Yesterday's beer

[fat.sam]

Here is what I brewed yesterday. It had a fairly light color to it...lighter than I would like. This was the first time I used Irish Moss and it seemed to really make a difference with clearity. I usually strain my wort when going to primary and I think this also helps with clearity. I did sample a bit and it tasted like weak beer so I figure thats a good sign. I took a OG measurement but I don't think my mixture (wort and water filler) was mixed thoroughly and the reading was way way low. Also is there much of an advantage with boiling a full five gallon wort? The most I can boil is about 2 1/2 gallons due to the kitchen stove heating capacity. I'm hoping the wife will let me go propane out in the garage.

All in all it was a good brew day. This was also my first time using iodophore so hopefully I can get rid of the medicinal taste (bleach). Any advice is greatly appreciated.

½ lb Biscuit Malt 23L
1/4lb Munich Malt Dark 9L
160° F 30’

3.3 lb LME
3 lb DME

Hops:
½ oz Columbus for 60’
¼ oz Cascade for 20’
¼ oz Cascade for 5”

Irish Moss for 15’

Yeast: 1056 American

 

[Blender]

Your OG cannot be to far off with extracts. I measure it at about 1.050 for 5 gallons. I like more hops in my beers but to each their own. Next time try the Columbus as the flavor hop. It is real nice. As far as full boils go I think you get better beer because of hop utilization, less scorching of the wort and it just feels better. You will need a better way to cool things down though so there are some added expenses. Wyeast 1056 is a great one to reharvest for your next beer too.

 

[david_42]

Doing 2.5 gallon boils only means you need to increase the bittering hops by 50% vs. 5 gallons. Better a strong half boil than a 5 gallon simmer. If you want more color next time, go to a high lovibond on your specialty grains. Looks like it will have a nice strong malt middle.

 

[fat.sam]

I will be dry hopping cascade during the secondary.

I cool the wort fairly quick by putting the pot in the sink with cold H20 and ice. I also add chilled 3 gallon of purified drinking water to my primary. My temp drops pretty quick and I pitch within 15'. I already have good bubbling in my airlock so I figure all is good.