Community Brew Recipe

[ApexBrewing]

Well I am all done, wort is transfered and yeast is pitched.

I scaled it up to my usual 6 gallons but the 120 minute boil time sort of threw off some of my calculations. I sent too much sparge water through so I had a wasted 2.5 gallons of 1.008-1.010 wort from my final runnings. I sent 10.5 gallons to the kettle thinking I would get somewhere close to 2 gallons an hour boil off and leave some behind with the trub in the bottom. I ended up with 7.5 gallons of wort so I only boiled off 3 gallons.

I guess I could have boiled a little longer since I my OG on transfer to the fermenter was 1.041, about two points lower than I wanted. It was late, I was tired, and the hops were already in for 60 minutes.

I think my problem was really cold temps so my boil may not have been as "VigOrous" as it normally would have been. I could not keep the propane tank warm and up to pressure. When I would shake the tank the burner would pick up and the boil would roll a little harder. I even took to hitting the outside of the propane tank with the mapp gas torch for a few seconds to warm it up. It was cold enough my garden hose froze solid to the chiller so I had to lift the kettle and drag it in side so the hose from my filter could reach the supply side of the chiller and run it off the sink.

I am still dialing things in for a few new parts of my system. I have only used this kettle (converted keg) 4 times and my new mashtun (10 gallon Igloo with manifold) 3 times. I think my efficiency is a little higher than I planned for and my boil off was certainly lower than planned. Regardless I am still thinking good beer!

[Mylo]

I could not keep the propane tank warm and up to pressure. When I would shake the tank the burner would pick up and the boil would roll a little harder. I even took to hitting the outside of the propane tank with the mapp gas torch for a few seconds to warm it up.

DUDE... are you trying out for this year's Darwin Awards? How about a bucket of some good, old fashion hot water? You'll get more even warming, and we won't read about you in the news.


Mylo

[Sent From My iPhone]

Yeah, I read that too and thought "maybe someone's filming this to post on Youtube".

[BadRock]

Hey bad rock I see your using a counter flow chiller now. I have a page for you that a guy made a chiller and used the moving chill water to pull the wort out of the kettle. Here is the link check out the turbo cfc http://suburb.semo.net/jet1024/BeerHome.htm

It's funny you would post that. I looked for a water bed fill kit all weekend. I saw the wort wizards and thought I could make one of those. So, I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks for the great link.

[ApexBrewing]

I could not keep the propane tank warm and up to pressure. When I would shake the tank the burner would pick up and the boil would roll a little harder. I even took to hitting the outside of the propane tank with the mapp gas torch for a few seconds to warm it up.

DUDE... are you trying out for this year's Darwin Awards? How about a bucket of some good, old fashion hot water? You'll get more even warming, and we won't read about you in the news.


Mylo

Actually it is a pretty common thing and perfectly safe. I have done it for more than 10 years to the nitrous oxide tanks in my race cars at the track. They have fancy bottle warmers if you want to spend the money and I have gone that route before but in most cases we just keep a little hand torch on hand to heat the bottle before the run.

It is not like you are trying to make the metal glow. You just quickly pass the flame quickly back and forth across the surface for 20 or 30 seconds. I guess the disclaimer is if you have not seen it done and do not know what you are doing then do not be and idiot and try it.

[Crut]

That still gives me a case of the heebies. I like to blow stuff up, but not my body or setup, due to a possible leaky connection somewhere perhaps. I'll leave this one to the pros, or better yet, do like I did last week and just put it in a three or four inch hot water bath, problem solved.
-Crut

[Mylo]

Actually it is a pretty common thing and perfectly safe. I have done it for more than 10 years to the nitrous oxide tanks in my race cars at the track. They have fancy bottle warmers if you want to spend the money and I have gone that route before but in most cases we just keep a little hand torch on hand to heat the bottle before the run.

I also have a brewing friend who routinely used to carry his (full) carboys by the carboy handle - until I showed him pix of some dude who tried to catch his. The more you speed, the more likely you are to get pulled over. I wouldn't say I am risk adverse, but you just have to weigh the benefit (???) vs. the cost (your life). I just think that just because you have done something risky for 10 years does not mean that you are any less likely to fall prey to some circumstance that could have easily been avoided with a much safer alternative.

[stepping off the soapbox]

Can I have your gear if you "eat the dirt sandwich"?


Mylo

[Crut]

Dibs on his bikes!