what are you mashing in? A 4 degree drop in 20 minutes is not very good. You can try a decoction to raise the temps.
I mashed in at 165 or therabouts, but used hot, not boiling, to prime the mash tun.
EDIT 2: Oh, is star san safe to use bare hands with? I usually use Idophor.
Trial and error, it seems. Next brew i'll shoot for 17 degrees higher or so.
Thanks guys
You got that right and you got the right attitude...
What type of cooler are you using, and did you pre-heat with 180 degree water. It definately makes a difference. Also if you don't have brewing software find an online strike water calculator. If your grain is stored in cold temps, it can have a big effect as well. I usually let mine set at room temp starting the day before I brew.
Oh great, my wort chiller is also leaking from where the hose meets the copper D:
That is the one great thing about Beer Tools Pro, you calibrate your equipment. No need to per warm the tun and I hit within 1 degree each time.
BeerSmith has the option to adjust strike temp for equipment. I don't preheat the cooler at all and hit temp every time.
Losing 4 degrees that quickly is more of an issue than missing your target temp. Figure out why your cooler is not holding the heat. I personally like to preheat with my strike water. I heat it to about 20-25 degrees about my desired mash temp and let it get down to strike temp. As it is dropping down to strike temp, it is preheating the tun...
I have thought about doing that, but have read that you should add Water to grain, not the other way around, is it really a problem to dump your grain into a cooler full of pre-heated water?
Mine still leaks too, even after 15 batches I haven't found a way to clamp it without it leaking. I'm finally going to pull off the hoses and use compression fittings to add an extension tube so I can clamp away from the boil kettle. Then I won't care if it leaks since it won't drip into my wort.
Every batch is a learning experience. It's rare to have a brew session where SOMETHING doesn't go wrong.
If your cooler lid is hollow, drill a few holes on each side and spray expanding foam insulation into it. The excess will squeeze out of the holes and you can cut it off with a knife. I did this with my 9gal Igloo and the temp loss went from 4*F/hr down to 2*F/hr which is acceptable. Tossing a blanket over the cooler may also help.
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