So we're pretty much all in lock down.
Hmm. What to do...
Yea, We'll do that... Stock up.
Been meaning to do that for a while, but normal life is in the way ...
Buy 10x 55lbs of wheat and start malting. Heck that's $110 CDN. Yeast is going for $40 per lb on amazon.
Glad I bought early !
Good deal!
Let's Malt.
I've got this down to a science now ...
bla, bla, bla, 8 days later... Malt is ready for storage.
Germinate, rotate, dry, repeat !
Hmm. No more storage for malt. Time to ferment.
Standard protocol.
Grind malt, load up the mashimizer, bring up 30-ish gals/55lbs to to 148F.
Steep for 1.5hrs more or less.
Bring up to 190F to somewhat pasteurize ...
Keep at 190F for 1/2hr more or less...
Cool down using the mashimizer boiler/cooling jacket to 30C (sorry I convert to Celsius at this point)
Pump in 100% oxygen using a cylinder and porous stone for a couple of minutes. (Ok, around 5 min).
Re-hydrate 1/3 cup of yeast and get ready to pitch ...
Check starting OG with refractometer... 1.085. Sounds good...
Pitch yeast.
Wait 60hrs .. (Been following Smiley's recommendations.) Why Not? We'll try that.
Strip run...
As usual... 93F here we go...
Strip away. 24'ish L at around 35%
Yup.
A regular stripping run.
Ok
Batch 2. Same thing.
Bla bla bla.
Ok.
Batch 3.
60'ish Hrs. Time to strip.
Plug everything in .. Git 'er going.
Flip the controller switch to PID (yea, I use PID for heat-up), setpoint to 85C.
Ok. We're there.
Connect the column (stripper), turn on the water, flip the switch to full power (5500W)
Oh shit! I dozed off,,,
Boiler is at 99C, but there's barely a drip coming off ...
WTF!!!!!
I normally shut down at 99C! Water boils here at 99C??
Still not dripping...
Strange...
I'll let 'er go, 'cause that's what I do.
WTF is going on though? I normally shut down at 99F?
WTF?
Ok. Don't panic. Let 'er go.
Ohhh, a drop..
A few more ...
Hmmm. WTF is going on here ???
Ferment was usual.
Should be getting 24ish L out of this ...
OMG!
Eureka moment !!!
Fuck. I forgot to switch the probes !!!
I use the internal (mash/distil) probes during mash/distil.
... But ...
During fermentation... I have a probe in the water jacket of the mashimizer that keeps the ferment at a cozy 30F.
Fuck, Fuck, Fuck.
(Forgive my French).
FUCK.
I forgot to switch the probe from jacket to internal !!!!
OMG.
94F and we're stripping away as usual.
I feel so much better now.
Note to self: Don't forget to switch the temperature probe from the heating jacket to the mash !
DUMBASS!
Fuck. I forgot to switch the probes !!!
I use the internal (mash/distil) probes during mash/distil.
... But ...
During fermentation... I have a probe in the water jacket of the mashimizer that keeps the ferment at a cozy 30F.
Fuck, Fuck, Fuck.
(Forgive my French).
FUCK.
I forgot to switch the probe from jacket to internal !!!!
OMG.
94F and we're stripping away as usual.
I feel so much better now.
Note to self: Don't forget to switch the temperature probe from the heating jacket to the mash !
DUMBASS!
Moral of the story?
You never have enough experience to fuck up!
Cheers !
