Good brew day today with most numbers either hit or very close to. Chilling took a little longer as I wanted to get it down as low as possible and still ended up with the FV in the fridge, bringing it down from 18℃ to 13℃ before pitching a somewhat limp looking starter.
Brew Day Notes
0730 Mash rest done, first stir. Core temp is only 64 (tank 66) so raising heater power limit to 60% for mash mode from now on. Will start timers when core reaches prescribed 68℃.
0745 Trackers on. Flowing really well, no need for rice hulls here. Manifold performing magnificently.
0900 About to sparge. Levels 24.75 litres with malt pipe, SG 1.061 (1.045 @ 61℃).
0950 Sparge done, malt pipe cleaned, going for boil. SG 1.048 (1.025 @ 72℃) against expected 1.043, 27.5 litres against expected 28.86. Will decide later if topping up FV or enjoying higher percentage, currently tracking 5.6% ABV.
1000 60 minute additions in.
1045 25 minutes left to run, cutting in chiller now and pausing timer while temperature gets up to speed again. Measurements before cut-in are 26 litres and 1.053 (1.022 @ 84℃) against predicted 1.047 / 26.63. Hmm. Maybe not so shabby at all, less lossy than expected.
1055 Using 44g of Saaz instead of 35g for the 15 minute stage as this finishes the bag which was BBE Aug 2024. Don’t like using Ployclar and 13g of it looks very iffy on my small scales. Will definitely cold-crash that crap out.
1155 Starting chill. I’ve taken the starter out of the fridge where it’s been at 13.5℃ so chilling the wort down to anywhere near that may take time. May just have to put the FV in the fridge and pitch my starter later on today.
1215 Return temp is about 18℃ with pumps at 15%, tank 32℃. Will start transfer now.
1325 Clean-up finished.