Beersmith and Mash Tun Temperature Calculation

[phendog]

What am I doing wrong in Beersmith?? Will the application calculate my strike temp based on the temp of my mash tun???

I use Beersmith for all my recipes and have been very happy with the results. However, this weekend I brewed a Belgian Tripe and it was 35degs at the beginning of the brew day. My brewing equipment is in my garage, and as such, my mash tun (insulated 20gal Ss) was at 35degs. I inputed the temp of my mash tun into Beersmith under the "Mash Tab" and it did not change the required temperature of my strike water to hit my desired mash temp.

My desired mash temp was 152degs - beersmith said I needed 163degs. With a 20gal insulated mash tun at 35 degs and 30+lbs of gran at 70degs, I knew my strike should be higher but did not know exactly. End result was being 7degs under. Luckily, I cranked up my HLT w/HERMS and got the mash to 152degs fairly quick.

 

[chickypad]

Did you check the "Adjust temp for Equipment" box?

 

[Pappers_]

+1 on @chickypad 's question. The other thing you can do is pre-heat your mashtun by pouring a little hot water in and put on the lid. When you're ready to mash, dump out that water and proceed as normal.

FWIW, I'm constantly amazed how accurate Beersmith is in getting me to my target mash temp. And I use a very primitive set up.

 

[phendog]

Yep, that did it. Never noticed that checkmark box before and I swear I looked at the page for 2 or 3 mins before I finally noticed it. Once checked it compensated for the 7degs I missed. Pure frickin magic. Wont miss that one again.

 

[Smellyglove]

There's also a setting which accounts for what you MT is made of.