sudsmcgee
Well-Known Member
I just brewed a big 5-gallon Wee Heavy yesterday in my Coleman Extreme 70 qt cooler. I used Beersmith to calculate the proper strike temp, and I measured the grain temp and cooler temp right before mashing in. I used the strike temp Beersmith called for, which was 172.3 degrees for a 155 degree full-body mash of 18.25 lbs of grain. I keep my cooler and grain inside the house to stay "warm" during the winter months, so the cooler and grain were both about 67 degrees. I measured my temps with a Thermapen, so I know they are accurate.
So, with all this being said, my actual mash temp ended up being 149. I went with it and mashed for 75 minutes, but I was hoping for a full-bodied beer.
As far as I know I have my specific heat measurement set correctly in Beersmith. My mash tun volume is 17.5 gals, my mash tun weight is 15 lbs (scale measurement) and my mash tun specific heat is 0.30.
I drained the HLT into the cooler using a short piece of silicon tubing with the cooler lid basically closed.
Does anyone have any idea why the hell my mash temp was so far off? I didn't preheat the cooler, but I didn't think I needed to with Beersmith.
So, with all this being said, my actual mash temp ended up being 149. I went with it and mashed for 75 minutes, but I was hoping for a full-bodied beer.
As far as I know I have my specific heat measurement set correctly in Beersmith. My mash tun volume is 17.5 gals, my mash tun weight is 15 lbs (scale measurement) and my mash tun specific heat is 0.30.
I drained the HLT into the cooler using a short piece of silicon tubing with the cooler lid basically closed.
Does anyone have any idea why the hell my mash temp was so far off? I didn't preheat the cooler, but I didn't think I needed to with Beersmith.