Okay, just brewed
Ó Flannagáin's Standard stout, doing a 60 minute mash and a 100 minute boil (had to boil off a little extra due to heavy-handed pouring, otherwise it would have been 90). While
The Pol's chart says to add 60 minute additions at 40, I added at 50 to compensate for lower AAUs than Ó Flannagáin's recipe called for.
I started setting up my gear at 8, was done with all the cleanup by 12:15.
Here's a pic of my mash. Pretty standard, except as I previously stated, I heat the grains with the water. Right now I have to use the spoon to hold the steamer basket up off the bazooka screen at the bottom. I think I may try to install legs into the basket so I don't have to worry about the spoon slipping.
Here's the draining process:
This is great: no trying to suspend the bag above the kettle, or worse, trying to hold it while it drains. I just prop the basket up and squeeze out what wort I can. Not pictured, the silicone trivet I used to press out the wort. Right after I pull the basket out, if I'm adding FWH, this is where I do it while the grain drains.
And last but not least, transferring the wort to the Winpak:
I started transferring immediately after turning off the propane (don't forget your potholder or gloves!), it finished transferring, I squeezed out the air, sealed the container, and turned it upside down for a few minutes to sanitize the top of the container, righted it and took it inside.
PIECE OF CAKE!
THINGS I WANT TO DO DIFFERENTLY
- I plan to construct legs for the basket. No more iffy spoon props for me!
- I need a more accurate thermal guessing device. My digital thermometer has worked for me in the past, but when I put in my dyed alcohol brew thermometer there was a 10º discrepancy. Not sure which is right, but the digital has been serving me well for my last several brews.
- The next time I purchase equipment, it'll be a 5-gallon Winpak (or perhaps the stackable cubes, also from US Plastics). I don't ferment in the cube, so I don't need the extra head space, and I really don't like how disfigured the 6-gallon gets when I squeeze all the air out.
- I need to figure out a way to insulate my kettle, especially now that Winter's on the way. Not just a BIAB issue, but also for others who mash in uninsulated metal or otherwise thin vessels.