Heyup fellow beer lovers,
I have been making a few extract brews over the last few months and am almost ready to delve into the BIAB world.
I think I am getting myself confused (which isn't hard to do) about the amount of liquid I can have in my pot and how much grain. After looking around on the forum and trying a few beer engines I am finally in a position of confusion:)
I have a few questions which I hope you can help me with.
I should be fine with the actual brewing process once I start but it's the numbers that is hurting my head at the moment.
Soo.....
I have an old pot, size is 31cm wide, 21cm high, 15ltr and weighs roughly 2493g. It is made of alluminium.
Exactly how much beer can I make?
What should the grain to water ratio be?
If I have a play with calculator I get about 5.5ltrs brew length and about 12.48ltr of water required with a grain bill of 1114.73g.
Does this sound about right?
Also if I make a recipe say in beersmith 2 trial or beer engine aiming at 5.5 litres brew length can I just use the % for the grain amounts.E,G 70% pilsner, 30% Munich Malt.
Will it still have the same colour values etc in calculator?
Same with hops?
I really like wheat beers and have just done an extract one. Now want to see the difference between extract and all grain so I have been playing around in beer smith to make a recipe.
I have used the 15ltr mini biag equipment as its the closest one for me in Beer Smith 2 and adjusted the batch size/brew length to 5.5ltrs.
I have got -
0.65kg Wheat malt 60.3%
0.43kg Pilsner Ger 2 row 39.7%
6.70g Hallertauer Hersbrucker 11ibu 60 min boil
I have a 90 min boil time
est og 1047
5.4 colour
Mash - BIAB Light Body
Table sugar
Ale single stage
Does this convert ok into calculator or am I useless:)
Cheers in advance
Makka
Post #2 made 13 years ago
Hi there Makka and welcome to the forum 
,
I'm short on time now so can't help you out today. However, if you can, see if you can use BeerSmith2 to adjust one of the sample recipes to your equipment and then post the recipe file here. That way I can check if you are doing it correctly. (There's several ways you can scale incorrectly in BeerSmith so it is worthwhile having it checked. There is a guide to Beersmith2 for BIABrewers here though.)
The Calculator here is very simple but also a very fast scaler etc. It won't give results like colour etc but it gives the essentials and is relatively fast to learn. It's also a great tool to check your BeerSMith results.
Will see if I can answer some of your other questions tomorrow.
PP
,I'm short on time now so can't help you out today. However, if you can, see if you can use BeerSmith2 to adjust one of the sample recipes to your equipment and then post the recipe file here. That way I can check if you are doing it correctly. (There's several ways you can scale incorrectly in BeerSmith so it is worthwhile having it checked. There is a guide to Beersmith2 for BIABrewers here though.)
The Calculator here is very simple but also a very fast scaler etc. It won't give results like colour etc but it gives the essentials and is relatively fast to learn. It's also a great tool to check your BeerSMith results.
Will see if I can answer some of your other questions tomorrow.
PP
Last edited by PistolPatch on 26 Jun 2012, 18:00, edited 4 times in total.
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Post #3 made 13 years ago
Cheers PP,
No rush at all, I am just getting info at the mo. Will be starting BIAB in a couple of weeks.
I will have a go on Beersmith today and post my results.
Thanks again
Makka
No rush at all, I am just getting info at the mo. Will be starting BIAB in a couple of weeks.
I will have a go on Beersmith today and post my results.
Thanks again
Makka
Post #4 made 13 years ago
OK so I have just had a go at scaling Aussie Ale in Brewsmith 2
Load up Aussie Ale and make a copy of it
1. Take a note of grav readings, ibu, colour etc.
2. Hit the scale button
3. pick the 5gal/19L mini BIAB from the list
4. Change the mash profile to medium body BIAB
5. Change the boil time to 90mins and adjust the ibu back to 28
If I then look at the vols tab or the mash tab the mash tun volume says 5.02 gal with a red light next to it
and the mash volume needed says 5.19 gal.
So something is wrong already. What am I doing wrong so far?
Don't even want to try and change my pot size to a 15 ltr pot if I can't even get this bit right:)
Time for a drink!
Load up Aussie Ale and make a copy of it
1. Take a note of grav readings, ibu, colour etc.
2. Hit the scale button
3. pick the 5gal/19L mini BIAB from the list
4. Change the mash profile to medium body BIAB
5. Change the boil time to 90mins and adjust the ibu back to 28
If I then look at the vols tab or the mash tab the mash tun volume says 5.02 gal with a red light next to it
and the mash volume needed says 5.19 gal.
So something is wrong already. What am I doing wrong so far?
Don't even want to try and change my pot size to a 15 ltr pot if I can't even get this bit right:)
Time for a drink!
Post #5 made 13 years ago
Adjusted batch size to 9ltr and then adjusted ibu etc to match original.
Is this ok for a start?
ta
Makka
Is this ok for a start?
ta
Makka
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Post #6 made 13 years ago
This is a great thread makka and you are writing very well. All your questions are excellent.
Sorry I can't answer them now but keep posting them as I think we'll be able to provide an interesting answer in the next few days.
Basically, using any sort of brewing software shouldn't be this hard but it is. I'll try and provide some light tomorrow if I can.
PP
Sorry I can't answer them now but keep posting them as I think we'll be able to provide an interesting answer in the next few days.
Basically, using any sort of brewing software shouldn't be this hard but it is. I'll try and provide some light tomorrow if I can.
PP
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Post #7 made 13 years ago
After converting the recipe to fit the 19l kettle in Beersmith2 I now want to convert it again in calculater because I trust it to convert something to fit my pan/kettle.
After another beer...
I open up Calculator to change the brew size to fit my 15ltr pot from Beersmiths 19ltr pot.
First I change the OG to 1.044 same as Brewsmiths
Next I change my kettle size to 31cm which is the width of my 15ltr pot.
I then change the brew length so my Approximate Mash Volume is lower than 15 ltr otherwise it would not fit in my kettle/pot thing.
Next I move onto the Grain Bill Tab and add all the grain with the same percentage values from Beersmith
Next I do the same with the Hops Bill Tab but this time added the figures into the IBU column apart from the final hop addition. I just chucked in 5g as the IBU is at 0 anyway.
So far the total IBU on the Calculator is 28.1 IBU which is pretty close to the 28 IBU in Beersmith2.
Didn't know if the sugar is for adding fizz to the bottle so have not added it in the Calculator.
So now that is done, how can I tell if it will be the same as the original.
Can I check to see if the colour is the same as the original recipe
Can I check to see if the Alchol is the same as the original recipe
Is there any way of knowing if the 2 versions will make the samish brew without having to buy another kettle/pan and do a side by side test.
Calculator File Attached below
edit...Just noticed the percentage is wrong from the original full sized recipe after the conversion in Beersmith2.Doh!
So my question after all this converting malarki is...
If I make a recipe in Beersmith 2, regardless of the size of pot/pan/kettle I use, as long as I match the colour, IBU, OG etc and match the percentage grains and hop IBU's will my beer convert into a simular beer so I don't have to convert in Beersmith, I can just use Beersmith as a recipe maker and use the Calculator to erm ah calculate...!?!
Don't know about you lot but I feel like I need a beer after that!
After another beer...
I open up Calculator to change the brew size to fit my 15ltr pot from Beersmiths 19ltr pot.
First I change the OG to 1.044 same as Brewsmiths
Next I change my kettle size to 31cm which is the width of my 15ltr pot.
I then change the brew length so my Approximate Mash Volume is lower than 15 ltr otherwise it would not fit in my kettle/pot thing.
Next I move onto the Grain Bill Tab and add all the grain with the same percentage values from Beersmith
Next I do the same with the Hops Bill Tab but this time added the figures into the IBU column apart from the final hop addition. I just chucked in 5g as the IBU is at 0 anyway.
So far the total IBU on the Calculator is 28.1 IBU which is pretty close to the 28 IBU in Beersmith2.
Didn't know if the sugar is for adding fizz to the bottle so have not added it in the Calculator.
So now that is done, how can I tell if it will be the same as the original.
Can I check to see if the colour is the same as the original recipe
Can I check to see if the Alchol is the same as the original recipe
Is there any way of knowing if the 2 versions will make the samish brew without having to buy another kettle/pan and do a side by side test.
Calculator File Attached below
edit...Just noticed the percentage is wrong from the original full sized recipe after the conversion in Beersmith2.Doh!
So my question after all this converting malarki is...
If I make a recipe in Beersmith 2, regardless of the size of pot/pan/kettle I use, as long as I match the colour, IBU, OG etc and match the percentage grains and hop IBU's will my beer convert into a simular beer so I don't have to convert in Beersmith, I can just use Beersmith as a recipe maker and use the Calculator to erm ah calculate...!?!
Don't know about you lot but I feel like I need a beer after that!
Post #8 made 13 years ago
DOH File attached
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Post #9 made 13 years ago
And rightly so!makka wrote:Don't know about you lot but I feel like I need a beer after that!
You've done a really good job of thinking all this through makka
. My posts are very rambly lately so I'll try and make this one short - fingers crossed.Basically, you have used the BeerSmnith2 scaling feature correctly. Top job! You have also noticed some discrepancies and you are correct. The major discrepancies in scaling with BeerSmith2 atm are...
1. It values colour more than flavour. This is why your grin percentages changed. The more times you scale that recipe to different equipment, the more the discrepancy can grow.
2. BS2's hop formulas are based on pre-boil gravity whereas the correct gravity to use is the end of boil gravity. This poses some problems as well when scaling though I can't remember to what extent it is a problem. (I'd have to spend some time scaling, re-scaling to see if this discrepancy remains static or not).
So the long and short of it is that The Calculator is a much easier tool to scale with accurately. With your Aussie Ale Copy, here is what I have done...
1. Added the cane sugar in. (The existing 'The Calculator' does not calculate the contribution of sugars accurately but the amount in this recipe is not really a big deal.)
2. Changed all the grain percentages and sugar percentages to that of the original sample recipe as these are the most undistorted numbers you have access to.
3. On the hop sheet I have typed in 10% for the AAs on both sides of the sheet so as it matches the original recipe.
4. I have typed in the weights form the original recipe.
5. I have deleted all the IBU figures in column E. In The Calculator, you should only fill in either Grams and AA% or the IBUs, not all three. The IBU column should only be used if desperate as IBU's from source recipes are often of a different type or even just plain wrong.
6. I put in 20 in the time column for the fresh wort hop addition as this approximates the bitterness contributed by FWH.
7. I have changed cell cell E5 from 23 to 26.89 as that is the end of boil volume of the original recipe.
So everything is good to go now. (It's usually a bit easier than this
).As mentioned in PM, I'll send you a beta copy of the BIABacus in the next day or two and you can let me know if it is a bit easier to understand etc.)
Hope the above makes a bit of sense in the meantime
,PP
Last edited by PistolPatch on 27 Jun 2012, 10:41, edited 4 times in total.
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Post #10 made 13 years ago
Whoops! Here's the file sorry.
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Post #11 made 13 years ago
Thanks so much PP
Sort of making sence now!!!
Is there any way you can add a colour section onto calculator too as well as ABV%. Wouldn't need to use BS then.
Could make all my recipes in Calculator!
Thanka again for the time
Makka
Sort of making sence now!!!
Is there any way you can add a colour section onto calculator too as well as ABV%. Wouldn't need to use BS then.
Could make all my recipes in Calculator!
Thanka again for the time
Makka
Post #12 made 13 years ago
The new calculator (BIABAcus 1.0) does colour, ABV and heaps more. We are just about to bring in some new betas so I think I can give you a copy. Should be able to send you a copy tomorrow.
See how you go with it
See how you go with it
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Post #13 made 13 years ago
Great stuff!!!
Look forward to trying it out with my first BIAB
Yeah more beer:)
Thanks again for making sence!
Look forward to trying it out with my first BIAB
Yeah more beer:)
Thanks again for making sence!
Post #14 made 13 years ago
Sorry to intrude but did I hear about BIABacus 1.0 I would love to give that a try for my next brew
Post #15 made 13 years ago
Have pointed out your post above to Pat and he said he'd shoot you a PMkartoffel wrote:Sorry to intrude but did I hear about BIABacus 1.0 I would love to give that a try for my next brew
.
Last edited by PistolPatch on 02 Jul 2012, 17:01, edited 4 times in total.
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Post #16 made 13 years ago
I probably beat you to the PM. I sent him something right after I saw this.
Thanks though.
Thanks though.
Post #17 made 13 years ago
Good move kartoffel,Pat is notorious for ignoring PM's from Pistol Patch. 
AWOL
Post #18 made 13 years ago
I take great exception to that Lylo 
.
We have an excellent working reltionship. I write messy rambles and he cleans them up and steals the good bits
.
Last brew day here you would have hardly noticed him. The next day though he was here cleaning up all the mess the other guys had left.
I am now missing a lot of silver cutlery though
.
.We have an excellent working reltionship. I write messy rambles and he cleans them up and steals the good bits
.Last brew day here you would have hardly noticed him. The next day though he was here cleaning up all the mess the other guys had left.
I am now missing a lot of silver cutlery though
. If you have found the above or anything else of value on BIABrewer.info, consider supporting us by getting some BIPs!
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- SVA Brewer With Over 100 Brews From Australia
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