Not Reaching Fg

[Ross]

I Biab and i had the water at 68.5C when i added the grain. Temps only droped a half a degree.

Hi Damian,

well there's your problem - you've mashed at 68c with a full volume mash, probably (I'm guessing) equivalent to a 69 to 70c mash. With a full volume mash you should be mashing a little cooler as the high water/grain ratio will give you a higher final gravity. I would suggest mashing at 64c next time.

cheers ross

 

[Mantis]

Hi Damian,

well there's your problem - you've mashed at 68c with a full volume mash, probably (I'm guessing) equivalent to a 69 to 70c mash. With a full volume mash you should be mashing a little cooler as the high water/grain ratio will give you a higher final gravity. I would suggest mashing at 64c next time.

cheers ross

Well, I'm sure happy to read that Ross.
Doing my first AG BIAB tommorow and I would have probably started with 68C. So strike water at 66 would be the go yes??
This is with 4.8kg grain, 31lt to get 22lt into cube

 

[Ross]

Mantis,

Depends on the style of beer you are making, but i'd be using a strike water of 65c max.


cheers ross

 

[Damian44]

Thanks Ross. Your a life life saver. Would your infrared thermometer be suitable for a full volume mash?

 

[Ross]

Thanks Ross. Your a life life saver. Would your infrared thermometer be suitable for a full volume mash?

not the best for measuring liquids - just use a cheap digital handheld.

cheers ross

 

[Damian44]

I brought another thermometer from Jaycar and it reads 13C cooler than mine. DOH.
So my last brew i mashed at around 73C. Im just about to bottle it. What can i expect?
Where can i buy a top quality thermometer from?

 

[razE]

Mashmaster one works well $38.50 + postage

http://www.craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=716

 

[Damian44]

Sorry guys i didnt mash at 73C, it was more like 83C. Should i bottle it or toss it?

Im a Biaber razE, the bi-metal might rip my bag. TYVM

 

[buttersd70]

Sorry guys i didnt mash at 73C, it was more like 83C. Should i bottle it or toss it?

Im a Biaber razE, the bi-metal might rip my bag. TYVM

Don't toss it...bottle it. 1040/1020 at 25IBU ends up at 0.85 BV....so instead of a standard bitter, you have a mild. It will be a bit heavy in body, of course, but it should still be a drinkable beer....
edit : although, if it was mashing that high, it might have other issues such as tannins......taste a sample......if it's horribly astringent, then maybe you should toss it. But if it's not, then bottle it.

 

[Damian44]

Thanks butters70, it tastes OK out of the fermenter. Ill carb it up to 3 vol. Hopefully that should hide some of the astringent flavours.

 

[buttersd70]

Thanks butters70, it tastes OK out of the fermenter. Ill carb it up to 3 vol. Hopefully that should hide some of the astringent flavours.

If its not astringent out of the fermenter, then just carb it as normal....1.8-2vol. 3vol would kill this beer, not save it.

 

[Damian44]

Ok ill go for 2 vol. I dont want to use my malt to carb it with. Do you use the same weight of table suger as corn sugar to carb?

 

[buttersd70]

slightly less sucrose than dextrose

link