Styrian Fest 07/10/2007

[Vossy1]

Well what a mare If ever there was a brew day to put you off for life then this was it Just finished, that last batch took forever.
Things started to go pear shaped on the first batch when the runnings collecting vessel's element decided it was going to trip all the time...I didn't even know it could . So my runnings were at 63 deg c when they got pumped to the copper.
It was taking forever for the wort to boil, I suspected an element wasn't working so I had a look at them. The one powered by the pid was fine, the element powered by my power controller wasn't. I thought oh no not again, but decided to try a different element lead and the element came back to life. Great but not great
So that was batch 1 out of the way, time for batch 2. I cleaned the rcv element before this batch so everything was hunky dory to this point.
I then pumped to the copper and started heating. Again it was taking forever and then an annoying clicking sound started in the background

I had no choice but to pump the copper empty and clean the offending element and then repump the runnings back to the copper

So 2 failed elements and a knackered power controller...not a good day....

however, I still have 20 gallons of beer fermenting away, so all is far from lost

Today for the first time in a while I pumped straight from the copper to the fv without recircing back to the copper. As a result all the cold break got carried over but my cooling time was cut to 25 min for a 10 gallon batch v the 1hr plus I'd been suffering by recircing.

I also found I hadn't read the Ph 5.2 instructions properly on previous brews. I'd been using a teaspoon instead of a tablespoon per 5 gallons
As a direct result of using the correct amount of Ph 5.2 my efficiency seems to have shot up, I'll confirm this shortly

[Vossy1]

I've just checked my brix reading using Beersmith and my efficiency has increased...dramatically, my recipe was based on 70 %.

I took readings for the 1st runnings, second runnings, combined pre boil and post boil. For the Market best bitter these work out as

1 = 1065, 2 = 1021, com pb = 1043, post boil = OG 1050, target 1040.

The results are almost identical for the Styrain Stunner, OG 1050

Some photo's...well.... you didn't think I'd forgotten...did you Wez

I was testing my thermometers again today. All the probes were at the same position in the mash tun...yet look at the readings.





The left hand one is way out. This is the thermometer supplied my Thermometers Direct and it's the one with the curved steel probe.

Lovely coloured runnings on the Market Best Bitter



Nice hot break



Look at the difference in colour between a foil packet hop and the Charles Faram hops The yellowish hop is from the foil packet



The different runnings, from left 1st batch sparge, 2nd, combined pre boil and post boil



The finished worts showing the difference in colour



Cold break in the fv's after 30 minutes.

[Andy]

The thermometer on the left is probably b*ggered. Don't think any of the "budget" thermometers with a remote probe sold by Thermometers Direct are "waterproof" enough for probe immersion. I knackered two and then bought a Hanna thermometer off the bay which has been perfect (actually bought three of them )

[Vossy1]

The thing is Andy, it wasn't submerged past the probe. I forgot to mention that Digi Tech is also now knackered
I put it in the copper during the boil to monitor the temps and the white housing sheath the probe sits in is all deformed. It now reads 58 deg c at rt

I seriously need a accurate thermometer. I have 2 alocohol thermometers also, one reads 103 deg c with boiling water, the other 97.
The thing is the 103 deg c one is accurate at lower temps

I've been trolling the net for one but they seem to come in at £40+.
Is the Hanna any good?

The Oregon pictured is brilliant. We used them in our temp controlled stores for monitoring...shame they don't read pre decimal point or plus 75 deg c

[eskimobob]

I've been trolling the net for one but they seem to come in at £40+.
Is the Hanna any good?

Speaking as someone who used to design products for a company that rivals Hanna, they are not that "good" - but they are pretty cheap and and are probably adequate for what you need.

If you want precision then I ought to come over some time with a good sensor and data logger. Would be good to see the V-Brewery

[Vossy1]

If you want precision then I ought to come over some time with a good sensor and data logger. Would be good to see the V-Brewery

Cheers for the offer EB, the visit is well overdue.....sorry
I'm hoping to have all the niggles sorted before embarrassing myself in front of a master brewer

Just got to get my cfc back into place, and not leaking and then I should be ready

[Vossy1]

I want to check my efficiency for these recipes as it seems to have shot up.

I know how to calculate efficiency the old fashioned way but can't find a data sheet for the various grains and extractions. Does anyone know where I can find one?

Alternatively, does Promash or Beersmith have it as a tool ?

I have both but can't find an efficiency calc other than on the recipe sheets

[eskimobob]

I'm hoping to have all the niggles sorted before embarrassing myself in front of a master brewer

Never fear in that regard, the only brew I have mastered is a cup of tea

[Vossy1]

White no sugar please

Can you help on the efficiency post above DaaB.....pretty please

[mixbrewery]

You DoubleBrew heros!

Don't think I could manage that yet - need more single brews to make sure i'm happy with the way my system works.

Might just have to do a 75lt batch of a good quaffling ale

[Vossy1]

Might just have to do a 75lt batch of a good quaffling ale

Poser

[bandit]

Beersmith has an excellent efficiency calculator. You have to know all ingredients and water volumes in mash sparge etc but after a few brews have been logged in it and you start monitoring more carefully it does produce accurate readings. My efficiency have been 73% for the last 3 and 76 on the last one. I aim to use slightly less water next time and hit 19 litres exactly with an efficency of 76 - 78 %

[bandit]

Market Best Bitter...46 ltr batch

Ingredients Amount Item Type % or IBU
9.22 kg Pale Malt, Maris Otter (9.9 EBC) Grain 94.9 %
0.50 kg Crystal Malt (5.9 EBC) Grain 5.1 %
216.00 gm Styrian Goldings [3.00%] (90 min) Hops 27.7 IBU
78.00 gm Styrian Goldings [3.00%] (10 min) Hops -

Beer Profile Estimated Original Gravity: 1.049 SG (1.046-1.065 SG) Measured Original Gravity: 1.040 SG
Estimated Final Gravity: 1.013 SG (1.011-1.020 SG) Measured Final Gravity: 1.009 SG
Estimated Color: 12.9 EBC (11.8-27.6 EBC) Color [Color]
Bitterness: 27.7 IBU (30.0-65.0 IBU) Alpha Acid Units: 1.9 AAU
Estimated Alcohol by Volume: 4.7 % (4.4-6.2 %) Actual Alcohol by Volume: 4.0 %

The effeciency was 60.1%

To hit beer profile with 60% effeciency you should up the quantities to

Ingredients Amount Item Type % or IBU
10.80 kg Pale Malt, Maris Otter (9.9 EBC) Grain 95.6 %
0.50 kg Crystal Malt (5.9 EBC) Grain 4.4 %
233.50 gm Styrian Goldings [3.00%] (90 min) Hops 30.0 IBU
78.00 gm Styrian Goldings [3.00%] (10 min) Hops -

Beer Profile Estimated Original Gravity: 1.046 SG (1.046-1.065 SG) Measured Original Gravity: 1.046 SG
Estimated Final Gravity: 1.012 SG (1.011-1.020 SG) Measured Final Gravity: 1.012 SG
Estimated Color: 14.4 EBC (11.8-27.6 EBC) Color [Color]
Bitterness: 30.0 IBU (30.0-65.0 IBU) Alpha Acid Units: 2.0 AAU
Estimated Alcohol by Volume: 4.5 % (4.4-6.2 %) Actual Alcohol by Volume: 4.4 %

I'm with you for adding more styrian at flame out to lock in that rich aroma

[bandit]

Styrian Stunner 46Ltr Batch

Beersmith says

Ingredients Amount Item Type % or IBU
9.78 kg Pale Malt, Maris Otter (9.9 EBC) Grain 100.0 %
119.00 gm Styrian Goldings [3.00%] (90 min) Hops 17.3 IBU
56.00 gm Styrian Goldings [3.00%] (15 min) Hops 0.8 IBU

Beer Profile Estimated Original Gravity: 1.049 SG (1.046-1.065 SG) Measured Original Gravity: 1.040 SG
Estimated Final Gravity: 1.013 SG (1.011-1.020 SG) Measured Final Gravity: 1.009 SG
Estimated Color: 13.2 EBC (11.8-27.6 EBC) Color [Color]
Bitterness: 18.1 IBU (30.0-65.0 IBU) Alpha Acid Units: 1.5 AAU
Estimated Alcohol by Volume: 4.7 % (4.4-6.2 %) Actual Alcohol by Volume: 4.0 %

Efficiency 59.4%

Having run the figures through beersmith again you would need these ingredients to hit beer profile for 59% effeciency

Ingredients Amount Item Type % or IBU
11.50 kg Pale Malt, Maris Otter (9.9 EBC) Grain 100.0 %
207.00 gm Styrian Goldings [3.00%] (90 min) Hops 29.2 IBU
56.00 gm Styrian Goldings [3.00%] (15 min) Hops 0.8 IBU

Beer Profile Estimated Original Gravity: 1.047 SG (1.046-1.065 SG) Measured Original Gravity: 1.047 SG
Estimated Final Gravity: 1.012 SG (1.011-1.020 SG) Measured Final Gravity: 1.012 SG
Estimated Color: 14.7 EBC (11.8-27.6 EBC) Color [Color]
Bitterness: 30.0 IBU (30.0-65.0 IBU) Alpha Acid Units: 2.3 AAU
Estimated Alcohol by Volume: 4.5 % (4.4-6.2 %) Actual Alcohol by Volume: 4.6 %

Obviously more Styrian would be needed at 15 mins to get the hop aroma over the bitterness

[Vossy1]

Hi Bandit, thanks for the hard work but....

I used Beersmith to scale the recipe up ingredient wise from 75% (M Ollossons books standard efficiency) to 70% for my batch sparging technique.

The target OG for both recipes was 1040 but I got 1050.

I'm all confused now ...nothing new there then