Quick beginner question about fermenting

Quick beginner question about fermenting

by windrider

About to start my first solo BIAB using a 100 litre stockpot with gas burner I’ve inherited

I have a quick question. I have found a really nice recipe from this site and finally got my head around understanding the BIABacus file. I’m going to try a smaller brew to start with and so I can end up with a VIF of 23 litres. I’m hoping to do it after work then allow the wort to chill overnight in the bath then pitch the yeast in the morning (10 hours after the finishing the brew). Would this be too long and affect the taste of the beer?

I’m going to be using the Safale S-04 dry yeast. I’m also worried that its currently quite hot in the UK, the room I’m planning on keeping the fermenting vessel is dark and stays at a constant 22-23°C. Is this okay or too hot for the beer?

Sorry for all the question.

Cheers,

Jon

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Post #2 made 11 years ago

by mally

Hi Windrider, sounds like you are off to a good start with the equipment!

Your chilling method sounds reasonable as long as it is kept covered & sanitary until pitching, but it would also depend on which brew you are planning too.
Which also ties in with your Safale 04 question.

If you were doing a lager type (cream ale) then perhaps not. If an english style bitter then should be OK.
However, Fermentis recommend 12-25C for S04 (with an ideal 15-20C). If you cannot control the temp of your fermenter in that 22-23c room then with the exothermic reactions of fermentation you may even go beyond 25C

It depends on your outlook. Some could say it will work out OK and you may get a few more different flavour compounds produced. Others may say don't do it as it will be nasty. If your batch is small enough it may be worth just giving it a go.
Alternatively you could always try adding ice, or giving it the wet t-shirt treatment (wicking)

G B
I spent lots of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I squandered
I've stopped drinking, but only when I'm asleep
I ONCE gave up women and alcohol - it was the worst 20 minutes of my life

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Post #3 made 11 years ago

by windrider

Thanks for your reply Mally

Funnily enough the recipe is for a strong bitter. I’m planning on keeping it in a spare bathroom which doesn’t get used then keeping the FV in the bath surrounded by cold water to keep the temp as low as possible (fingers crossed!)

The ingredients should be arriving tomorrow from Malt Miller so think I’m going to give it a bash tomorrow evening when the girlfriends out and can’t moan at the mess haha.

When mashing at 66°C should I leave the lid on to keep a more constant temp then remove the lid when starting the boil?

Can’t wait….just need to sort a hop strainer. Thinking of using a fine mesh food strainer that’s been sterilised for the meantime?

Feel a bit lost working out the volumes to input into BIABacuss. So going to leave it for my first few brews and just concentrate on the OG & FG and get it as close to the recipe as possible. Wise move?

Cheers,

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Post #4 made 11 years ago

by balli1990

Hi Windrider.

Yeah leaving your lid on for the mash is recommended to keep temp but make sure you remove it for the boil.

Have you considered using your BIAB bag as a hop sock? you will need to hang it so it doesn't touch the hot pot sides.

What volumes are you working out? the BIABacus dose it all for you.

Balli.

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Post #5 made 11 years ago

by mally

Good advice from Balli there.

Just to re-iterate;
When mashing (90 minutes minimum recommended), try to keep the temp as stable as possible. so that is lid fully on, & wrapping with insulation etc.
If the temp drops significantly, you can lift the bag of the bottom & re-fire for a very short period, give it a thorough stir and re-check the temp again.

When you have finished the mash (are you doing a mashout BTW)? fire up the kettle to start the boil whilst draining the bag. Dump the grains, and clean the bag removing all the debris. You can now use the same bag as a hop container. Just let it float in the boil (presuming you have voile/polyester). If you cannot anchor it, you may have to baby sit it as they have a tendency to jump in the kettle and spew all contents in your wort (don't ask how i know that)

Do not use the lid during the boil either.

What recipe are you following?
I would recommend you get used to the BIABAcus as soon as possible as it will remove all doubt & guesswork.

G B
I spent lots of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I squandered
I've stopped drinking, but only when I'm asleep
I ONCE gave up women and alcohol - it was the worst 20 minutes of my life

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Post #6 made 11 years ago

by nosco

Hey malli
Why shouldnt your hop sock touch the sides? Sorry for off topic. I have just been hooking mine to the side of the pot.

Edit....oops should have said Balli.....

Last edited by nosco on 23 Jul 2014, 21:47, edited 1 time in total.

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Post #7 made 11 years ago

by windrider

Wow thanks for all the feedback guys, what a great community on here!

Never thought about using the same bag to hold the hops, definitely going to do that. I’m using a homemade voile bag so will keep an eye during the boil to make sure the hops don’t ‘jump out’.

I found a BIABacus recipe file on here that I liked the sound of and seemed simple to start with. I’ve posted the recipe below (If I’m not allowed to post recipes in this section please remove).

[center]BIABacus Pre-Release 1.3 RECIPE REPORT[/center]
[center]BIAB Recipe Designer, Calculator and Scaler.[/center]
[center](Please visit http://www.biabrewer.info" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for the latest version.)[/center]
[center]Brisbanes Best Bitter (Pale) - Batch 1[/center]

Recipe Overview

Brewer: windrider
Style: ESB
Source Recipe Link:

Original Gravity (OG): 1.052
IBU's (Tinseth): 40
Bitterness to Gravity Ratio: 0.77
Colour: 18 EBC = 9.2 SRM
ABV%: 5.03

Efficiency into Kettle (EIK): 83.7 %
Efficiency into Fermentor (EIF): 71.8 %

Note: This is a Pure BIAB (Full Volume Mash)

Times and Temperatures

Mash: 90 mins at 66 C = 150.8 F
Boil: 90 min
Ferment:

Volumes & Gravities

Total Water Needed (TWN): 42.48 L = 11.22 G
Volume into Kettle (VIK): 40.51 L = 10.7 G @ 1.036
End of Boil Volume - Ambient (EOBV-A): 26.83 L = 7.09 G @ 1.052
Volume into Fermentor (VIF): 23 L = 6.08 G @ 1.052
Volume into Packaging (VIP): 21.3 L = 5.63 G @ 1.013 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% Marris Otter (8 EBC = 4.1 SRM) 5063 grams = 11.16 pounds
5% Crystal Malt (170 EBC = 86.3 SRM) 281 grams = 0.62 pounds
5% Torrified Wheat (3 EBC = 1.5 SRM) 281 grams = 0.62 pounds

The Hop Bill (Based on Tinseth Formula)

33.8 IBU EK Golding Pellets (5%AA) 79.9 grams = 2.82 ounces at 60 mins
6.1 IBU EK Golding Pellets (5%AA) 21.7 grams = 0.766 ounces at 20 mins
0.1 IBU EK Golding Pellets (5%AA) 7.2 grams = 0.255 ounces at 1 mins

Mash Steps

Mash Type: Pure BIAB (Full Volume Mash) for 90 mins at 66 C = 150.8 F

Miscellaneous Ingredients

0,25 tsp Irish Moss (boil) 10 Mins

Chilling & Hop Management Methods

Fermentation& Conditioning

Fermention: SafAle 04 for 10 days

Secondary Used: no
Crash-Chilled: no
Filtered: no

Condition for 14 days.

Special Instructions/Notes on this Beer

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

Last edited by windrider on 23 Jul 2014, 16:42, edited 1 time in total.

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Post #8 made 11 years ago

by mally

balli1990 wrote:Have you considered using your BIAB bag as a hop sock? you will need to hang it so it doesn't touch the hot pot sides.

nosco wrote:Why shouldnt your hop sock touch the sides? Sorry for off topic. I have just been hooking mine to the side of the pot.

I will make a guess here Nosco that Balli is referring to draping the voile over the sides, where it will contact the hot sides (or if you gas fire) be in the line of rising/heat/flames.
I guess it is just a warning that you may find your voile melts/burns if not placed correctly.

Last edited by mally on 24 Jul 2014, 14:51, edited 1 time in total.

G B
I spent lots of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I squandered
I've stopped drinking, but only when I'm asleep
I ONCE gave up women and alcohol - it was the worst 20 minutes of my life

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