screwed up a ton

[mjtski]

So yesterday was my first all grain 5 gal. To summerize, my thermometer was innacurate (reading 110 @ 70 f), chances are I mashed way too high, my auto siphon broke, suctioned by mouth like an idiot, got an og of 1.035 when I was looking for 1.045, and only ended up with 4 gal, added 1 gal or so of unboiled water and forgot to take another gravity.

So, are the chances pretty good I'm ending up with a 1% abv infected light lambic instead of a delicious esb?

My sanitation went to **** when the autosiphon broke during initial sanitizing and I went into a panic (no rdwhah here).

Any idea why my volume was so low? Thinking I had a crap sparge (bag in a bucket) and I boiled/mashed too hot. Guess ill have to build a zaptap double bucket lauter.

Ill need a brew to get over this, but chances are it won't be my own.

 

[BBL_Brewer]

Oh, you'll probably be surprised with the beer. I don't think it will come out that bad. Might be a tad weak. If you really want to stick to all grain, you should invest in a cooler for the MLT IMO. You can get by with bucket deal, but your efficency will be lower and when you think about it, you're only looking at $30 - $40 bucks to put together a cooler with a SS hose braid (and that's if you don't already have a cooler). Throw in another $30 and you could install a DIY manifold. I use the braid myself, it was wicked easy to make.

 

[pelipen]

I siphon by mouth all the time, but I use a T fitting and a reasonable length of tubing so my mouth is never close to the liquid. There are also sanitary ways to siphon with a single length of tubing and a clamp.
Just something to keep in the back of your mind for next time.

I sure as heck wouldn't dump it. So maybe it's a little light, and you keep it until next summer when you want something light to slam a few. Cook with it, whatever, just don't let your work go to waste unless it really puckers you to drink it.

On my first AG, my thermometer read high, so I mashed waaay too low. It was dry as hell, but tolerable, if only because I made it. The second batch was so much better, I ended up dumping the last 10 bottles of the first one. Brew and learn.

 

[mjtski]

Ya ill drink it, because hey, 1% beats 0%. And ill know better next time. Next brew scheduled for mid october. Also possibly a mead in oct. Gonna buy anoter auto siphon and be a bit more gentle.

Anyone have any feedback on a zaptap?

 

[baron]

Definitely do not pitch it -- yea -- it might be a low abv, but what the heck.

Do as BBL_Brewer says -- build yourself a MLT out of a 10 gallon cooler.
There are great posts on this forum on how to build one.

Might be a good time to check Home Depot / Lowes / ACE Hardware for a 10 gallon round cooler. If they have any on the shelves -- they might be on sale since Summer is almost over. I bought mine from ACE online for $49 -- shipped free to one of their stores. Who knows -- you might be able to pick one up for less.

 

[mnpaddler]

my 2 cents....forget the 5 gallon batches..it takes just as long to do 5 as it does 10 gallons.....we have all done some really wrong things and yet the vast majority of the time it will be drinkable! I buy yeast for a 5 gallon batch, but i make a starter and double the ingredients so I have a 10 gallon starter...2 six gallon plastic pails work just fine for fermenting.

For a mash tun, go on line to Walmart and order (unless found in stock) a 70 quart Coleman extreme cooler without the wheels..I can do 26 pounds of grain and 10 1/2 gallons of water and still have room .

I also purchased ten foot length of 1/2 inch copper tubing, some 90 elbows and made my "false bottom" for lack of another term...for the mash tun.....I use a second 48 qt cooler for fly sparging.....if you would like photo's, let me know...once you go all grain there is no going back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..cheers, Scotty

 

[mjtski]

Can anyone pm me some plans to a cooler mlt for 5 gal? I was thinking about doing it but wasn't really sure about it. Thought the system I'm using would be fine and I wouldn't need anymore equipment but my sparge turned into a complete mess.

Still looking for opinions on a zaptap type system.

 

[baron]

I'd do the 10 gallon cooler MLT.
U won't be able to do high gravity beers with 5 gallon.

 

[mjtski]

Built myself a 10 Gal round mlt using the plans on the forum. It was almost $80 but it was worth it. That plus beersmith made my life infinitely better.