Completed my first AG yesterday, an IPA with ~14 lbs grain. A lot of changes to my setup since the last partial batch, but I think I can correct by next brew day. Biggest issue was missing my strike temp. Recipe called for about ~152-154 mash, even after preheating my cooler MLT my final mash ended up at about 140 F. I pulled off about 1.5 gal and brought the temp up slowly, added back to mash and held ~147 for 60 minutes.
Need to do a little work to my MLT setup. I found a 2x batch sparge took me a long time with this much grain, thinking I need a manifold in my cover to switch to a fly sparge and maybe some adjustment to my collection manifold in the bottom.
I came very close to hitting target OG, off by only 2 points but still worked out to close to 70% efficiency.
Wort tasted great and at about 20 hours in the air lock is venting out some wonderful odors.... its going to be a great brew.
Thanks for all the great posts on here to finally give me the confidence to go AG!
Need to do a little work to my MLT setup. I found a 2x batch sparge took me a long time with this much grain, thinking I need a manifold in my cover to switch to a fly sparge and maybe some adjustment to my collection manifold in the bottom.
I came very close to hitting target OG, off by only 2 points but still worked out to close to 70% efficiency.
Wort tasted great and at about 20 hours in the air lock is venting out some wonderful odors.... its going to be a great brew.
Thanks for all the great posts on here to finally give me the confidence to go AG!
