GrainFather Brew Day #21 - Citra A(I)PA

[DoctorMick]

So, the plan for tonight was to brew an American Pale Ale using Citra with the only addition being steeped at the end. I'm still mid brew but things aren't going as I'd expect so I thought I'd post this and see how it progresses. The recipe was planned as:

Recipe: Citra APA
Style: American Pale Ale
TYPE: All Grain

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size (fermenter): 23.00 l
Estimated OG: 1.052 SG
Estimated FG: 1.010 SG
Estimated ABV: 5.4 %
Estimated Color: 16.3 EBC
Estimated IBU: 41.5 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 73.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 80.9 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
5.00 kg Pale Malt (2 Row) UK (5.9 EBC) Grain 1 90.9 %
0.28 kg Caramalt (Simpsons) (69.0 EBC) Grain 2 5.1 %
0.22 kg Caramunich Malt (110.3 EBC) Grain 3 4.0 %
100.00 g Citra [13.50 %] - Steep/Whirlpool Hop 4 41.5 IBUs
1.0 pkg California Ale (White Labs #WLP00 Yeast 5 -


Mash:
-----
Name Description Step Temper Step Time
Mash In Add 21.34 l of water at 72.6 C 66.0 C 60 min

I had a bit of difficulty at the start, firstly I was late leaving work so I was a bit behind to start with. As it's bloomin cold and I'm brewing in a detached garage I thought I'd put the oil filled radiator on to try and warm things up. Midway through measuring out the grains the power went off, turns out I'd blown the double plug that ALL of the electrics in the garage go thru! Sorted it soon enough and carried out weighing the grains.

Fast forward over an hour...because of the efficiency problems I've been having with my previous brews I kept an eye on the wort that was bring recirculated during the mash to make sure conversion was complete and it was clear after about 45 minutes but I let it run to the hour anyway. Sparge went a bit better than usual but still quicker than I'm used to so I took a sample of the wort to check the preboil gravity. Once the sample had cooled I took a gravity reading...1.062!!!! I was expecting 1.047! Now, one of two things has happened here, I've either added an extra 1kg of grains when the electrics went and hit a really good efficiency (probable) or I managed to lose count completely and add an extra 2kg of grains and had reasonable efficiency. Mind, I could have just cocked up my pre boil reading but I'm not sure how that would have been possible. Either way, I'm now replanning my recipe so the balance isn't all out of whack, I'm just going to steep the hops for longer. Looking at my OG the recipe could well end up at 7.5%, a bit over what I'd planned.

 

[DoctorMick]

Just weighted the remaining grains and there are 20kg left so I've used the right amount, I'm very puzzled! I'll take another reading as soon as the boil is done and while the hops are steeping, I can only assume the pre boil was wrong somehow.

 

[TheRedDarren]

That's an odd one, I'd go for re checking the pre boil gravity if poss? If not double check post boil as you say.
Maybe order another 100g of Citra for a dry hop if it has come out at 1.062+ (I'm guessing about 1.070ish post boil) Then you've got yourself a real nice (D)IPA a la Cloudwater there matey, I reckon that will be a real beauty.

 

[DoctorMick]

Post boil was 1.048!!!! No idea what went on with the pre boil. I've added 325g SME to try and get to the target gravity, probably should have calculated it but it was on hand so chucked it in. :lol: Thankfully I took the post boil straight away so didn't do a mega long steep otherwise it would have came out waaaaaay too bitter.

 

[DoctorMick]

After chucking in the SME I managed to get 1.050. I can't describe how infuriating this is, it's god to the point where I've stopped enjoying brew days because of if.

 

[markm1878]

Could your water have changed source? Perhaps if your water was higher alkalinity than before your mash pH could be too high - i'm sure I read a while ago that this can reduce mash efficiency.

Perhaps a long shot but im not sure how the equipment could be at fault if it's recirculating well enough unless the temp was out so its either that or the malt crush (or a bad batch released by the maltster if your pale malt is by the same brand. I know one maltster had to reimburse a load of breweries a while ago after they had loads of complaints about poor efficiency).

Hope you get it sorted.

Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk

 

[DoctorMick]

Could your water have changed source? Perhaps if your water was higher alkalinity than before your mash pH could be too high - i'm sure I read a while ago that this can reduce mash efficiency.

Perhaps a long shot but im not sure how the equipment could be at fault if it's recirculating well enough unless the temp was out so its either that or the malt crush (or a bad batch released by the maltster if your pale malt is by the same brand. I know one maltster had to reimburse a load of breweries a while ago after they had loads of complaints about poor efficiency).

Hope you get it sorted.

Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk

I moved fairly recently altho the problem started before then. As it happens, last night was the first time I have treated my water so I was hoping that would have helped but it hasn't, not significantly anyway. Each time I've undershot the gravity the sparge has went much quicker than I expected so, as you've said, I don't see how that could be anything to do with the machine. I think I'll increase the grain bill by 10% (using extra base malt) until I run down my grains and then try ordering from a different supplier. I still intend to order a mill which will hopefully help but that won't be until the new year.

On a positive note, the wort smells absolutely amazing, better than anything else I've brewed at this stage so assuming I've managed to get enough bitterness out of the steep it could still turn out to be a smashing brew.

 

[DoctorMick]

Just realised I forgot to use a campden tablet...of all the stupid mistakes to make!

 

[yeastinfection]

When and why use a campden tablet in your brew please?

 

[DoctorMick]

When and why use a campden tablet in your brew please?

At the start to remove chlorine/chloramine from the water.

 

[DoctorMick]

Took a sample last night and the hop steep seems to have added a reasonable level of bitterness and loads more flavour than a typical hop schedule. There is plenty of aroma as well considering it hasn't been dry hopped.

 

[DoctorMick]

Bottled last night and I'm really pleased with the flavour and aroma from the steep, could probably do with a bit more bitterness so I'll employ a longer steep next time I think but I think I'm sold on the method.

 

[Joeyriles]

I just read all of this with a green face. I really want a Grainfather but, alas, the coffers are bare.

Would you say it makes the brewday more or less enjoyable? Not that I'm suggesting you're blowing the electrics for a bit of excitement...

 

[DoctorMick]

I just read all of this with a green face. I really want a Grainfather but, alas, the coffers are bare.

Would you say it makes the brewday more or less enjoyable? Not that I'm suggesting you're blowing the electrics for a bit of excitement...

Difficult to say really as my only previous AG brews were stove top. It is a piece of cake to use tho.