Recent content by chubby

I was just overlooking the "Adjusting Sparge Water" check boxes........:smh:

In EZWaterCalculator the 'Mash + Sparge Water Profile' seems to be unaffected by the sparge water if I set the sparge water to 100% distilled or RO water. For example, 3.125 gal strike water 100% distilled with 5g calcium gives a calcium ppm of 115. If I then enter 3.375 gal sparge 100%...

In

I'm doing 1 gallon batch size in a 3 gallon igloo water cooler. I can fit the entire 2.25 pre-boil volume with grains in there I'm sure. You don't do a sparge/rinsing of the grains. Do you do any stirring during the mash or dunk the grains? What kind of efficiencies are your seeing? I'm...

I still don't think I've whipped this utilization thing. I made the exact same recipe again this weekend. crushed my grains at .016. I built my water. 1.5 qts per pound. Hit my mash temp of 154 and held it by 1 degree. Mashed for 1 hour. For the first time I did an iodine test on...

Thank you for all the input. It was the crush.... My efficiency came up to 72.6%. My gap on my mill is .030. If I decrease the gap am I likely to see a higher efficiency? I am doing BIAB. I'm okay with my numbers, but I'm more okay having the highest utilization possible with my...

So I picked up a mill. The rollers are spaced so that credit card just squeezes through them without being crushed. I know that's not very technical, but I understand a typical credit card is around .030. I ran a batch of grains through that were crushed by the store. There seemed to be no...

Thanks! I have enough of these grains for 2 more 1 gallon batches....more if I lower the gravity target. Guess I can treat them to the blender since I've already left the store...I'll make sure the 'crush' is improved. That's a great idea not to waste hops and yeast if I don't hit my pre-boil...

Yeah, I had some whole grains still. Someone had made a suggestion to mash longer. I guess I was thinking if the grains were at least cracked a longer mash might help. I looked at the crusher at the store where I get my supplies. The rollers didn't seem to be adjustable. The bearings on each...

That's about the only dang thing I'm not doing yet. Earlier in the thread I posted a pic of my grain crush. I extended the mash time to 1 hr 40 mins to offset this. What were your numbers before and after doing your own crush? I'd just like to be around 72% efficiency. 30's to low 50% just...

I'm at a loss. This is my 5th all grain 1 gallon batch. I've made several revisions to equipment and process and nothing has been the cure all. I've done everything I know how from a process standpoint. -Longer Mash (100 mins) -Higher Mash Temps (154) -Built water profile -Cooler sized...

Are you using a hydrometer? What efficiency numbers are you seeing?

I added 4 cups of hot water, first 2 and then another 2 to try to bring up the temp a little at the beginning of the mash. I've not found this too effective. The overall temp seems very resistant to increases. If this water was too hot, could that cause inefficiency problems? Damage enzyme...

Just a bit of a follow up from the start of this thread....still looking for solution(s). Summary: 1. 1 gal batch size 2. BIAB - 3 gal cooler to mash in and hold temps, Grain crush is fair, but not perfect 3. Built purified water to Pale profile ranges (see image) 4. 1.5 QT/Lb Grain...