whoo hoo 89.2% eff.

Last weekend I made a blonde ale based loosely on BM's centennial blonde. I just used what I had available, and most of it was 'the rest of a bag.' I also didn't have centennial hops so I used challenger. I know they're quite different hops, but I like them both!

I played with my grizzly mill (corona knockoff) adjusting it to find the best grind. Each crush was a half turn more closed. In the center of the pic (#5) is the finest crush I ended up getting. There was a lot of flour in that crush, so I backed off the mill a bit(#4). That's where I'm going to leave it. (pic below, can't FTP to my server right now so it's attached.)

Using the Tasty brew gravity calculator, I get 89.2%! I was really impressed what setting the mill closer could achieve. (I made a batch of Ed's Haus pale ale and didn't really hit any of the numbers-it still made a good beer though!)

the recipe:
2# 2-row
1# Vienna
13 oz. cara pils
8 oz crystal 10L

Mashed 1.5 gal (~1.25q/lb) at 150 for 60. (final mash temp 143. I need a styro lid for my 10 gal rubbermaid)
Batch Sparge with 6.5gal @163 for 30 mins, then vorlauf.

Mash went into the pot at 1.022

75 minute boil. (was shooting for 60 but didn't evaporate enough.)

Hops:
10g Challenger 7.0@70 mins
10g Challenger @60
8g challenger @35

7G Cascade 7.8@15
7G Cascade @0

1# extra light DME to bump up the og to 1.040

chilled and added one packet of S-05.

Should be good for the party next weekend! I'll post a pic of the beer once it gets kegged up.

B

what was your FG before the extract? what was your final batch size?

Did you calculate with the DME at the 1.04? or did you calculate before that?

Sounds like a really good % tho, I did a little 2 gal batch at 80.5 and i was stoked about that. How long did your mash temps stay high enough?

99blackgt said:

what was your FG before the extract? what was your final batch size?

Did you calculate with the DME at the 1.04? or did you calculate before that?

Sounds like a really good % tho, I did a little 2 gal batch at 80.5 and i was stoked about that. How long did your mash temps stay high enough?

Click to expand...

Final batch size was a bit over 6 gallons. I put 5.5 in the primary and still had a bit of liquid with the trub. I didn't measure it, I just dumped it.

OG: (all tested using an ATC refractometer)
1.022 into brew pot
1.030 after 70 minute boil
1.040 after DME addition.

I didn't calculate the DME. I checked the gravity after the boil, then dumped in a bunch of DME until it hit 1.040. I measured the bag before and after, and found out it was 1#. Okay, 1lb 1/8oz.

as for the mash temp, I didn't have a thermometer in the tun with the mash. I sparged in with 163* water and hit the original temp dead on at 150. When I opened the cooler to collect the runnings, I checked the temp, and it was 143*. I think once I make the styro lid, I shouldn't lose that much heat.

B