buildingmotive
Active Member
Okay, I'm new to brewing and have done four all grain brews in about a month and a half (go big or go home, right?)
I'm using a half barrel keg with an internal 5500W element for a HLT. I have a welded coupling with a screw in thermometer about 4" above the element. I'm mashing in a 10 gallon cooler.
So far, every time I heat my strike water up to my calculated strike temp, let it sit for 20 minutes or so to equalize, and fill my mash tun I hit about 10 degrees low. I swapped out thermometers and calibrated the new one at boiling and freezing, and still got the same results.
My first batch mashed at about 145 for 15 minutes until I got my temp up.
My last three mashes I've played a game of tag between very hot water and the garden hose trying to get my strike temp.
Has anyone had similar problems? Am I missing something obvious?
By the way, that first beer that had a low temp was still delicious, probably because it was mine
I'm using a half barrel keg with an internal 5500W element for a HLT. I have a welded coupling with a screw in thermometer about 4" above the element. I'm mashing in a 10 gallon cooler.
So far, every time I heat my strike water up to my calculated strike temp, let it sit for 20 minutes or so to equalize, and fill my mash tun I hit about 10 degrees low. I swapped out thermometers and calibrated the new one at boiling and freezing, and still got the same results.
My first batch mashed at about 145 for 15 minutes until I got my temp up.
My last three mashes I've played a game of tag between very hot water and the garden hose trying to get my strike temp.
Has anyone had similar problems? Am I missing something obvious?
By the way, that first beer that had a low temp was still delicious, probably because it was mine