BIAB OG too low...ideas please

[dhickey]

discnjh -- My pre/post boil gravities threw me for a loop too. I thought the same thing, it's water boiling off and sugars left behind, so it must be more concentrated. I really think that I messed up a reading somewhere, but I was triple checking all readings. Not sure what to say about that. Also, I was hoping to put in actual numbers into beersmith and see what it suggested for my next batch. I don't know for sure how to do that. Still learning the program. Thanks a lot, for your insight.

 

[BrewKnurd]

discnjh -- My pre/post boil gravities threw me for a loop too. I thought the same thing, it's water boiling off and sugars left behind, so it must be more concentrated. I really think that I messed up a reading somewhere, but I was triple checking all readings. Not sure what to say about that. Also, I was hoping to put in actual numbers into beersmith and see what it suggested for my next batch. I don't know for sure how to do that. Still learning the program. Thanks a lot, for your insight.

Go to your water volumes tab for this recipe and start adjusting there. You could make a copy of the recipe and play with that if you don't want to futz with your original recipe. But the water volumes tab is where you can enter your boil off, trub-losses, etc. If you come across specific questions about what means what, I'm sure someone here will be happy to answer.

 

[samc]

I'll say it - Stop taking pictures would be my advice. Once you become confident in your process then snap away.

 

[dhickey]

samc -- What does snapping pictures have to do with the process? I am just using the best brewing resource that is available to me...you guys! I love to brew and this is what makes this hobby great, sharing ideas, and with the suggestions that everyone gives, I can have the best brewday possible with some great beer!

Thanks Everyone!!!

 

[samc]

Simply put, concentrating on getting all your processes down correctly without taking the time to take pictures. Personally I like to put all my efforts to one task until I get it right. Now that I'm pretty experienced at brewing I can do lots of other things because the brew day is routine. If that is not the case for you, then multi-task away.

 

[DoubleAught]

I've done a total of 4 BIAB batches and each time I learn more. My first batches gravity was way off like yours. It also is a brown that I am drinking now. It is still pretty good even though I made mistakes. My last batch was last weekend, a porter that was to come in at 1.062. I hit 1.058 so I am much closer. Didn't calculate my boil off correctly and had about 3/4 gallon too much so that might have been the difference.

The few things I have learned are this.

1 - I have the LBS double crush my grain, or I use a blender to get it very fine.

2 - Controlling your mash temp is key (as someone already stated) and it can get away from you very easily.

3 - I suspend my grain bag above brew pot using a string and pulley system to let much of the water drain from it. I use a small pot lid to lightly press the grain to get a little more water out.

Utilizing all my grain by making sure it was crushed really good and controlling my mash temps were the things I noticed that made the most difference. I still have a lot to learn but feel more confident that I'm getting a handle on it.

 

[dhickey]

samc -- I definately understand where you're coming from. I would like to take more pics showing things im doing while it is going on, but my first priority is the brew. So, most my pics come during the downtime. If you noticed, it takes my stove about an hour just get to a boil. Thats when I do the pictures, while i'm waiting for the next step to happen. Thanks though!

KaiserBierMann -- I can't wait till I have a few batches under my belt, and get this process nailed down. Do you leave heat on during your mash? Are you stirring frequently? Or do you turn your burner off?

 

[dhickey]

Today I decided to add a little molasses. Not because it is going to add too many points to my low O.G., but I had it in the cabinet and I wanted to add a little something to the flavor of the Brown. So, 4oz of molasses when in the carboy. I did add it to 6oz of boiling water, just in case something got into the bottle. It was opened 2 months ago after all.

 

[DoubleAught]

KaiserBierMann -- I can't wait till I have a few batches under my belt, and get this process nailed down. Do you leave heat on during your mash? Are you stirring frequently? Or do you turn your burner off?

As soon as I hit my mash temps I turn off my heat. I've noticed that with my set-up that it will hold that temp for 30 mins or so. Once I see it drop a couple degrees I will fire it back up until I hit the mash temp again. Normally that holds until mashout.

As a side note. I brewed my 5th BIAB today and tried something different. I ran my grain through a blender last night to crush it a little further. I nailed my mash temps and not sure if the finely crushed grain made a difference or not but I missed the target OG only by .001. I'm pretty pumped that I'm finally getting the process tuned.

Hope this helps some...

 

[dhickey]

KaiserBierMann -- Congrats man!! That's awesome that you are gettin it zeroed in! I am going to try another round either mid-week or Friday. I want to do a Hefe, but part of me says to try the same beer, and taste for differences. What's your opinion?

 

[RM-MN]

I've done a total of 4 BIAB batches and each time I learn more. My first batches gravity was way off like yours. It also is a brown that I am drinking now. It is still pretty good even though I made mistakes. My last batch was last weekend, a porter that was to come in at 1.062. I hit 1.058 so I am much closer. Didn't calculate my boil off correctly and had about 3/4 gallon too much so that might have been the difference.

The few things I have learned are this.

1 - I have the LBS double crush my grain, or I use a blender to get it very fine.

2 - Controlling your mash temp is key (as someone already stated) and it can get away from you very easily.

3 - I suspend my grain bag above brew pot using a string and pulley system to let much of the water drain from it. I use a small pot lid to lightly press the grain to get a little more water out.

Utilizing all my grain by making sure it was crushed really good and controlling my mash temps were the things I noticed that made the most difference. I still have a lot to learn but feel more confident that I'm getting a handle on it.

Don't lightly squeeze that bag, try to crush it. You're trying to get sticky wort out of there. Any you leave in reduces your efficiency. When you are done the grain should look pretty dry.:rockin:

 

[DoubleAught]

Don't lightly squeeze that bag, try to crush it. You're trying to get sticky wort out of there. Any you leave in reduces your efficiency. When you are done the grain should look pretty dry.:rockin:

I use an 11 gallon turkey fryer pot, with the insert. I lift the insert out of the wort after mashout and allow it to hang until dripping has almost stopped. I then use a small pot lid to press down the grain getting the remaining water out of it.

Lightly pressing wasn't the correct words, I press the hell out of it to get the wort out

 

[DoubleAught]

KaiserBierMann -- Congrats man!! That's awesome that you are gettin it zeroed in! I am going to try another round either mid-week or Friday. I want to do a Hefe, but part of me says to try the same beer, and taste for differences. What's your opinion?

I brewed a Hefe today so I say go for it!

 

[dhickey]

Kiwi Hefe it is then....Woo-Hoo!!!

 

[dhickey]

Are you worried about tannins when squeezing/pressing the grains?

 

[DoubleAught]

Everything I've read for the BIAB process say to get all the wort possible out of the grain. I've only drank one batch of my BIAB brew and I didn't notice any off tastes from tannins. Also, I tried squeezing the bag once, and 170 water is damn hot! So I do the pressing method...lol.

 

[dhickey]

What is your efficiency?

 

[BrewKnurd]

Are you worried about tannins when squeezing/pressing the grains?

tannin extraction is really a function of pH and temperature. squeeze away.

 

[Kaotica]

I did a Brown Ale today, my first AG. It was a 3.5 gallon BIAB. Also reused yeast for the first time, poured right onto a Wyeast 1028 London Ale cake from an Oatmeal Stout that just went into secondary.

Using the squeeze-away advice here, it hit spot-on OG of 1.053 that the software calculated (adjusted 1.051 measured at 75 degrees). Not that I can calculate my efficiency, but I wound up with 3.75 gallons and I have to set my efficiency to 80% in BrewPal to get that OG with my recipe and actual batch size.

Somehow had a total brain fart and added my 15 min hop addition at 30 min. Oops, 36 IBU instead of 28. Pretty smooth day tho.

 

[dhickey]

Nice job hittin the numbers, I bet it will taste great! That's a really good efficiency!

 

[Kaotica]

Thanks. Not sure if anyone cares, but since OP was about ideas for efficiency, some notes on my process for 3.5 gal batch using 6.75 lbs of grain...

In the 4 gallon pot I mash in, I heat 2.2 gal of water to 164 degrees and put in the grain bag, pour in the grain, and stir it in thoroughly. Temp settles about 152 or so. Then into preheated oven on "Warm" setting since my oven won't allow setting below 200 deg.

I open the oven every 10 min and give it a good stir, takes about 15 sec or so each time. I leave my floating thermometer sticking out of the middle of the mash, and with the oven light on I can see the temp nicely. Oven holds it right at 152 for full 60 min.

To sparge I heat 2.2 gal of water to 174 in my 5.5 gallon brew kettle so it's ready when the mash is done. I use a strainer to drain and squeeze the bag in the mash pot, and then move the bag into the brew kettle and stir that in well. That sits 10 min and temp settles at 164ish.

During that 10 min rest, I heat a final 1/2 gal to 170. After the 10 min rest I set the grain in a strainer over the brew kettle, squeeze it down with a small plate, fluff it up a bit, and pour the last 1/2 gal over the top and squeeze more. Then just pour the mash wort in with the sparge wort and start boil. After eyeballing my initial boil volume I added 2qts of water.

 

[dhickey]

I definately like hearing everyones processes! I get little tips and tricks everytime. I am going to try the oven thing...thanks a lot!

 

[RM-MN]

I definately like hearing everyones processes! I get little tips and tricks everytime. I am going to try the oven thing...thanks a lot!

I sure won't push you to abandon the oven mashing idea but before you do it you should read this thread. https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f36/20-minute-mash-302811/ :rockin:

 

[dhickey]

RM-MN -- That is pretty interesting...I don't think I will test it out when I brew this weekend, but I definately want to test this out.

 

[BrewKnurd]

When mashing in a kettle I just wrap it in a towel to provide a little insulation (once the burner is off, obviously).

 

[ChuckCollins]

Very cool!!!!

 

[dhickey]

I wonder if I am thinking too much into it?? I mean, it's a brew in a bag! I should keep it simple. Like discnjh said, wrap it with a blanket and call it good!

 

[Kaotica]

I'm sure it works well, lots of people do that. For me, every towel or blanket I image employing in that method will probably end with me explaining to SWMBO why I thought that would be a good idea. I have a double oven right next to the stove so the glass is at eye height and it's super convenient. Just pick something easy and chill with a beer while you make sweet malty goodness.

 

[BrewKnurd]

For me, every towel or blanket I image employing in that method will probably end with me explaining to SWMBO why I thought that would be a good idea.

Really? what the heck do you envision happening to your towel or blanket that would make her question?

 

[Kaotica]

Really? what the heck do you envision happening to your towel or blanket that would make her question?

Kinda joking, but she runs a tight ship, so not much in the line of shop towels or rags. Even our dog towels are spotless. I'd be stuck with a bathroom towel, guest bedroom blankets, or maybe one of the Afghan Throw things we have on the couches. I don't see those ending well for me. I'm not exactly a tidy brewer, so they'd get stained for sure. On the plus side, I can go nuts with paper towels.