I just did my first BIAB recipe today. I've been doing extract recipes for the last year and this is the first time I'm working with all grain, and it's the first time I've done a 2.5 gallon batch. I am making a Spotted Cow clone. Here is the recipe:
3 lbs 2 Row
1 lb White Wheat
.5 lb Carapils
.25 lb Flaked Corn
.25 Caramel 20L
.5 oz Brewers Gold - 45 min
1 oz Saaz - 1 min
1 tsp Irish Moss - 60 min
Kolcsh Yeast
I started by heating 4 gallons of water to 163 and then added the grain. The temperature dropped to about 150. I then wrapped the pot (5.5 gallon brewpot) in towels. I let the grains sit for 1 hour, stirring every 20 minutes. I had a hard time keeping the temp stable. I had to put it back on the burner set on low. I'm also not sure how accurate my probe thermometer is. I was surprised to see the temp drop that low after adding 5 lbs of grain.
After boiling, adding irish moss, hops, and cooling, I took a gravity reading and it was 1.043. I then pitched the yeast. The final volume was about 2.75 gallons. I think the volume is ok, since I figure I'll put this in a secondary and lose at least another quarter of a gallon.
I just wanted to share this with people and see what they thought of my numbers. I did the calculation for efficiency and it came out to 65%. I know that's not the greatest, but it's my first attempt. I think it may have been low due to the low mash temp.
Any thoughts from anyone?
Thanks
Todd
3 lbs 2 Row
1 lb White Wheat
.5 lb Carapils
.25 lb Flaked Corn
.25 Caramel 20L
.5 oz Brewers Gold - 45 min
1 oz Saaz - 1 min
1 tsp Irish Moss - 60 min
Kolcsh Yeast
I started by heating 4 gallons of water to 163 and then added the grain. The temperature dropped to about 150. I then wrapped the pot (5.5 gallon brewpot) in towels. I let the grains sit for 1 hour, stirring every 20 minutes. I had a hard time keeping the temp stable. I had to put it back on the burner set on low. I'm also not sure how accurate my probe thermometer is. I was surprised to see the temp drop that low after adding 5 lbs of grain.
After boiling, adding irish moss, hops, and cooling, I took a gravity reading and it was 1.043. I then pitched the yeast. The final volume was about 2.75 gallons. I think the volume is ok, since I figure I'll put this in a secondary and lose at least another quarter of a gallon.
I just wanted to share this with people and see what they thought of my numbers. I did the calculation for efficiency and it came out to 65%. I know that's not the greatest, but it's my first attempt. I think it may have been low due to the low mash temp.
Any thoughts from anyone?
Thanks
Todd