alby44
Well-Known Member
Hello HBTers:
Trying to diagnose issues from my brew day yesterday to improve my process. Decided to go with the AG Pliny version from MoreBeer so I could get comfortable with BIABing and I'm determined to make it work. Couple of things/insights I had afterward:
- Purchased a corona mill that I used to double crush the already milled grains setting it to almost lowest setting (used one washer as a spacer).
- Did a full volume mash/boil with 8.6 gallons during the mash, did mash out to 170 for about 10 minutes, then 'attempted' to squeeze out wort using a lid. Preboil wort was roughly 6.5-7gallons
Lol, I had the steamer basket 'resting' on an angle....what a mistake that was as it shifted then dropped back into the pot...some splashed wort everywhere. Proceeded to clean up and take a Pre-boil sample, 1.030, (that I did not cool;\) for what was to be 1.072-76. Ended up adding 3#s DME to compensate for low pre-boil gravity....after cooling and into bucket, SG was 1.080 (another potential oops with the extra DME added).
Ok, so my own brew day from hell where I'm reminded of my first extract brew day Questions and guidance I was hoping for:
1. Corona Mill - for next batch, should I take out the washer and dial in as close as possible? The grain 'looked' good to me but any advice appreciated
2. Realizing well afterward that I should have cooled pre-boil wort, why was it this LOW? Grains were already crushed and I milled again...was it not close enough? Did water volume have any thing to do with it?
I was able to compensate ok with DME, but am really scratching my head at the low preboil gravity (realizing now that I should have cooled).
Thoughts and/or suggestions is most welcome!
Trying to diagnose issues from my brew day yesterday to improve my process. Decided to go with the AG Pliny version from MoreBeer so I could get comfortable with BIABing and I'm determined to make it work. Couple of things/insights I had afterward:
- Purchased a corona mill that I used to double crush the already milled grains setting it to almost lowest setting (used one washer as a spacer).
- Did a full volume mash/boil with 8.6 gallons during the mash, did mash out to 170 for about 10 minutes, then 'attempted' to squeeze out wort using a lid. Preboil wort was roughly 6.5-7gallons
Lol, I had the steamer basket 'resting' on an angle....what a mistake that was as it shifted then dropped back into the pot...some splashed wort everywhere. Proceeded to clean up and take a Pre-boil sample, 1.030, (that I did not cool;\) for what was to be 1.072-76. Ended up adding 3#s DME to compensate for low pre-boil gravity....after cooling and into bucket, SG was 1.080 (another potential oops with the extra DME added).
Ok, so my own brew day from hell where I'm reminded of my first extract brew day Questions and guidance I was hoping for:
1. Corona Mill - for next batch, should I take out the washer and dial in as close as possible? The grain 'looked' good to me but any advice appreciated
2. Realizing well afterward that I should have cooled pre-boil wort, why was it this LOW? Grains were already crushed and I milled again...was it not close enough? Did water volume have any thing to do with it?
I was able to compensate ok with DME, but am really scratching my head at the low preboil gravity (realizing now that I should have cooled).
Thoughts and/or suggestions is most welcome!