Chocolate stout

[D4nny74]

Hi all , Did a chocolate stout today, and I don’t seem to be hitting my numbers , been hit and miss since I bought grainfather , probably needs tinkering with but am out of ideas , being new to all grain and that , numbers are as follows

Est pre boil gravity 1.050 I got 1.042 - samples were at 20 degrees celcius
Est original gravity 1.057 I got 1.052

Est pre boil volume 28 ltrs I got 27 ltrs

Actually hit 23ltrs to fermentor.
Measured efficiency was 69.6%

Should I mash for 90 mins ?only mashed for 60.


supplies turned up

Starter sorted

Grains smell gtreat

Grainfather mashing.


Any Help Would be great, going mad , cheers all

[sbond10]

Can't help but looks good dude

[FUBAR]

Well if you got near as damn it 70 % mash efficency that is perfectly acceptable, Did notice that in your recipe spreadsheet that you have the mash efficiency set at 81%, that probably explains the lower gravity readings, next time knock it back to 70%.

[D4nny74]

Hi FUBAR , thats what beersmith estimates the efficiency to be, I ve got mine set at 75%,

cheers Danny

[barry44]

That grist looks lovely. Looking forward to you adding the cocoa nibs in secondary.

How are you doing it? Are you soaking them in vodka first?

[D4nny74]

Yeah barry44, then in secondary for 4 /5 days

[Goulders]

Hi FUBAR , thats what beersmith estimates the efficiency to be, I ve got mine set at 75%,

cheers Danny

No you haven't, that is your brewhouse efficiency, which includes loss to hops, deadspaces, boil off etc. You have to set mash efficiency in the equipment profile. I've just posted elsewhere linky on how efficiency is calculated.

G

[D4nny74]

Cheers Goulders

[D4nny74]

youtube video explaining how to change in beersmith.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIoeFuNbDbU

[D4nny74]

just put Cocao nibs into some vodka, ready for sunday, depending on gravity

[barry44]

How much cocoa are you adding Danny?

[D4nny74]

200g

[orlando]

just put Cocao nibs into some vodka, ready for sunday, depending on gravity

You can add these to the boiler, makes life simpler.

[D4nny74]

Cheers orlando

They smell amazing

[orlando]

Cheers orlando

They smell amazing

And taste amazing in the final beer, particularly as they melt into it in the boiler, means you can use less for more effect. Didn't see how much you are using in your recipe, will they stay in the final beer somehow or are they racked off before packaging?