First BIAB and lessons learned

[Nate187]

After making an extract kit for my first go, I set out to try an actual recipe. I originally was going to try a 1554 clone. I do not have the right conditions for lagering at this point and am limited in overall equipment. I settled on modifying a recipe and going after a BIAB. This is the recipe I ended on below after changing some others I found online.

6 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 1 82.8 %
7.2 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt -120L (120.0 SRM) Grain 2 6.2 %
4.8 oz Aromatic Malt (26.0 SRM) Grain 3 4.1 %
4.8 oz Cara-Pils/Dextrine (2.0 SRM) Grain 4 4.1 %
3.2 oz Black (Patent) Malt (500.0 SRM) Grain 5 2.8 %
0.80 oz Saaz [2.00 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 6 9.1 IBUs
0.60 oz Tettnang [4.50 %] - Boil 45.0 min Hop 7 14.0 IBUs
1.0 pkg Nottingham (Danstar #-)

I first made the mistake of brewing when my wife and daughter were home. They become an unexpected distraction and threw me off a little. My kettle size also threw me off because it was a little to small for this recipe. I messed up my mash out and I think that hurt my efficiency. I also had 2.5 gallons after my boil, but expected to have 3 so when I added some water it really brought down my OG.

I have read on this forum that the measured gravity numbers in beersmith are not accurate and are automatically entered. But I hit those numbers right on.

Well since this batch I have found a larger kettle to use. I bottled it today and the taste was much better than I expected. I will see how it turns out in a month. I will definitely try a recipe close to this one again now that I know what I messed up, hopefully to not repeat again.

 

[doug293cz]

...

I first made the mistake of brewing when my wife and daughter were home. They become an unexpected distraction and threw me off a little. My kettle size also threw me off because it was a little to small for this recipe. I messed up my mash out and I think that hurt my efficiency. I also had 2.5 gallons after my boil, but expected to have 3 so when I added some water it really brought down my OG.

I have read on this forum that the measured gravity numbers in beersmith are not accurate and are automatically entered. But I hit those numbers right on.

Well since this batch I have found a larger kettle to use. I bottled it today and the taste was much better than I expected. I will see how it turns out in a month. I will definitely try a recipe close to this one again now that I know what I messed up, hopefully to not repeat again.

The mash out shouldn't affect your efficiency if the conversion was complete at the end of your mash. If your conversion wasn't complete, then the mash out can be a sort of a supercharged mash time extension (at least until the enzymes are denatured.) You can determine how close your mash is to complete conversion using the method here.

The "Measured" value fields in BeerSmith are where you should enter your actual measured results. Any value in them initially is meaningless (I don't know why they aren't zeroed out for a new recipe.) The "Estimated" values represent your target values.

Sounds like your first all grain was reasonably successful (any time you end up with drinkable beer is at least a partial success.) Keep taking notes of everything you do, especially the mistakes, and your process will improve with iteration. The larger pot should be a big help.

Brew on