Help!

rapovt · Jan 30, 2011

I brewed an extract version of canadian ale
grain bill
16 oz. Carafoam
16 oz. flaked rice
extracts
6.0 lbs light malt extract

I wanted to brew all grain so lhbs said
6.0 lbs extract converts to 7.2 lbs grain and I wanted 10 gallon batch so 14.5 lbs grain

after mash it looks watery, I have about 7 gallons in boil kettle and sg=1.045

Am I okay for A 10 gallon batch ?

Nugent · Jan 30, 2011

Since you're mid-brew, by the sounds of it, you're either going to have to sparge more from your grain or settle for a 5 gal. batch. I'm sure that if you had a proper conversion, you will have lots more fermentables still in your mash tun. Fill 'er and get that wort out.

Once you boil the wort, you'll lose some liquid from evaporation so you'll need about 11.5-12 gal. of pre-boil wort to end up with 10 gal. of 'bottleable' beer. Don't forget to adjust your hop additions to the smaller batch, if you choose to go that route.

rapovt · Jan 30, 2011

I mashed at 154 for an hour with 3.5 gallons then sparged 3.5 gallons at 170 for 10-15 minutes. I have not had a problem mashing before. Is the 14.5 lbs right?

pkeeler · Jan 30, 2011

I mashed at 154 for an hour with 3.5 gallons then sparged 3.5 gallons at 170 for 10-15 minutes. I have not had a problem mashing before. Is the 14.5 lbs right?

Could be. But if you only put 7 gal. of water in your lauter then you will only get 7 or less out. As long as the SG of the runnings is >1.010, then you can sparge more. I would sparge another 4 gal to get 11 gal, then boil that down for 60 min and see what you get.