So I finally got some nice weather here in Nova Scotia to break out the new propane burner I bought to do my beer outside instead of in the kitchen on my stovetop.
I filled by 9gallon turkey frier with 7 gallons of water, heated to 163 then started adding my 14.5 pounds of grain for an IPA. Turns out 7 gallons of water and 14.5 pounds of grain is way too much for a 9 gallon pot, and I ended up with about 1 pound of grains left in my crush bucket... no problem whats a little water going down the pot right..?
So I kept losing my flame because of the water spilling out of the pot, which means i kept losing my heat. I turned up the flame and ended up overshooting my mash temp for the last 20 minutes because I wasn't watching it close enough. I ended up with 173 degrees, which most of you probably strike at that, but I didn't have a consistent temp for the 45 minutes until I lost control of the temp.
My pot ended up with lots of floaties, which I assume will settle out during primary and secondary. the boil went perfectly fine of course (there is no way I could screw that up...)
I ended up with a OG of 1.060 and i was hoping for about 1.068 but I will take it. I had a 60% efficiency after all is said and done, and currently is bubbling along nicely in my fermenter bucket.
My brew day started at 7:30 and was finished and cleaned up by 12.
the few questions I have are: IF I get a Coleman cooler, can I BIAB inside the cooler for better temperature regulation? second question is why bother going through all the mess of all-grain when you could just use the extract (it costs a bit more I know) and just steep the grains.
Mark
Post #2 made 10 years ago
Mark, a bag in a cooler is know "Mash In A Bag"(MIAB)
If you really like that "Extract Off Flavor?" you don't need All Grain!!
By the way 7 gallons is 28 qt, and 14.5 pounds will need 21 quarts if water, you nearly Overfilled the Mash.
Before you give up BIAB, Download "BIABACUS" at http://www.biabrewer.info/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1869
Then enter your Pot size, the Volume you want to put in the fermenter, and the Grain/Hop Bill, then the BIABACUS will let you Know if it is Possible and we can help you Figure out how to Go All-Grain and Make GREAT Beer!
If you really like that "Extract Off Flavor?" you don't need All Grain!!
By the way 7 gallons is 28 qt, and 14.5 pounds will need 21 quarts if water, you nearly Overfilled the Mash.
Before you give up BIAB, Download "BIABACUS" at http://www.biabrewer.info/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1869
Then enter your Pot size, the Volume you want to put in the fermenter, and the Grain/Hop Bill, then the BIABACUS will let you Know if it is Possible and we can help you Figure out how to Go All-Grain and Make GREAT Beer!
Honest Officer, I swear to Drunk, I am Not God.
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- SVA Brewer With Over 100 Brews From United States of America
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Post #3 made 10 years ago
Don't worry, I am not giving up yet. This is only my second BIAB. My first one was a major flop with a 2% chocolate stout, but it was only a 1 gallon batch, so This was a lot more successful. I figure that mashing in a cooler will give me better temp control, plus easier cleanup afterwards. Plus I can sparge while using the cooler which is maybe why I only had a 60% eff.
I haven't really sat down with the BIABACUS yet, I have looked it over a little bit, but I am going to sit down this weekend and plug the numbers into it what I just brewed yesterday.
the IPA smells way better than the extract IPA's I have done in the past. when I transfer to secondary, i cannot wait to try it. I normally do before I pitch the yeast, but I didn't yesterday.
I haven't really sat down with the BIABACUS yet, I have looked it over a little bit, but I am going to sit down this weekend and plug the numbers into it what I just brewed yesterday.
the IPA smells way better than the extract IPA's I have done in the past. when I transfer to secondary, i cannot wait to try it. I normally do before I pitch the yeast, but I didn't yesterday.
Post #4 made 10 years ago
Way to go, bowserm! Congrats on the 1st outdoor brew. 1.060 when shooting for 1.069 isn't ideal but is not that big of a deal either. You should be concentrating on getting the basics of your process down right now anyways. Don't sweat the numbers so much at this point.
There are a number of solutions for the problems you are having. The first piece of advice is learning the BIABicus as it will warn you about mash volume being too large for your kettle and help you calculate solutions. The best solution in my opinion is to withhold water from the mash and add before boiling, if possible. There are other solutions as well as people with experience using them. So ask away!
Also... adding equipment (read here mash tun or mashing cooler) to your process usually adds more work/cost/frustration than what its worth. Regulating temps can be done by throwing a blanket or sleeping bag over the pot. Works well! Can't wait to see the results!
Jeff
There are a number of solutions for the problems you are having. The first piece of advice is learning the BIABicus as it will warn you about mash volume being too large for your kettle and help you calculate solutions. The best solution in my opinion is to withhold water from the mash and add before boiling, if possible. There are other solutions as well as people with experience using them. So ask away!
Also... adding equipment (read here mash tun or mashing cooler) to your process usually adds more work/cost/frustration than what its worth. Regulating temps can be done by throwing a blanket or sleeping bag over the pot. Works well! Can't wait to see the results!
Jeff
Post #5 made 10 years ago
Great hobby, eh?
MS
MS
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- SVA Brewer With Over 100 Brews From United States of America
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Post #6 made 10 years ago
Once I start getting more All-Grain brews done, no doubt this will turn into a pretty easy and simple brew day. You have to work the kinks out to perfect it.
I was on another forum talking about how expensive this hobby was, and they compared it to knitting. which makes perfect sense.
I was on another forum talking about how expensive this hobby was, and they compared it to knitting. which makes perfect sense.
Post #7 made 10 years ago
@Bowserm it's an excellent hobby but you make a lot of mistakes that you learn from as you gain experience. Fortunately these mistakes very rarely result in a dumper
