All grain Ipa fementing questions

[Danno81]

I started my first all grain batch Saturday, I missed my target og of 1.062 and and had an OG of 1.054. It had an active fermentation for the 1st few days but the foam on top never grew more than a 1/2 inch should I worry? Also any tips on keeping the mashton from clogging?

 

[bennie1986]

What kind of yeast, how did you aerate your wort, and did you make a starter?

 

[bennie1986]

And no don't worry your fermentation sounds like it was sufficient to produce beer.

 

[Danno81]

I used an dry ale yeast that came with the ingredient kit, I did not shake it up but I pored it in through the funnel, and yes I started the yeast but instead of starting it at 15 minutes prior to pitching I started it about 2 hours early ( a rookie mistake)

 

[bennie1986]

Do you remember what kind I yeast? If it was an 11g packet then your pitch rate is fine. Sounds like you rehydrated the yeast which is different than a yeast starter but its not used for dry yeast so your good there. I would highly recommend at least shaking the cooled wort for about two minutes. Aerating the wort is key to a good fermentation and even shaking it won't get you the optimum o2 levels but will be at lease sufficient. The biggest difference in my fermentations was when I went from shaking to a pure o2 tank to aerate.

 

[chickypad]

Agreed, aeration is always a good idea but the fermentation sounds fine if it started within a day (BTW, this is probably obvious but just in case bennie means to shake it up before fermentation, not now). As for your other question can you give some more info - like your water/grain ratio, type of tun you're using, sparge process, do you have any wheat/rye/other sticky grains in the recipe and if so did you add rice hulls?

 

[Danno81]

9lbs of 2 row pale malt 1 lb of crystal 20 , I also added 1 lb of flaked barely as a experiment,
Yeast was 1056 American

 

[Danno81]

My mash is a 5 gal igloo cooler with a small bazooka tube

 

[Danno81]

I used 3 gallons 2 times to the entire batch of grains

 

[chickypad]

I've never used a bazooka but you're mashing pretty thick at 1.09 qt/lb. You should be able to fit another another 3 qts or so with that grainbill, for a ratio of 1.36 qt/lb. A handful of rice hulls also can't hurt when using flaked grains or wheat malt.

 

[Danno81]

When is it too late to dry hop? I racked to secondary last Saturday and want to dry hop is it too late or can I just go ahead and do it now?