After 5 years, things still pop up. Saturday I was 45 minutes into the mash when I get a call and have to leave. 4 hours later, I finally make it home to finish. I had planned on 1.043 but ended up at 1.052. I'm sure it will be fine.
Thinking of BIAB brewing
- Thread starter marjen
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Your strike water dropped temps only 3 degrees? How much grain did you use, only a pound and a half? 
That seems very weird. Was the grist very warm? I have to account for the temp of the grist--if, during the winter, I keep it in the garage after crushing the night before, it's a lot colder and I lose more heat in the strike water. Solved that by keeping in the house so I'd have a consistent grist temp of about 69 degrees.
Also, if you add more water and keep the same strike temp, the water will not drop in temp as much. Going to 8 gallons of strike water would have contributed to this. My first BIAB I used 7.5 gallons; second one 7.25 gallons. I'm dropping to 7 gallons for the third one--and yes, I'll squeeze.
I presume you mean gravity readings of 1.030 and 1.042. That doesn't imply a lot of grain (maybe 7 pounds?). Or you just had an excess of water and it was a diluted wort.
The ambient temperature also plays a role in this--I expect to brew next weekend when temps are in the 60s; big difference from brewing when temps are 40.
anyway, the above are some thoughts on your experience. Keep at it, and keep good records of exactly what you did, and you'll be able to adjust. Next time, if you are too high on mash temp, toss some ice cubes in the mash to bring the temp down.
That seems very weird. Was the grist very warm? I have to account for the temp of the grist--if, during the winter, I keep it in the garage after crushing the night before, it's a lot colder and I lose more heat in the strike water. Solved that by keeping in the house so I'd have a consistent grist temp of about 69 degrees.
Also, if you add more water and keep the same strike temp, the water will not drop in temp as much. Going to 8 gallons of strike water would have contributed to this. My first BIAB I used 7.5 gallons; second one 7.25 gallons. I'm dropping to 7 gallons for the third one--and yes, I'll squeeze.
I presume you mean gravity readings of 1.030 and 1.042. That doesn't imply a lot of grain (maybe 7 pounds?). Or you just had an excess of water and it was a diluted wort.
The ambient temperature also plays a role in this--I expect to brew next weekend when temps are in the 60s; big difference from brewing when temps are 40.
anyway, the above are some thoughts on your experience. Keep at it, and keep good records of exactly what you did, and you'll be able to adjust. Next time, if you are too high on mash temp, toss some ice cubes in the mash to bring the temp down.
Grain bill was 13 lb. It was about 60 degrees out. I wrapped the kettle up with a blanket and an insulation jacket i made for it which is a think towel with reflective insulation attached. I think I got a low pre boil gravity due to, too much water and the high mash temp. Thats my thought anyway. Took good notes, going to try 7.5 gallons next time and lower strike temp.
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@marjen, I use this and it tells me well what strike temp to use if I input volume water and grist weight and grist temp. If you have done a boil off test (which you should) then putting in that and PricelessBrew calculator will do a VERY good job getting you close to correct strike temp and water volume required. One man's opinion.
I have had 2 more brew days since and I am consistently only dropping about 3-5 degrees when adding my grains. And the kettle holds the help solid for the entire 60 mins. So now I hit about 156-158 strike temp and mash in the low 150s.
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