Yesterday I brewed my first time and I would like some constitutive feedback on how to improve for my next batch.
I jumped i right to all-grain and most of the day went well. I used a kit from northern brewer, Extra pale ale kit.
I had my strike water at 175 and was able to hold my temp at 155 during the mash. I used around 12 liters for 8.5# of grain. When I drained my first running's I was surprised about the "low" amount of wort that came out. I batched sparged for 20 mins at 170 and drained that and still came up a bit short so I did a make shift fly sparge to get my 6 - 6.5 gallons for boil. After I boiled i came up short by a gallon/gallon and a half to my five gallons expected.
expected gravity after sparging 1.036, actual 1.025
expected gravity after boil 1.044, actual 1.050
projected ABV 4.12, projected to now be 5.1
My expected final gravity is 1.012
So what do you all think? obviously I didn't hit all the numbers that was expected. I may needed to have slow down my sparging maybe that would have helped. I also should have maybe added water to hit my five gallon mark.
So here is some questions I would like for next time
1. How long should I sparge?
2. if I come up short should I add water to the brew to get the expected volume?
3. Is it acceptable to add water after the fermenting process to get the five gallons? and what effect would this have on the beer?
4. How do I calculate my efficiency?
any other comments would be appreciated so I can become better. I realize its a learning process, but hey I am relaxing, not worrying, and soon be able to drink a home brew!!
I jumped i right to all-grain and most of the day went well. I used a kit from northern brewer, Extra pale ale kit.
I had my strike water at 175 and was able to hold my temp at 155 during the mash. I used around 12 liters for 8.5# of grain. When I drained my first running's I was surprised about the "low" amount of wort that came out. I batched sparged for 20 mins at 170 and drained that and still came up a bit short so I did a make shift fly sparge to get my 6 - 6.5 gallons for boil. After I boiled i came up short by a gallon/gallon and a half to my five gallons expected.
expected gravity after sparging 1.036, actual 1.025
expected gravity after boil 1.044, actual 1.050
projected ABV 4.12, projected to now be 5.1
My expected final gravity is 1.012
So what do you all think? obviously I didn't hit all the numbers that was expected. I may needed to have slow down my sparging maybe that would have helped. I also should have maybe added water to hit my five gallon mark.
So here is some questions I would like for next time
1. How long should I sparge?
2. if I come up short should I add water to the brew to get the expected volume?
3. Is it acceptable to add water after the fermenting process to get the five gallons? and what effect would this have on the beer?
4. How do I calculate my efficiency?
any other comments would be appreciated so I can become better. I realize its a learning process, but hey I am relaxing, not worrying, and soon be able to drink a home brew!!