So I don't screw this up...

[TexasWine]

I find Brewersfriend is way off when I have used it.

This is interesting. I've always been spot on with Brewer's Friend. Once you know your conversion efficiency it's simply ratios after that. Seems like it'd be hard for BF to mess that up.

 

[bigdaddybrew]

I checked the Brewer's Friend website and it is not the one I had used. Sorry Brewer's Friend. Try it. It could be great...
http://www.brewersfriend.com/homebrew/recipe/calculator/

 

[bigdaddybrew]

I entered the grist into Brewer's Friend and it is real close, 69% efficiency so it looks good. Sorry for the mistaken review...
http://www.brewersfriend.com/homebrew/recipe/calculator/

 

[Silhou3tt3]

I find Brewersfriend is way off when I have used it. Entering your new OG of 1.060 BrewSmith reports a 70% overall efficiency assuming you got 5 gallons into your fermenter. New IBU 38. Still in the BJCP guidelines for American Brown Ales. Not bad at all! Did you rinse or squeeze? How much trub do you estimate you left behind?

I think I must be entering the readings wrong. I took the gravity reading from the kettle after I cooled it but before I transferred and I was able to get 5 gallons into the fermenter. Actually had to leave some behind in the kettle (roughly a couple of bottles worth).

As for the trub I didn't have much. At most I'd say there was something like an 1/8th of an inch (though that is probably more than there actually was). I use hop socks, Ferm-Caps and Whirlfloc (10 min) and cooling time was just under 10 minutes. I also strained from kettle to bucket three times and there was barely anything left over...but my kettle-fu is not strong, I splashed a little on the floor a couple times. v.v lol Thank you again, man! Helped a lot towards getting my confidence up to doing this brew.

You can sparge (rinse) with hot or cold (or in-between) water. Makes no significant difference to efficiency (unless your mash conversion was incomplete, in which case hot water may allow a little more conversion.) See this article for information: http://braukaiser.com/blog/blog/2009/05/12/cold-water-sparging/. If sparging hot, keep the temp below 170°F, unless you know your sparge water is less than pH 6.0. Sparge water above 170°F AND greater than pH 6.0 can extract tannins (astringent.)

Don't worry about a few left over grain bits, they won't cause any problems on your next brew. If you don't like them for aesthetic reasons, get a fine mesh voile bag. They don't tend to hold anywhere near as many grain bits. Wilserbrewer (http://biabbags.webs.com/) makes very nice bags custom fitted for your pot.

Brew on

Thanks for the info! I'm glad I went with my gut feeling and didn't go to a higher temp. As far as the bag goes...if it won't have any real effect on future brews then I'm not worried.

This thing is going on pretty strong right now. It's dark as night but that's ok; still get a little giddy just looking at it...now I just have to figure out what to brew next.

Edit:
Had to move the fermentor and it is not nearly as dark now as it first seemed. Definitely back to brown, now.

 

[Silhou3tt3]

Have any of you used Fermcap-S in the boil before?

 

[TexasWine]

Have any of you used Fermcap-S in the boil before?

Every batch. Works great.

 

[Silhou3tt3]

Every batch. Works great.

I feel the same but I just kegged two batches (Patersbier and Carribou Slobber, both NB kits) and had a taste and they both seem a little off. Has it ever effected the taste for you?

 

[TexasWine]

I feel the same but I just kegged two batches (Patersbier and Carribou Slobber, both NB kits) and had a taste and they both seem a little off. Has it ever effected the taste for you?

Never done a batch without it, but as far as I (and everyone else who tastes my beer) can tell, no off flavors.

 

[Silhou3tt3]

Never done a batch without it, but as far as I (and everyone else who tastes my beer) can tell, no off flavors.

Alright, thanks man. I think I may have just kegged too early.

 

[Silhou3tt3]

So, I meant to update this a while ago but the days got away from me. By now I'm a few weeks in the keg and this beer turned out pretty damn good.

I was shooting for a brown ale with the original recipe and after much tinkering and much help (thanks again!!) it turned out...a little closer to a stout. Lol But it is very tasty. I think I'll brew this recipe again and go with oak chips soaked in maker's mark in the secondary.

Thank you guys again for the help and especially thank you to bigdaddybrew for the help with the recipes!