Love the new grain mill

[BrewMoreBeers]

So, I am in process on my first batch with my new grain mill... I have never milled my own grains before.

Suffice it is say the mash was a little sticky. But went okay once I slowed everything way down.

The great (or bad depending on ones point of view) was that I really missed my Pre-Boil gravity by a ton. I normally miss a little low so I have gotten into the habit of rounding up my grain bill. Well, today I was over my target OG before the boil even began. This is going to be one strong brew.

Robust Porter - 25.5 lbs grain bill, Chocolate malts and vanilla bean flavor.

Pre-boil target 1.050 - actual 1.066
OG target 1.065 actual TBD

 

[BrewMoreBeers]

oh, a quick question... should i up the hop bill since the gravity overshoot sooo much? it is only scheduled to hop to 42 IBU with Chinoock (2 oz and 60) and Cascade (2 oz at 10).

 

[thisoneguy]

This might be a little late, but if you want to keep the same balance you'll probably want to increase the hops to keep the same BU:GU ratio. If it was just a little off, I probably wouldn't worry too much about it, but your gravity was a LOT higher than you expected.... almost 33% more than you planned for! I'm not the most experienced brewer out here, but that's what I would do.

 

[BrewMoreBeers]

cool... that is what i thought too. i just added a 20 minute addition that my spreadsheet says should bring the balance back in line. we will see in a few months.

 

[passedpawn]

If you think you will overshoot your gravity, use less grain.

If you overshoot your OG, just add water later. I do this all the time. I usually add after the fermentation is finished.

Maybe I don't understand what you're saying.

 

[BrewMoreBeers]

passedpawn, you understand correctly. I just hate to add water to my brew. I'll just call this one a double and re-adjust for my new and improved efficiency next time around.

 

[passedpawn]

passedpawn, you understand correctly. I just hate to add water to my brew. I'll just call this one a double and re-adjust for my new and improved efficiency next time around.

Your call. I can respect that. Just think about it though... you might change your mind sometime.

 

[crazyseany]

Well what kind of mill you get? And where at in Ohio?

 

[iaefebs]

What size batch are you making and why did you think a "suffice to say" sticky mash was expected?

 

[crazyseany]

Just guessing but maybe milled it to fine?

 

[iaefebs]

Just guessing but maybe milled it to fine?

25.5 # of grain is a funny number for a batch size that has a 1.066 pre boil... there is much more to this story.

 

[BrewMoreBeers]

Well what kind of mill you get? And where at in Ohio?

It is a barley crusher... I am just outside of Columbus.

 

[BrewMoreBeers]

What size batch are you making and why did you think a "suffice to say" sticky mash was expected?

Well, I knew it would run a little slower than the crush from my LHBS, but I was surprised how much slower. I set my mill at .035" because that seemed to be the ideal on the posts I read.

My LHBS crush would recirculate easily with my ball value open nearly full bore. With the new crush that sucked the grain bed tight and stuck. I stirred and tried again with it half open and stuck again. On the third try I cracked the valve just enough to get flow and then it worker fine.

It was a ten gallon batch.

15.5 lbs base
8 lbs specialty
2 lbs flaked oats

 

[samc]

It is a barely crusher... I am just outside of Columbus.

Yeah, last time I used mine it barely crushed so I had to run it through again. :cross:

 

[crazyseany]

I was guessing 10 gallon batch...

What are you using to strain with...I have mymonster mill set at .036 and was able to run mine wide open... Cooler mash tun with a water heater braid...

 

[BrewMoreBeers]

I have a 12" SS false bottom that I used to use in my ten-gallon cooler mash tun... now I am using it in a converted keg. I may need something with more surface area.