gnubierguy
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- Oct 31, 2012
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I brewed a christmas ale recipe that my LHBS helped me develop and I just have some questions for experienced christmas brewers. I steeped the grain (6oz C-80 and 2oz black patent malt) for 30 minutes at about 155 degrees. Turned up the heat and removed the grain just before boil began. Added 1/2 oz warrior hops and 4 lbs of DME to the boil. and cooked it for about 45 minutes. About 15 minutes before flameout I add another 4 lbs of DME as well as 1/8 tsp Allspice 1/8 tsp Nutmeg 1/4 tsp ginger and 1/2 tsp of cinnamon and continued to boil for another 15 minutes for a total 60 minute boil. Here is one concern this seems like a lot of DME for a recipe that was supposed to be scaled down for a three gallon batch. I fermented it in a 3 gallon PET bottle and expected some blow off so set up a blow off tube in a sanitized bowl. Here is my second concern I experienced a lot more than some blow off but I mean major blow off. My three gallon PET is now down to about 2 gallon of liquid. The blow off has stopped and I have installed an air lock that is bubbling away so fermentation is still progressing. So I lost 1 gallon of liquid in about three days of fermentation. Is this fairly normal. In hindsight I should have fermented in a 5 gallon or larger vessel but only 2 gallons of liquid is left. Suggestions? any abnormalities spotted? Experienced extract Christmas Ale brewers please reply Thanks in Advance GNUBIERGUY