Metabolic Waste Products:

01 February 2010

My first all grain experiece - I missed the OG by 20 gravity points and had a stuck sparge

I brewed a cream ale on 1/24/2009

I recently brewed my first all grain batch. It was also the first time I used my barley crusher. It was the second time I made a starter and the second time I used my mash tun. It’s a cream ale. I crushed the grain (default gap). I placed the grain in the mash tun, ( modified 48 qt igloo xtreme cooler). I did a 90 min single-infusion mash at 149˚ for 90 minutes. I sparged (sort of). I collected about 4 gallons of wort. I added water to 4.65 gallons in my 5.25 gallon kettle. I boiled for 90 minutes. I used and immersion chiller and an ice bath to get temperature to 60˚. I then poured the wort through a strainer into the fermenting bucket. I aerated with an aquarium pump with an inline filter for 40 minutes. I pitched all of an 800 ml starter (1056) that was about 16 hours past full krausen. That’s about as positive as I can be about this brew.

Some issues arose. Firstly, I had to clean all the metal filings off the barley crusher, which I hadn’t anticipated. I wasn’t quite sure how to do this and I used compressed air and ‘pre-crush’ of a few ounces of grain that I then tossed. Then, my temperature may have been messed up in the mash. Thermometer issues (now resolved). But I for sure added 11 quarts of 161 degree water to 8.25 pounds of 67-68 degree grain. Then I added more water at 185˚ to mash out. I began to drain and then my mash was stuck, (again 2 for 2 uses, first time was a faulty plug which caused grain to get lodged in the ball valve) I got like 8 oz out before that happened. Though I might have sparged wrong. The idea as I now understand it is slow and steady until clear and then continue, then add sparge water and let sit for 10-15 minutes and then repeat. I guess I was little too excited and forgetful of previous research on the matter. I probably added more than warranted ‘mash out’ water, mixed the grains up and didn’t wait long enough before becoming all willy nilly on the valve. So the sparge was stuck. I picked up the tun and poured it through a strainer into the kettle. I poured the sparge water over the grain in the strainer. My gravity reading was 1.028. Yup, 21 points below expected. I then maybe boiled a pound of DME and 12 more ounce of sugar and added it to the bucket after it cooled, maybe. The (visible) fermentation started after this addition ~ 48 hours in.

Um. So this is perhaps, maybe, sorta kinda disheartening. But, I am going to brew again this weekend and I want to make it a better experience.

The recipe:

Recipe Specifications

--------------------------

Batch Size: 5.25 gal

Boil Size: 4.65 gal

Estimated OG: 1.049 SG

Estimated Color: 3.0 SRM

Estimated IBU: 16.5 IBU

Boil Time: 90 Minutes

Ingredients:

------------

Amount Item Type % or IBU

3.00 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 33.33 %

2.00 lb Pilsner (2 Row) UK (1.0 SRM) Grain 22.22 %

1.00 lb Barley, Flaked (1.7 SRM) Grain 11.11 %

1.00 lb Corn, Flaked (1.3 SRM) Grain 11.11 %

1.00 lb Pale Malt (6 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 11.11 %

0.25 lb Vienna Malt (3.5 SRM) Grain 2.78 %

0.85 oz Sterling [6.00 %] (60 min) Hops 15.5 IBU

0.60 oz Hallertauer [1.50 %] (10 min) Hops 1.0 IBU

0.75 lb Sugar, Table (Sucrose) (1.0 SRM) Sugar 8.33 %

1 Pkgs American Ale (Wyeast Labs #1056) [800 ml stater]

Mash Schedule: Single Infusion, Full Body, Batch Sparge

Total Grain Weight: 8.25 lb

----------------------------

Single Infusion, Full Body, Batch Sparge

Step Time Name Description Step Temp

90 min Mash In Add 10.31 qt of water at 160.2 F 149.0 F

Sweet Stout: Revealed

I've been drinking this for while now. All in all its pretty good. Closest to my pre-brew wants for a homebrew. It might be slightly under carbonated.

07 January 2010

DIY Stir Plate

Short story: I made a stir plate.

Longer story:

Of course I needed a stir plate if I wanted to be an excellent homebrewer, or maybe it was just because someone gave me a 110v Hofmann Engr. fan. Of course I was going to make it myself, in the spirit of homebrewing, DIY all the way, or something. First, it was great I could just plug it into the wall. I needed an enclosure, I could have just bought one from RadioShack, but that would have been too easy. I started by trying to use some scrap polycarbonate to make a box. After a while of cutting, with much effort, I tried to drill some pilot holes. Wow, that was incredibly difficult and to be honest the box was wonky. The scrap was still scrap and I lost a few hours of time. Then I bought a project box. Then I returned the box project. Happenstance! is awesome. It was perfect. I found a near empty First Aid kit. I then ordered some rare earth magnets from Hong Kong. Then after a few trips to all the hardware stores near my house and buying and returning different fan controls I was set to go. I should mention that I found the bolts, washers, adhesive and the only rotary fan control (not just three speeds and the least expensive) at my local Do-It Best.

I then set everything into place and soldered it in and used some silicon on the nuts so they wouldn't move from all the vibrations. I plugged it in. I set it up wrong. Short Circuit. Working in old house, wire inside wall actually breaks. etc etc. Needless to say I fixed it and it now works.

26 October 2009

Homemade Mash Tun from Igloo Cube Cooler

I picked up this cooler for about $20.00 at Target. It had no drain hole, which turned about to be a good thing. I used the following parts:

- Cooler
- 1/2" Threaded Copper Ball Valve
- 1/2" Close - Threaded Brass Pipe Nipple
- 3/8" ID Barb to 1/2" MIP
- 1/2" Gasket (x2)
- 1/2" Brass Locking Nut
- 3/4" Stainless Washer (x2)
- ~Foot Length of 1/2" Pex
- Food Grade Silicon

I drilled a 3/4" hole in the cooler and then I 'screwed' the 1/2" nipple into the cooler. It was a tight fight and I was happy about this. I then put a small dab of the silicone around the nipple and then slipped on the o-ring and a washer. I then tightened the ball valve on the nipple. On the inside I again used the silicone, o-ring, and washer and tightened it down with a brass lock nut. For the grain filter I drilled a bunch of tiny holes into the pex, plugged the end and then entered the pex into the nipple. Pex is slightly smaller than whats its labeled as and it fit great in the nipple.

I used it with the sweet stout and it held heat really well, I think I lost two degrees over the hour of the mash.

I used these two websites for guidance:
http://brewtech.blogspot.com/2007/01/igloo-cube-cooler-mash-tun.html
http://brewing.lustreking.com/gear/mashtun.html

12 October 2009

Sweet Stout

Brew Day: 10/10/09

4# Amber DME
2# Two-row
1# Pilsner
1/2# Carafa I
1/2# Crystal 90
1/2# Crystal 10
1/2# Oats
1/2# Black Patent (de-bittered)
3/16# Special B

1 oz Tradition @ 45, 1 oz Fuggles @ 15

1# lactose @ flame out

White Labs Irish Ale

OG 1.071

OG is a little high for style as are the IBUs a little low.