First All Grain... just went into the fermenter.

[GryphonBrew]

Hello All,

I've been lurking around the forums for a while as a guest and only recently became a member. I've been doing partial mashes for a few years now and decided to move to all grain after reading countless hours here. So below is my recipe.

I didn't originally plan for the Lactose addition, but I had it left over from 3 brews ago and just decided to toss it in. I'm somewhat regretting that decision because the sample I tasted after taking the OG was pretty sweet, not cloyingly sweet, but still pretty sweet. I'm going to drink it no matter how it urn out, but I'm curious what the wisdom on this site would say; did I just create a dessert beer? Or will it end up ok after fermentation. OG came in at 1.067.


BeerSmith Recipe Printout - http://www.beersmith.com
Recipe: Crotchety Striped Rooster
Brewer: GryphonBrew
Asst Brewer:
Style: Extra Special/Strong Bitter (English Pale Ale)
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (35.0)

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size: 5.25 gal
Boil Size: 7.48 gal
Estimated OG: 1.069 SG
Estimated Color: 6.3 SRM
Estimated IBU: 43.0 IBU
Brewhouse Efficiency: 75.00 %
Boil Time: 90 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amount Item Type % or IBU
9 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) UK (3.0 SRM) Grain 74.07 %
12.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 20L (20.0 SRM) Grain 6.17 %
4.0 oz Wheat Malt, Ger (2.0 SRM) Grain 2.06 %
1.00 oz Challenger [7.00 %] (90 min) Hops 23.0 IBU
0.50 oz Goldings, East Kent [4.50 %] (30 min) Hops 5.3 IBU
1.00 oz Challenger [7.00 %] (15 min) Hops 10.7 IBU
0.50 oz Goldings, East Kent [4.50 %] (15 min) Hops 3.4 IBU
1.00 oz Goldings, East Kent [4.50 %] (1 min) Hops 0.6 IBU
0.26 tsp Irish Moss (Boil 10.0 min) Misc
1 lbs 8.0 oz Cane (Beet) Sugar (0.0 SRM) Sugar 12.35 %
10.4 oz Milk Sugar (Lactose) (0.0 SRM) Sugar 5.35 %
1 Pkgs Irish Ale (Wyeast Labs #1084) Yeast-Ale


Mash Schedule - Mash In: Add 12.50 qt of water at 165.3 F 90 min
-- Hold mash at 150.0 F for 90 min
-- Batch Sparge Round 1: Sparge with 2.12 gal of 168.0 F water.
-- Batch Sparge Round 2: Sparge with 4.04 gal of 168.0 F water.
-- Add water to achieve boil volume of 7.48 gal
-- Estimated Pre-boil Gravity is: 1.057 SG with all grains/extracts added

 

[sudsmcgee]

I don't think less than a lb will leave it that sweet. Especially if you mashed at 150. Let it ride and enjoy your first AG brew. Don't regret it, just learn from it.

 

[beerspitnight]

Keep us updated on how this turns out! Good luck.

 

[GryphonBrew]

I don't think less than a lb will leave it that sweet. Especially if you mashed at 150. Let it ride and enjoy your first AG brew. Don't regret it, just learn from it.

Good stuff thanks sudsmcgee (great name btw) I really did enjoy the process. It was no where near as complicated as I thought it would be.

 

[GryphonBrew]

Keep us updated on how this turns out! Good luck.

Will do. Can't wait to get it kegged. Probably going to run it on beer gas through my Guinness tap.

 

[GryphonBrew]

Bubbling away every 10-12 seconds this morning when I checked it. I don't know why I always get so nervous. I've never had one not start up.

 

[HokieBrewer]

Your OG sample will always be sweet. It's loaded with sugars that your yeast will turn into alcohol.

 

[GryphonBrew]

Your OG sample will always be sweet. It's loaded with sugars that your yeast will turn into alcohol.

Thanks HokieBrewer. I do always sample my batches, but this one just seemed sweeter. Even more sweet than my Double Chocolate stout did when sampled. I'm guessing now that it's probably because the grains in this one aren't as potent in flaover as in the stout. Hopefully it'll all balance out once the yeast do their thing.

 

[GryphonBrew]

24 hours later and the airlock is "blerping" every 1.5 seconds. Good strong fermentation taking place!!!

 

[ultravista]

Why 5.25 gallons? Are you kegging, if so, what are you plans for the additional .25 gallons?

I often see 5.25 gallon recipes and would like to know why.

 

[sudsmcgee]

Why 5.25 gallons? Are you kegging, if so, what are you plans for the additional .25 gallons?

I often see 5.25 gallon recipes and would like to know why.

You always lose some beer/work when racking. This allows an actual 5 gals when done.

 

[ultravista]

Ah, that makes sense. I didn't condiser the loss when racking. I'll have to adjust my Beersmith files for an additional .25 gallon.

Excellent point!

 

[sudsmcgee]

Actually, many people make 5.5 gallons instead.

 

[GryphonBrew]

Actually, many people make 5.5 gallons instead.

Yes, from boil, to primary, to secondary, to keg, i've got mine down to about .25 gallons lost.

 

[GryphonBrew]

Ok, so I transfered to the secondary today @ 2:30, FG was 1.009 at 62*.... That set the ABV at 7.58% instead of the estimated 6.67%...!

Wow! What happened?!?

Everything tastes great from the un-carbed sample I took. Deffinetly notice the higher ABV, but I'm sure it'll smoot out with a little time.

 

[jhenderson27]

Mazhing at 150 gives you better attenuation and the yeast did a good job. My pale ale did the same. Started at 1.064 and went to 1.008. Im sure it will be good. Enjoy it!

 

[GryphonBrew]

Mazhing at 150 gives you better attenuation and the yeast did a good job. My pale ale did the same. Started at 1.064 and went to 1.008. Im sure it will be good. Enjoy it!

Yesn I kind of figured that the yeast just went a little crazy. I understood about the 150 mash, but wouldn't BeerSmith have calculated that too? Those little yeast buggers really went to town on it. I can't believe how clear it is already.

And yes, I shall be enjoying it one week from today!

 

[jhenderson27]

Beersmith is good, but doesnt automatically account from that as yeast can fluctuate in it performance. Or so i have seen it does. Im a big fan of dry yeast in most ales as its quick cheap and easy. However im not getting into washing and reusing on belgins with a buddy.

 

[Brandonovich]

I am kind of curious about the very small amount of wheat malt in there. Being a base malt, it doesn't seem like it would do much to the flavor or body in such a small amount.

 

[jhenderson27]

Head retention and mouth feel i believe.

 

[GryphonBrew]

Head retention and mouth feel i believe.

Yeah pretty much. This was intended to be a higher ABV and IBU version of Old Spckled Hen.

 

[jhenderson27]

On nitro?

 

[GryphonBrew]

On nitro?

Beer Gas blend, but yes. The Old Sepckled Hen in the cans has the little beer gas widget like Guinness or Boddingtons, which I prefer.

 

[GryphonBrew]

Camera phone picture from the sample I pulled while racking to the secondary. Looking good so far, it's really much clearer already than the picture shows. Sorry about the image size. Wasnt sure how to resize it.