Off and running on a rainy brew day - complete with multiple power outages so far
First step was to split my big 1318 starter in thirds, 2 jars to pitch and an over-build to stash.
Next is get the grains grinding and liquor heating. I use a BBQ monitor so I can be elsewhere doing other things while it's heating.
Underletting the strike.
A few minutes later a lifting stir to equalize temps.
Nailed the initial mash temperature!
Power went out right after that shot and is still out.
[edit] So my early-for-me start got set back by a 45 minute outage with the mash dropping to 140°F. It's back to 152°F now and all I can do is start the clock over again. Rats!
[edit2] Finally, mash is done and fly sparge has begun...
Onwards!
[edit3] One cannot double the mash time without some consequence, in this case gaining an extra 3 gravity points, taking the usual 1.057 SG pre-boil to 1.060. I can live with that, though it does show potential I have not been enjoying.
Anyway...as it's raining too hard to take the spent mash next door to the neighbors chickens I dumped it in an old wheeled 20 gallon shop vac barrel in the garage and will take that over when the rain ends.
Back inside, HLT and MLT cleaned and dried, and I'm 2/3s through the boil...
Hopefully no more surprises today...
[edit_last] Weeellll....there's always
something, isn't there?
Once the boil had run its course I dropped my IC in and brought the wort down to 170°F and tossed in the 8 ounces of whirlpool hops.
Once the wort hit pitching temperature is was time to reconfigure the lines and run the wort to the carboys.
Got the expected almost-11-gallons into the carboys and moved to gas them up.
Moved the two carboys to the chamber next to last week's
Julius batch and got them set up for fermentation. Noticed they looked exceptionally bright - and much darker than normal at this stage. Hmmm....
DOH!
That was a first - remembered all the hops but forgot to pitch the yeast! Fortunately it was only a matter of a couple of minutes late but I still feel like a knucklehead
Aaaanyway...aside from that screw-up this brew hit the books up a few OG points over the recipe, but that's fine with me! All's well that ends well!
Cheers!