My First AG mash!!

[biggybigz]

Greetings fellow HD addicts,

I've been at this now for a little of over two years making sugar heads like UJSM (along with my own variations like corn, sweet feed and oats) with an ABV of 10% & bakers or Dady. I have become extremely comfortable with processes so it was time to step out of the zone and make myself nervous.

I just completed my first Booners casual corn. Thanks to enzymash, HD folk, and this recipe, it was super easy! On my first round I achieved 1.055 with a 10 gal mashing. I'll take that considering it was my first. Seems as if a lot of folks struggle with their first go at AG mashes so I'm tole. I used 2lb of pulverized corn per gallon. I know there was prolly a lil more conversion to be had but I am excited. I finished everything up this morning and she is now starting to work that heavenly rice crispy sound that we all love.

I plan on incorporating Jimbo's gumbball style recipe to this once completed as US-05 is not the cheapest. I am a cheap bastard. 50# of pulverized corn at my local feed store is $7.89. Local brew shop is at $3.95/packet on US-05. Using two packs for 10gal wash. Throw in 16lb of sugar and wallah. Y'all know the shuffle and routine.

I really appreciate all the help along the way. This group of folk is such a great resource. I can't give back the kind of knowledge and experience that some of you have given me. How can I make a donation to HD?

[GrassHopper]

Congrats on your first attempt at AG. I just finished doing my first AG Booners as well. Came out nice with safale 05 for yeast.
You can donate by clicking on the Donate button at the very bottom of this page, or any page.

[der wo]

So you mashed 20lbs corn to all in all 10gal?

This should result in 1.068. Did you gelatinize?

[biggybigz]

So you mashed 20lbs corn to all in all 10gal?

This should result in 1.068. Did you gelatinize?

I did the best I could with maintaining heat.

Hopefully this pic comes through. I boiled water in my milk can with element and drained into fermenter. Wrapped it up with sleeping bag, covered it with lid and set an old pillow on top of the lid. After 1.5 hours I came out and stirred it really well. Took temp measurement at 175. Came back out and stirred again an 1.5 hour later took temp at 166.5. Three hours lost 9 degrees.

I do not have a big ass pot to cook and maintain temp in with propane so this is my only option for now.

[der wo]

OK.
Good, that you did not try it with cracked corn...

[biggybigz]

Congrats on your first attempt at AG. I just finished doing my first AG Booners as well. Came out nice with safale 05 for yeast.
You can donate by clicking on the Donate button at the very bottom of this page, or any page.

I use the tapatalk app. I guess I should go to the parent site.

[GrassHopper]

Congrats on your first attempt at AG. I just finished doing my first AG Booners as well. Came out nice with safale 05 for yeast.
You can donate by clicking on the Donate button at the very bottom of this page, or any page.

I use the tapatalk app. I guess I should go to the parent site.

You guys will all those fancy smancy phones. Jeeeze
Parent site prolly won't get it done either. Just hangon, someone will stop by to tell you how to do it. There are a few
others here on disability.

[biggybigz]

OK.
Good, that you did not try it with cracked corn...

I read somewhere where Jimbo states if using cracked corn use 3lbs per gallon. Corn Meal at 2lb. I'm blessed with the pulverized corn from my local feed store.

I started a second 10 gallon batch this morning. GL enzyme has been working for 3 hrs and I am getting a 1.065 reading on my refractometer. A little better reading than my first batch.

[Swedish Pride]

did you adjust the PH with backset, the lads in the know say it makes a big difference for the second enzyme.

Yep them enzymes rock, makes it easier for fools like me to make AG

[der wo]

I started a second 10 gallon batch this morning. GL enzyme has been working for 3 hrs and I am getting a 1.065 reading on my refractometer. A little better reading than my first batch.

Same recipe? 2lbs and 10gal? Then it is perfect! Did you do anything different?

[biggybigz]

I started a second 10 gallon batch this morning. GL enzyme has been working for 3 hrs and I am getting a 1.065 reading on my refractometer. A little better reading than my first batch.

Same recipe? 2lbs and 10gal? Then it is perfect! Did you do anything different?

With the recipe, no. I did change my process a little. I got excited on the first batch and wrapped everything up to insulate AFTER I was done blending and mixing and taking OG. On the second batch I wrapped everything up BEFORE I put my boiling water in the fermenter. I also got it off the chilled concrete floor by putting some blankets underneath the fermentation vessel. I think by changing that process a little bit, it retained more heat gelling the corn a little better.


The first batch has a super thick cap on it this morning.

[der wo]

So you gelatinized the corn a bit hotter. Sounds good.

[biggybigz]

So you gelatinized the corn a bit hotter. Sounds good.

Just thinking out loud, wondering about letting it stay thick for an hour or so before adding high temp enzyme. Thicker sludge will stay hotter than a thinned soup??? Kick me if I am wrong here. Think it would work?

[der wo]

Thicker sludge will stay hotter than a thinned soup???

I don't think it makes a difference. How should a thin mash loose the heat faster?

[biggybigz]

Thicker sludge will stay hotter than a thinned soup???

I don't think it makes a difference. How should a thin mash loose the heat faster?

Viscosity versus evaporation? Would a thicker liquid evaporate less? A thinner liquid may steam and evaporate more? I dont know shit about this. My gears are turning.

[der wo]

Thicker sludge will stay hotter than a thinned soup???

I don't think it makes a difference. How should a thin mash loose the heat faster?

Viscosity versus evaporation? Would a thicker liquid evaporate less? A thinner liquid may steam and evaporate more? I dont know shit about this. My gears are turning.

Evaporate where? I thought your fermenter was closed?
Whatever. Don't forget to take a FG reading.

[biggybigz]

Thicker sludge will stay hotter than a thinned soup???

I don't think it makes a difference. How should a thin mash loose the heat faster?

Viscosity versus evaporation? Would a thicker liquid evaporate less? A thinner liquid may steam and evaporate more? I dont know shit about this. My gears are turning.

Evaporate where? I thought your fermenter was closed?
Whatever. Don't forget to take a FG reading.

It is closed. But I have to open it to agitate and stir. Went too deep didn't I. Haha. Thanks for all the help.