Caledonian Malty Frog

[leedsbrew]

All very neat mate! And a visit from the SG fairy! Nice one!

[GrowlingDogBeer]

So what do we think

A 20% increase in mash efficiency, or a minor mathematical failure somewhere along the way.

[Kev888]

Thanks LB - well I'm not complaining at all, just a little surprised..

Steve, I've been checking my weights and volumes; as far as I can tell, the right amount of grain went in then some stronger than expected wort of almost the right brew length came out.. I'm coming to the conclusion that it must be an improvement in efficiency.

Playing with the figures and adjusting for the slightly shorter volume I need about an 88% brew-house/total efficiency to reach this OG. I normally get 'up to' about 80%, so its a bit unlikely but possibly not an impossible increase - it was a reasonably loose mash and I mashed for 90mins instead of my usual 60 but I didn't think that'll make such a difference as I believed conversiopn happened quite quickly.

Could be something to do with the mixing paddle perhaps? I've only used it a few times and they've been on wheat and/or stiffer, higher gravity mashes.. and I did surprise myself with the low gravity of the final runnings - so maybe I got more of the sugars out quicker/better than I'm used to?

Cheers
Kev

[leedsbrew]

think you've just hit the nail on it kev. I found my efficience went through the roof when I got one of those and recirculated the mash with a little solar pump! Team that with the fact you fly sparge and bob's your auntie's live in lover!

[Kev888]

Thats really interesting, I'll have to bear it in mind for the next one in case its becoming the norm..

Cheers
Kev

[Kev888]

Well, three weeks later and its in the cornie(s). The FG was 1.013, which is a bit lower than i wanted; with a reasonably high OG that means a fair attenuation and i was really wanting more residual malty sweetness. It tastes nice and clean but hasn't quite got the maltyness and body i was aiming for - think next time I should probably get my act together and sort out a more suitable yeast!

Cheers
kev

[dave-o]

I'm not too surprised S05 took it lower and drier than intended.

I have found S33 (AKA Edme) likes to finish on a relatively high gravity and can be good for milds and malties. It's been a bit of a bugger to clear on a few occasions though.

[Kev888]

Thats interesting, thanks! I've never tried S33 before.

I'd been intending to use a scottish ale yeast but didn't get a starter sorted in time; I'm not specifically aiming to replicate anything though, so any clean-ish yeast with low attenuation would probably be worth thinking about.

Cheers
kev

[Kev888]

Just a note to say thanks for the recomendations; in spite of my yeast attenuating more than expected it has matured over the last few weeks into a very nice beer, definately got a maltyness too. If I'd used the proper yeast i'm sure it would be even better!

Cheers
Kev