Bought a digital thermo for my batch last weekend, so I could mash with more precision. It seemed to work fine as that batch fermented vigorously for 5-6 days with blow off and now has an airlock bubbling every 10-15 sec. I brewed again this Friday night and get my mash to what I though was a precise 154 F. While that was sitting for 60 min I was heating my sparge water. In that process I got side tracked in conversations with friends, came back and the thermo says that water is near boiling. I cool it down to 190. I decided to put the backup thermo for kicks and it's significantly cooler than the digital thermo. I go to measure my mash temp with old thermo and it measures a mash temp around 125-130. I verify this with another meat thermo. So what to do? I warm the sparge water to 190 asap. Drain half of the mash and add sparge water, mix good and let sit for 10 min in the high 150's. I sparge after that with 180 F water and proceed with the boil. 8 hours later and there is little fermentation occurring.
Is this a lost cause?
Has anyone ever experience a defective thermo like this? Next time I plan to buddy check my thermos for the mashing process.
Thanks all!
Is this a lost cause?
Has anyone ever experience a defective thermo like this? Next time I plan to buddy check my thermos for the mashing process.
Thanks all!