duffman2
Well-Known Member
Alright everyone, I just brewed my first AG last week with mixed results. I guess I didn't really know what to expect so I just went with it.
I was looking for a Sierra Nevada recipe and found lots of suggestions so I kinda cut and paste some and did my own. I had lots of fun but hit a couple of stumbling blocks.
My main problems were with temperature control. My digital went out after 3 brews and I broke my floating one, so I only had my candy thermometer that I'm not even sure how accurate it is. Trying to hit my strike temp was my biggest problem. I mashed once and batch sparged twice and could not hit my desired temp. My MLT is a brand new converted igloo cooler that is leak free and very tight but seems to lose a few degrees while mashing.
Any ideas/suggestions for hitting strike temp and maintaining temp?
Also, I don't know what I'm doing with efficiency numbers. Any good equations? If using gravity how do I measure this while mashing/sparging? The wort is way too hot to get a good reading, right?
I know I'm still Noobish and probably need to start using some beer software and maybe other tools to help me out. So, please forgive me and thanks for the help in advance
I was looking for a Sierra Nevada recipe and found lots of suggestions so I kinda cut and paste some and did my own. I had lots of fun but hit a couple of stumbling blocks.
My main problems were with temperature control. My digital went out after 3 brews and I broke my floating one, so I only had my candy thermometer that I'm not even sure how accurate it is. Trying to hit my strike temp was my biggest problem. I mashed once and batch sparged twice and could not hit my desired temp. My MLT is a brand new converted igloo cooler that is leak free and very tight but seems to lose a few degrees while mashing.
Any ideas/suggestions for hitting strike temp and maintaining temp?
Also, I don't know what I'm doing with efficiency numbers. Any good equations? If using gravity how do I measure this while mashing/sparging? The wort is way too hot to get a good reading, right?
I know I'm still Noobish and probably need to start using some beer software and maybe other tools to help me out. So, please forgive me and thanks for the help in advance