With my first AG batch - APA with caramel based on "Classic Recipes" (with some hops substitution done at LHBS by looking at hop profiles and changing numbers):
1. I also started mashing at 154 as book suggested, but dropped to 148 after an hour - I guess I cooled to 154 by stirring before grain got warmed up (1st AG - next 4 batches I had no more than 2 degrees loss)
2. I used a hydrometer which I later discovered reads 6 points low and calculated the amount of DME to "fix" my OG, but bought 2lbs of light DME only 2 days later and added after a short hesitation all of it in a fermenting wort (boiled in water).
3. FG is 1.01 (with hydrometer correction) (expected was higher, but 1.01 was perfect)
This beer become very popular (really hopy "APA" of ~7% ABV) that I am trying to figure out how to duplicate all of the mistakes I made on a regular basis
Well maybe with a slightly lower ABV as this beer causes severe giggling during tasting sessions