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Author Topic: first step mash with alt  (Read 1746 times)

Offline Wort-H.O.G.

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first step mash with alt
« on: December 26, 2015, 12:07:37 pm »
did a step mash on alt today. went with 145F at 5.3PH for 30mins, then 158F at 5.45PH for 45 minutes. went pretty well, although first step strike water was hotter than needed, so will adjust down 3F next time.

interesting thing is my efficiency went up significantly. would have been 87-88% and came in at 96%. must admit I wasn't expecting that big a difference.

anyway-thanks for those who provided input before I ventured forward.


edit: seems perhaps increased efficiency is not so abnormal...must be what those of you who step mash experience.
« Last Edit: December 26, 2015, 03:53:44 pm by Wort-H.O.G. »
Ken- Chagrin Falls, OH
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Offline beersk

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Re: first step mash with alt
« Reply #1 on: December 26, 2015, 07:51:00 pm »
I always see a slight bump in efficiency when I do that mash schedule. Did you step with infusion water or direct heat? I use infusion water, but I could definitely see a higher bump in efficiency if using direct heat with the mash being more slowly risen to the hochmash.
Jesse

Offline Wort-H.O.G.

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Re: first step mash with alt
« Reply #2 on: December 26, 2015, 08:15:44 pm »
Water. Same grain I always use, same crush. Only new variable was step.


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Ken- Chagrin Falls, OH
CPT, U.S.Army
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Harveys-Brewhaus/405092862905115

http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Science_of_Mashing

Serving:        In Process:
Vienna IPA          O'Fest
Dort
Mead                 
Cider                         
Ger'merican Blonde
Amber Ale
Next:
Ger Pils
O'Fest

Offline beersk

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Re: first step mash with alt
« Reply #3 on: December 26, 2015, 08:19:12 pm »
Cool. I like the hochkurz step mash, it's super easy; almost as easy as a single infusion, really. I'm guessing the rise in pH came from using untreated infusion water?
Jesse

Offline Wort-H.O.G.

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Re: first step mash with alt
« Reply #4 on: December 27, 2015, 08:30:48 am »
So I added part of salts to 1st infusion of 3.5 gals to hit target  PH. I then withheld salts from second infusion and added baking soda to raise PH and also satisfy my desired sodium ppm. The rest of salts all went into sparge water to hit targeted ppm for entire mash.


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Ken- Chagrin Falls, OH
CPT, U.S.Army
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Harveys-Brewhaus/405092862905115

http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Science_of_Mashing

Serving:        In Process:
Vienna IPA          O'Fest
Dort
Mead                 
Cider                         
Ger'merican Blonde
Amber Ale
Next:
Ger Pils
O'Fest

Offline brewinhard

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Re: first step mash with alt
« Reply #5 on: December 27, 2015, 01:00:25 pm »
I bet if you added a mash-out you might even see a greater bump in efficiency as well.

Offline Wort-H.O.G.

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Re: first step mash with alt
« Reply #6 on: December 27, 2015, 01:03:03 pm »

I bet if you added a mash-out you might even see a greater bump in efficiency as well.

Could be- but I won't complain with 96%!


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Ken- Chagrin Falls, OH
CPT, U.S.Army
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Harveys-Brewhaus/405092862905115

http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Science_of_Mashing

Serving:        In Process:
Vienna IPA          O'Fest
Dort
Mead                 
Cider                         
Ger'merican Blonde
Amber Ale
Next:
Ger Pils
O'Fest

Offline klickitat jim

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Re: first step mash with alt
« Reply #7 on: December 27, 2015, 01:03:50 pm »
I just quick carbed a sample yesterday of my latest Helles Exportbier. The last one was step mashed, this one I added 3% carapils subbed for some base malt (only recipe change) and single infusion at 150. The two beers are different only in malt presence. I think the step mashed one has a better German grainy Graham crackery thing going on, where the carapils single infusion one seems more American. I'll be kegging tomorrow,  and will do a blind T test once Its conditioned.

Offline brewinhard

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Re: first step mash with alt
« Reply #8 on: December 27, 2015, 01:05:10 pm »
I can't imagine even wanting to go higher!  The last few stronger brews I have done, I too have hit a bump increase in my OG, sometimes more than desired for the pitch of yeast I have prepared in advance.  It does kind of suck when expecting a 1.054 OG and hitting a 1.063 instead.  Its not all about alcohol for me.

Offline Wort-H.O.G.

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Re: first step mash with alt
« Reply #9 on: December 27, 2015, 01:21:49 pm »

I can't imagine even wanting to go higher!  The last few stronger brews I have done, I too have hit a bump increase in my OG, sometimes more than desired for the pitch of yeast I have prepared in advance.  It does kind of suck when expecting a 1.054 OG and hitting a 1.063 instead.  Its not all about alcohol for me.

I just added water to boil to drop it back to 1.052....worse problems to have!


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Ken- Chagrin Falls, OH
CPT, U.S.Army
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Harveys-Brewhaus/405092862905115

http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Science_of_Mashing

Serving:        In Process:
Vienna IPA          O'Fest
Dort
Mead                 
Cider                         
Ger'merican Blonde
Amber Ale
Next:
Ger Pils
O'Fest