My ghetto stir plate in action:
Cannibalized computer case fan and some cheap parts from Radio Shack make the stir bar go around. LED light is totally gratuitous.
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I really want to brew a kölsch but I already have a cream ale that is ready to keg, carbonate, and drink. I also have on hand the ingredients to brew another dubbel and I should get around to using those ingredients soon.
But I have my brain set on drinking a kölsch right now.
| Brewing Steps: 2013B06 Enlightened Wit |
| Witbier |
| Type: All Grain | Date: 11/03/2013 |
| Batch Size (fermenter): 5.00 gal |
Brewer: Nick Hansen |
| Boil Size: 7.37 gal | Asst Brewer: |
| Boil Time: 60 min | Equipment: Pot and Cooler (10 Gal/37.8 L) – All Grain |
| Final Bottling Volume: 4.25 gal | Brewhouse Efficiency: 72.00 |
| Fermentation: Ale, Single Stage | Taste Rating(out of 50): 30.0 |
| Taste Notes: | |
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Prepare for Brewing |
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Create a yeast starter with 2.00 qt of wort |
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| Clean and Prepare Brewing Equipment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Water Needed: 9.31 gal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mash or Steep Grains |
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| Batch sparge x2 with 1.75 gal water at 168.0 F | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Boil Wort |
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| Add water to achieve boil volume of 7.37 gal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Estimated pre-boil gravity is 1.042 SG | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Estimated Post Boil Vol: 6.24 gal and Est Post Boil Gravity: 1.051 SG | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Cool and Prepare Fermentation |
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| Cool wort to fermentation temperature | |||||||||||
| Transfer wort to fermenter | |||||||||||
| Add water to achieve final volume of 5.00 gal | |||||||||||
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| Measure Actual Original Gravity 1.051 (Target: 1.051 SG) | |||||||||||
| Measure Actual Batch Volume _5.75 gal (Target: 5.00 gal) | |||||||||||
| Fermentation | |||||||||||
| 11/03/2013 – Primary Fermentation (14.00 days at 67.0 F ending at 67.0 F) | |||||||||||
| Dry Hop and Prepare for Bottling/Kegging | |||||||||||
| Measure Final Gravity: _________ (Estimate: 1.009 SG) | |||||||||||
| Date Bottled/Kegged: 11/17/2013 – Carbonation: Keg with 14.95 PSI | |||||||||||
| Age beer for 30.00 days at 65.0 F | |||||||||||
| 12/17/2013 – Drink and enjoy! | |||||||||||
| Notes | |||||||||||
| * Missed under on protein rest. Target: 122F, Actual: 118.3F * Missed over on sac rest. Target: 148F, Actual: 152.3F * Lauter after mash out stuck, moved on to first batch sparge after adding rmore rice hulls * First batch sparge stuck. Stirred and lautered for another gallon. Stuck again. Added more rice hulls * Second sparge sticky until hole in grain bed formed. Stirred and re-lautered. Slow but consistent. * Total sparge time ~90 minutes |
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Created with BeerSmith |
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Instead of washing yeast, I think this [1] is totally the way to go. Better control up front and gets one step closer to “real” brewery operations. Spreading the $10.99 (retail) cost of a yeast strain across half a dozen brews gets it down into the realm of negligible.
I need to find me a Walter White character to hook me up with all of the lab goodies.
And here’s today’s brew report:
| Brewing Steps: 2013B05 Council Tucky 8 |
| Belgian Dark Strong Ale |
| Type: All Grain | Date: 10/27/2013 |
| Batch Size (fermenter): 5.00 gal |
Brewer: Nick Hansen |
| Boil Size: 6.52 gal | Asst Brewer: |
| Boil Time: 60 min | Equipment: Pot and Cooler ( 5 Gal/19 L) – All Grain |
| Final Bottling Volume: 4.60 gal | Brewhouse Efficiency: 72.00 |
| Fermentation: Ale, Single Stage | Taste Rating(out of 50): 30.0 |
| Taste Notes: | |
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Prepare for Brewing |
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Create a yeast starter with 3.30 qt of wort |
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| Clean and Prepare Brewing Equipment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Water Needed: 8.69 gal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mash or Steep Grains |
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| Batch sparge with 2 steps (0.30gal, 3.39gal) of 168.0 F water | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Boil Wort |
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| Add water to achieve boil volume of 6.52 gal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Estimated pre-boil gravity is 1.082 SG | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Estimated Post Boil Vol: 5.98 gal and Est Post Boil Gravity: 1.093 SG | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Cool and Prepare Fermentation |
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| Cool wort to fermentation temperature | |||||||||||
| Transfer wort to fermenter | |||||||||||
| Add water to achieve final volume of 5.00 gal | |||||||||||
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| Measure Actual Original Gravity 1.085 (Target: 1.093 SG) | |||||||||||
| Measure Actual Batch Volume 5.75 (Target: 5.00 gal) | |||||||||||
| Fermentation | |||||||||||
| 10/27/2013 – Primary Fermentation (14.00 days at 67.0 F ending at 67.0 F) | |||||||||||
| Measure Final Gravity: _________ (Estimate: 1.019 SG) | |||||||||||
| Date Bottled/Kegged: 11/10/2013 – Carbonation: Bottle with 5.56 oz Dry Malt Extract | |||||||||||
| Age beer for 30.00 days at 65.0 F | |||||||||||
| 12/10/2013 – Drink and enjoy! | |||||||||||
| Notes | |||||||||||