Newbie All Grain Brewing Recipe questions

[psotos]

I am trying to brew this:

Racer 5 clone
(Bear Republic Brewing Co.)
(5 gallons/19 L, all-grain)
OG = 1.071 FG = 1.015
IBU = 60 SRM = 10 ABV = 7.2%

Ingredients
11.25 lbs. (5.1 kg) 2-row pale malt
1.66 lbs. (0.75 kg) wheat malt
0.625 lbs. (0.28 kg) crystal malt (15 °L)
0.42 lbs. (0.19 kg) dextrose (corn sugar)
0.21 lbs. (95 g) CaraPils malt
6.1 AAU Chinook hops (90 mins)
(0.51 oz./14 g of 12% alpha acids)
8.7 AAU Cascade hops (60 mins)
(1.74 oz./49 g of 5.0% alpha acids)
0.3 oz. Centennial hops (dry hop)
0.3 oz. Amarillo hops (dry hop)
0.2 oz. Cascade hops (dry hop)
0.2 oz. Tomahawk hops (dry hop)
Wyeast 1272 (American Ale II) or White Labs WLP051
(California V) yeast
0.75 cups corn sugar (for priming)

Step by Step
Mash in at 145 °F (63 °C) then ramp temperature to 152 °F (67 °C) for conversion. Mash out to 170 °F (77 °C). Boil for 90 minutes, adding hops at the times indicated in the ingredient list. Ferment at 68 °F (20 °C).

Questions:

1) How does one ramp up the temp in a mash? Its in a plastic container which can't be heated! Does this mean heat 1/2 the water to 145 then heat the other half to 152 and pour it in?

2) The instructions say:
0.51 oz chinook at 12%AA (90 mins)
1.74 oz Cascade at 5% AA (60 mins)

Does this mean I start adding Chinook continuously at initial boil and then start adding Cascade at 30 mins into the boil doing both continuously?

3) These instructions have NO indication of how much water (how many cups) to add to the mash? How much for the sparge? Its damn confusing to a beginner like myself. How do I calculate this?

Any help is greatly appreciated! :rockin:

 

[Furia]

1) Since it's your first time brewing with AG, I would skip the temperature ramp. Just mash at 152F for 60 min.

2) No, dump all the 0.51 oz of chinook at initial boil, then at 30 min add the whole 1.74 oz of cascade.

3) I would suggest you use the brew365 mash and sparge water calculator and check how much water you will need. Just input all the info you know, and shazam!

 

[brewbama]

As a new brewer, like Furia I would also simply mash in with a single infusion. However, I'd shoot for 154*F.

If you go to AHA and look up Advanced under Brew you'll see batch sparge. The temp, vol, etc are all explained and calculations provided.

 

[brewbama]

As a new brewer, like Furia I would also simply mash in with a single infusion. However, I'd shoot for 154*F.

If you go to AHA and look up Advanced under Brew you'll see batch sparge. The temp, vol, etc are all explained and calculations provided.

In this link, Downloaded and read "For more detailed information read How-To: All-Grain (Batch Sparging) Brewing" http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/how-to-brew/advanced/how-to-brew-beer/#all-grain

 

[nettekdl]

From your questions about the water temps I would also recommend you read up on strike temp calculation because if you mash in with 152* water you will severely undershoot your mash temp

 

[psotos]

Thanks guys this has been EXTREMELY informative!

 

[cease]

I have a Racer 5 clone fermenting away right now. Almost exactly the same recipe.

I mashed at 150 for 60 mins, no step. The water to use will really depends on your system/equipment. Over a few batches you will dial it in. Start with some software and tweak it until you are consistent. Even if your OG is a bit off, you will still make a nice hoppy brew and make it better next time. Watch fermentation temps!

 

[chickypad]

I agree with a single step mash for this at 150*. I've made this recipe before and it was yummy, but I increased the late hops quite a bit. As mentioned above use a calculator to get your actual strike temp - with a preheated tun you'll probably need water about 160* range.