus to write down the recipe as I envisioned it.

Would you please take a look at it, and see whether it would work (combination of grains, hops, gravity) or whether you envision any problems for a beginning brewer.

Thanks...

BIABacus Pre-Release 1.3 RECIPE REPORT
BIAB Recipe Designer, Calculator and Scaler.
(Please visit onclick=...

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I’ve just posted 2 files in the How to Convert Recipes thread and noticed a discrepancy with the hop bill on that thread and this one. In the original recipe posted in the other thread, it had two hop additions at 5 minutes whereas the report posted above has two at 55 mins. I went with the two at 55 mins, because that will get you at 72 IBU Tinseth (about what you want for the style).

Pre-release files should generally only be posted in a few threads but if you want to post your file up here,...

New to brewing... and a few questions

First post by darren131, 12 years ago

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Hi there!

I've been lurking around this forum for a while and read a whole bunch of stuff both here and elsewhere—needless to say my head is full of info... sadly I don't know how much of it is useful. Anyway—I've brewed one and a half (well the second one is 3 weeks into fermentation); these are my very first brews... right in the deep-end :)

Attached is The Calculator (i've since discovered the BIABacus which is a nice piece of excel magic) for my most recent beer . And this is where my...

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Thanks for the help, Phil. I guess due to the lid being on it didn't reduce as much as I'd hoped :)

Each brew is a learning curve and as long as drinkable beer is produced then we're living the dream!

Missed start gravity target

First post by BIABBernie, 13 years ago

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I missed the targeted start gravity by about 9 points , I suspect not a vigorous enough boil.
The wort is now ready for the fermenter is there any way I could add some Extract Maly to boost the gravity ?
Any suggestion most welcome.

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I use an 'R'.

What is Mini and Maxi BIAB?

First post by Yettiman, 13 years ago

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First, let me apologize for being 'slow'

I have read this and other forums and feel I am going around and around

Could someone just confirm I have understood it correctly, or if not point me at an easy to understand thread

Very much appreciated and apologises for being 'slow'

I think it is:

Mini = a small pot (usually on the stove) Heat, add bag, remove bag, boil
Maxi = same small pot, Heat, add bag, replace bag with a new fresh bag, remove bag, dilute to normal strength, boil

Thus a...

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PistolPatch - Thanks for your input! So, I'm not only limited by the volume that will fit in my pot, but also my ability to bring that amount to a boil on the stove? I have done 7.5 gal all grain boils in this pot on my old stove, but it did take almost an hour to bring it up to a boil. We just moved into a new house and the previous owners left a professional Wolf range - I wonder if that has higher BTUs? At any rate, I may investigate getting a propane burner for the garage (wife will...

Bookmarking

First post by Homemade, 13 years ago

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I am learning how to drive this site, can anyone tell me how I pull up previously bookmarked threads?

thks

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Thanks upover, I just found that about half an hour ago, thanks for answering.

Ian

Fine vs Coarse mesh for bag - Revisit topic.

First post by kzimmer0817, 13 years ago

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My reason for revisiting the question about mesh is to provide an easy-to-find thread for other new BIABers to find the answer to how important it might be to use a fine mesh bag vs a coarser one. (I decided to ask my question first followed by all my rambling justifications for those who prefer to cut to the chase).

I remember over a year ago reading some justifications for why it was important to use the voile as opposed to the coarser paint strainer bags. I just re-read the following...

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PP,
He actually wanted to be a heart surgeon but wasn't tall enough

You are reaching with that one.

BIAB vs HERMS Help Please

First post by steveb, 13 years ago

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Hi all im want more info on BIAB cant decide between this and HERMS please make my mind up for me. Thanks
im wanting to know why BIAB is better than HERMS apart from the main differences eg cost , single vessel.etc im more interested in Taste effeciency, ec, Thanks

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...how does that sound so far Glad to see you have had a few quality replies Steve. Like Bob, I used to three-vessel but now have two BIAB set-ups from which I can get enough wort to package 4 x 19l kegs in the same time with one less vessel. Unlike Aces, I have never had any bling/pumps etc in either set-up though.

I saw your post was unanswered when I left home this morning and that got me thinking on my drive to work. Here's my ponderings.

1. Any brew day I have been to that had bling (a...