I don't normally take a reading on my pre-boil gravity as I have only been concerned about post-boil gravity in the past. But this time I took a gravity reading pre-boil as I wanted to try out a stepped temperature mash, I may vary the times per step on the next batch of the same recipe just to see what the outcome will be.
My step temperatures on this batch were as follows:
30 min @ 55 degrees Celsius
30 min @ 65 degrees Celsius
30 min @ 75 degrees Celsius and then mash out
In BeerSmith the estimated pre-boil gravity would have been 1.054, although I got 1.073. I am assuming that is due to the fact that I was fly sparking and I got a higher efficiency that I had anticipated.
The part were I am confused is that at post-boil, the gravity in BeerSmith was estimated at 1.062 and after taking a reading, I got 1.047. Both readings were taken at the same temperature of 22 degrees Celsius and it would make sense that the post-boil reading would be higher than the pre-boil as there would be less volume after the boil. Or am I mistaken?
What I am also confused with is that the readings are so vastly different, as I mentioned, I have never taken a post-boil reading before this, so I can't really say if that would be normal or not.
The fermentation has gone off well and I am sitting with a consistent reading of 1.010 after a week and a half and the color and flavor is where I would expect it to be for an Amber Ale and to be honest without having finished my projected fermentation cycle, it has already turned out better than past brews of the same recipe when I have not even racked and aged yet as I also did a first wort addition with my battering hops.
My step temperatures on this batch were as follows:
30 min @ 55 degrees Celsius
30 min @ 65 degrees Celsius
30 min @ 75 degrees Celsius and then mash out
In BeerSmith the estimated pre-boil gravity would have been 1.054, although I got 1.073. I am assuming that is due to the fact that I was fly sparking and I got a higher efficiency that I had anticipated.
The part were I am confused is that at post-boil, the gravity in BeerSmith was estimated at 1.062 and after taking a reading, I got 1.047. Both readings were taken at the same temperature of 22 degrees Celsius and it would make sense that the post-boil reading would be higher than the pre-boil as there would be less volume after the boil. Or am I mistaken?
What I am also confused with is that the readings are so vastly different, as I mentioned, I have never taken a post-boil reading before this, so I can't really say if that would be normal or not.
The fermentation has gone off well and I am sitting with a consistent reading of 1.010 after a week and a half and the color and flavor is where I would expect it to be for an Amber Ale and to be honest without having finished my projected fermentation cycle, it has already turned out better than past brews of the same recipe when I have not even racked and aged yet as I also did a first wort addition with my battering hops.