1st AG missed mash temp

[Azbrewboy77]

I'm in the middle of super simple blonde ale , I have a ssbrewtech 10 g mash tun. Preheated 1g at 180/15 m per instructions , calc stricke h2o using rackets.org mash calc , 11.5 lbs grain ( grain temp 50 degrees ) it came out to 4 gal @ 167 , stirred in grain & mash temp was 143 ! , not sure what I could have done diff ?

 

[poptarts]

Did you stir the water before you took a temp of it?

 

[Azbrewboy77]

As we were adding grain yes

 

[JonM]

I have certainly put a wrong input into the rackers website. Maybe you accidentally put the wrong mash thickness or something.

You preheated with one gallon? I usually preheat with several gallons - I at least get the preheat volume up to what the mash volume is. In other words, if the mash is going to be 4.5 gallons, i preheat with at least 4.5 gals of hot water.

 

[Azbrewboy77]

Staying steady at 143 at 20 m to go & I stir each chi

 

[Azbrewboy77]

Ah , ssbrewtech suggested 1 g

 

[MagicMatt]

Sounds like a bad reading. You're at about 1.4 qt/lb, so that shouldn't be an issue, and the strike temp looks about right in the 160-165*°F range. Sounds like you didn't stir enough or give enough time for the temp to equalize before taking your reading. For me in a 10gal cooler, it takes at least 10 minutes for the temp to stabilize. Or perhaps check your thermometer to ensure it is accurately calibrated.

Edit: I see now that you're well into your mash and still have low temps. I'd check the thermometer in boiling water and ice water, and/or use another thermometer to confirm.

 

[blizz81]

Seems like quite a drop, given pre-heating. Were you using a static thermometer on the vessel? If possible I'd try a trusted thermometer at different points in the mash after you've finished doughing in.

 

[poptarts]

at 143 are you even converting anything? And yea I think your water wasn't at the temp you thought it was

 

[Azbrewboy77]

Thermometer is a thermapen mk4 I calibrated before hand , bottom line will their be any sugar to ferment ? Or abandon & try again ?

 

[Azbrewboy77]

I also used a blichman 10 boilermaker with their thermometer & it is correct also

 

[Azbrewboy77]

PS I haven't even had a beer yet , ha so I ruled that out

 

[schematix]

When I used to brew with a cooler mash tun I didn't preheat at all. Some ideas for next time:

1. Compensate for the heat capacity of your mash tun. For most vessels used in home brewing this can easily be compensated for by bumping your strike temp up by 2-3 degrees. Better too high than too low.

2. Rather than trying to hit a specific quantity of water and grain at a specific temperature, try to aim just for temperature. Get your strike water about 170F (likely about 5 degrees too hot), then dispense it to the mash tun until you about the the consistency you need. Stir well, wait 5 minutes, stir again, and take your reading. If you're low, add more hot water. If you're high, leave the cooler lid off and stir extra for a few minutes.

Stir well and at least every 15 minutes. There is significant temperature stratification between top and bottom of mash tun (i've seen 10 degrees in a 10G cooler).

3. Get a RIMS on your cooler. Then you can heat your exact volume of water directly in the cooler, which will preheat the mash tun automatically. This is basically what I do right now and its amazingly consistent. I always do 1.5 qt/lb and I always need my strike water +9F above the mash temp i want to hit.

4. Mash in your kettle if it's big enough. I used to do this too. Allows for step mashing. Only hassle is moving the mass of grain and water. I used to use a 2G bucket until it was light enough to pick up with a hot pad and dump. Made a huge sticky mess but very effective.

 

[schematix]

Thermometer is a thermapen mk4 I calibrated before hand , bottom line will their be any sugar to ferment ? Or abandon & try again ?

don't quit yet. at least you'll learn what not to do next time. not much to lose now except time and some propane.


can you scoop your mash into your kettle and complete the mash in there? then scoop back to cooler to lauter?

 

[Azbrewboy77]

Thnx for tips I'm ill go ahead and sparge for practice , not sure I can scoop