Hi!
Next week I'm brewing my fourth batch of a simple American Pale Ale.
The ones I've brewed before has turned out very nice in flavour but my OG has been to high every time.
This time I'm cutting down the grain bill and will try a 60 min mash with a 10 min mashout instead of a 90 min mash.
I will also try to follow the recipe exactly the way it´s calculated in biabacus and cut back on the improvising.
I'm want to reach consistency with simple recipes in my brewing before I start to experiment to much.

I would really appreciate som advice/critique on this recipe from more experienced brewers.

Thank you!


Original Gravity (OG): 1,055
IBU's (Tinseth): 37
Bitterness to Gravity Ratio: 0,67
Colour: 17,8 EBC = 9 SRM
ABV%: 5,3

Efficiency into Kettle (EIK): 81,4 %
Efficiency into Fermentor (EIF): 73,4 %


Mash: 60 mins at 66 C = 150,8 F
Boil: 60 min
Ferment: 14 days at 20 C = 68 F

Volumes & Gravities

Total Water Needed (TWN): 22,34 L = 5,9 G
Volume into Kettle (VIK): 20,76 L = 5,48 G @ 1,046
End of Boil Volume - Ambient (EOBV-A): 16,65 L = 4,4 G @ 1,055
Volume into Fermentor (VIF): 15 L = 3,96 G @ 1,055
Volume into Packaging (VIP): 13,89 L = 3,67 G @ 1,014 assuming apparent attenuation of 75 %

The Grain Bill (Also includes extracts, sugars and adjuncts)

92,1% Briess Pale Ale (6,9 EBC = 3,5 SRM) 3497 grams = 7,71 pounds
7,9% Crystal 100 (100 EBC = 50,8 SRM) 300 grams = 0,66 pounds


The Hop Bill (Based on Tinseth Formula)

9,5 IBU Simcoe Plugs (13,2%AA) 5,3 grams = 0,188 ounces at 60 mins
5,1 IBU Cascade Plugs (7,1%AA) 5,3 grams = 0,188 ounces at 60 mins
11,5 IBU Simcoe Plugs (13,2%AA) 10,7 grams = 0,376 ounces at 20 mins
6,2 IBU Cascade Plugs (7,1%AA) 10,7 grams = 0,376 ounces at 20 mins
3 IBU Simcoe Plugs (13,2%AA) 8,5 grams = 0,301 ounces at 5 mins
1,6 IBU Cascade Plugs (7,1%AA) 8,5 grams = 0,301 ounces at 5 mins
0 IBU Simcoe Plugs (13,2%AA) 9,6 grams = 0,339 ounces at mins (Dry Hopped)
0 IBU Cascade Plugs (7,1%AA) 9,6 grams = 0,339 ounces at mins (Dry Hopped)

Mash Steps

Mash Type: Pure BIAB (Full Volume Mash) for 60 mins at 66 C = 150,8 F
Water Held Back from Mash: 5 L = 1,32 G

Water Used in a Sparge: 5 L = 1,32 G
Mashout for for 10 mins at 78 C = 172,4 F


Miscellaneous Ingredients

2/3 krm Protafloc (Boil) 15 Mins - Clarity


Chilling & Hop Management Methods

Hopsock Used: Y

Chilling Method: Immersion Chiller (Employed 0 mins after boil end.)


Fermentation& Conditioning

Fermention: Safeale US-05 for 14 days at 20 C = 68 F

Secondary Used: N
Crash-Chilled: N
Filtered: N
Req. Volumes of CO2: 2,4

Maxi-BIAB Adjustments

Water Held Back from Mash: 5 L = 1,32 G
Water Used in a Sparge: 5 L = 1,32 G

Hi!
Yes, I have been suspecting that my kettle efficiency is higher then the default setting in BIABacus.
I have not had all the proper tools when I have brewed before, though. So I have not been able get the actual numbers on all the stages.
I've therefore felt that I've been brewing in the dark, somewhat. This is probably the first time where I will try to be more organised when I brew. Feels like I'm giving myself a fresh start.

This is what came out when I put my last brew in BIABacus. (I've made notes in the recipe below) I did not follow the suggested recipe though. (can't remember why) I started out with 18 Liter of water and used 5 Liters in a sparge after the mash was done. My OG after the sparge and before the boil was around 1,070 and afterwards it was back over 1,080 again afterwords. And I did not want to dillute after the boil. Is it safe to do that?

I did not have the tools to get my FG but you could taste (and feel) that the beer had a high ABV and had quite an alcoholic taste.

I cannot remember if i followed the hop bill suggested by BIABacus, but right now I'm more worried about the grain bill.


This is what I can give you from my last brew:



Brewer: William Soovik
Style: American Pale Ale

Original Gravity (OG): 1,060 (Actual OG: 1,082)
IBU's (Tinseth): 37
Bitterness to Gravity Ratio: 0,53
Colour: 21,8 EBC = 11,1 SRM
ABV%: 6,77 (Actual ABV%: Probably around 8,5)

Efficiency into Kettle (EIK): 76,1 % (Have not been able to calculate my actual efficiency)
Efficiency into Fermentor (EIF): 68,6 %



Times and Temperatures 4. Press Ctrl_C

Mash: 90 mins at 66 C = 150,8 F
Boil: 60 min
Ferment: 14 days at 21 C = 69,8 F

Volumes & Gravities

Total Water Needed (TWN): 23,21 L = 6,13 G
Volume into Kettle (VIK): 20,76 L = 5,48 G @ 1,058 (I started with 18 L on this brew)
End of Boil Volume - Ambient (EOBV-A): 16,65 L = 4,4 G @ 1,07 (Actual end of boil volume was definetly lower. Probably around 15,5L)
Volume into Fermentor (VIF): 15 L = 3,96 G @ 1,07
Volume into Packaging (VIP): 13,89 L = 3,67 G @ 1,018 assuming apparent attenuation of 75 %

The Grain Bill (Also includes extracts, sugars and adjuncts)

Note: If extracts, sugars or adjuncts are not followed by an exclamation mark, go to http://www.biabrewer.info" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (needs link)

90,4% Viking Pale Ale Malt (5 EBC = 2,5 SRM) 4674 grams = 10,3 pounds
9,6% Crystal 100 (100 EBC = 50,8 SRM) 497 grams = 1,1 pounds



The Hop Bill (Based on Tinseth Formula)

25,8 IBU Simcoe Pellets (13,2%AA) 15,3 grams = 0,54 ounces at 60 mins
6,6 IBU Cascade Pellets (6,8%AA) 15,3 grams = 0,54 ounces at 15 mins
3,1 IBU Simcoe Pellets (13,2%AA) 9,2 grams = 0,324 ounces at 5 mins
1,6 IBU Cascade Pellets (6,8%AA) 9,2 grams = 0,324 ounces at 5 mins

0 IBU Cascade Pellets (6,8%AA) 9,2 grams = 0,324 ounces at mins (Dry Hopped)
0 IBU Simcoe Pellets (13,2%AA) 9,2 grams = 0,324 ounces at mins (Dry Hopped)


Mash Steps

Mash Type: Pure BIAB (Full Volume Mash) for 90 mins at 66 C = 150,8 F
Water Held Back from Mash: 5 L = 1,32 G



Water Used in a Sparge: 5 L = 1,32 G


Miscellaneous Ingredients

2/3 krm Protafloc (Boil) 15 Mins - Clarity


Chilling & Hop Management Methods

Hopsock Used: Y

Chilling Method: Immersion Chiller (Employed 0 mins after boil end.)

Fermentation& Conditioning

Fermention: Safeale US-05 for 14 days at 21 C = 69,8 F


Req. Volumes of CO2: 2,6
Serving Temp: 6 C = 42,8 F
Condition for 14 days.
Consume within 6 months.


Maxi-BIAB Adjustments

Water Held Back from Mash: 5 L = 1,32 G
Water Used in a Sparge: 5 L = 1,32 G

And to answer Mad_Scientists question this is more or less the first time I'm using BIABacus to brew. I've messed around in it a little bit before but never really followed a recipe that I've done in it.
I will try to adjust my efficiency settings to be a little higher.
I have also been using very finely ground grains. Can that have anything to do with my OG being to high?
Thank's for your answers guys!