4th BIAB but 1st success

[supertonio]

I just wanted to share with you all that for the first time I feel I have had a successful brewing session.

I have done 3 BIAB so far and on each one I managed to miss hitting my volume and SG but a large amount, which as fellow brewers I'm sure you can understand is frustrating and disappointing.

However, today I brewed a stout and for once I almost reached my SG (only missing by two points) and after seriously adjusting my losses in brewmate I actually overshot my volume by a couple of litres. Am I right in thinking that as I hit my SG got more volume than expected I have increased my efficiency? If I have then I can only put this down to my new barley crusher which was also given its first outing today.

Anyway, for once the whole day was the most relaxing brew session I have had so far and I feel after reading lots on this forum I have had a brewing epiphany which has been described by fellow brewers as that moment when everything comes together. There was no stress only joy throughout the various stages of brewing, apart from the obligatory cleaning at the end of the day.

I felt the need to tell my wife how successful everything was but my exaltations around efficiency and yield fell on deaf ears and blank faces, hence I have turned to you gentlemen to share my good news as a father shares news of their firstborn. I hope you have all had or will have in the future that moment which I have just described.

Cant wait until the next time............

 

[djar007]

Nice one mate. A smooth brew day is a thing of beauty. And hitting your numbers is a great achievement. Good luck fermenting that beast as this is the part of most importance for me. Certainly where I have won and lost in the past.

 

[Yob]

It is indeed a thing of beauty when it all comes together.

Grats.

 

[lukiferj]

Now the trick is to see if you can do it again

Nice one man. It feels good when you nail your system. Brew days sbould be relaxing...

 

[Spiesy]

Am I right in thinking that as I hit my SG got more volume than expected I have increased my efficiency?

As long as all measurements are correct, then I'd imagine you have achieved more efficiency than planned.

 

[Tahoose]

Yep I totally am hearing you one more than one of these point especially the point of excitement and success falling on deaf ears, (although she did say I could save for a braumister)

I had my last brew day go down really well also, 3 1/2 hrs from cracking grain to in the cube, most relaxed brew day also.

Well done, hopefully should yield a tasty stout looking towards the middle of the year.

 

[stm]

after seriously adjusting my losses in brewmate I actually overshot my volume by a couple of litres. Am I right in thinking that as I hit my SG got more volume than expected I have increased my efficiency?
Cant wait until the next time............

Well done, no need to invest in a Braumeister now!

If you adjusted your losses up in brewmate, then you didn't necessarily increase your efficiency, you just accounted for losses better.

 

[Topher]

So supertonio.....What did the first 3 taste like?


I have my first biab in the ferment fridge and it is looking and tasting amazing so far.
For the first one I didn't do crazy on the exact numbers and efficiency. I just wanted to make a beer from scratch! Next one will try and hit some targets.

 

[supertonio]

Well done, no need to invest in a Braumeister now!

If you adjusted your losses up in brewmate, then you didn't necessarily increase your efficiency, you just accounted for losses better.

But surely if I had input my recipe with an expected efficiency of 65% getting a wort of 1.041at 19 litres and instead I got 21 litres of 1.039 this means that my efficiency was better. If I had simply got more volume at 65% then my SG would have been lower.

The first three brews have been ok. I have started to make yeast starters and also have fermentation fridge which seems to be making huge difference. All these things combined with improved technique are making for better beer.


Sent from my iPhone using Aussie Home Brewer

 

[brouhaha]

Anyway, for once the whole day was the most relaxing brew session I have had so far and I feel after reading lots on this forum I have had a brewing epiphany which has been described by fellow brewers as that moment when everything comes together. There was no stress only joy throughout the various stages of brewing, apart from the obligatory cleaning at the end of the day.............

I've found that the more relaxed you are on brew day, the better the beer. I bet you're gonna start making some pretty tasty beers!