Hi all
i have now brewed three, all grain, batches of beer using Beersmith as my software of choice. I thought I knew what I was doing but I have noticed that all of my brews so far have ended up being much weaker, in terms of the final ABV, than projected by the recipes (I have only used recipes from Beersmith).
Having spent a little time fiddling about with the application, I have noticed a few things that I just don't understand. Here's a couple of observations:
1. I set up my equipment profile (i'm using two 36 litre converted kegs for my boiler and one for my mashtun and a large pot for the lauter bin). I notice that when I apply my profile to a recipe, it lowers the projected ABV. I also note that if I modify the batch volume size, this also affects the projected ABV. Should I keep the batch volume of the original recipe rather than use the batch volume I want to go for with my equipment (I would normally aim for 25 litres into the fermentation vessel)?
2. I also note that the brewhouse efficiency also changes the ABV which makes sense to me. Clearly the less efficient the brewhouse, the less sugar one can extract from the grain. My efficiency is set at about 62% currently but I made this calculation based upon the last few brews, which as I said above, has used the profile to produce 25litres of beer.
3. Can I check that the volumes one adds to one's equipment profile for the Mash Tun Volume = the maximum volume your mash tun can take (mine is currently 36litres)
Is this me simply being an idiot and not "scaling the recipe" for my equipment profile? I fear it may be! I think my process to date has been to load a recipe and then select my equipment profile from the equipment drop down on the design tab.
Apologies for the rambling nature of this post. Thanks for reading, if you made it this far!
Any advice, comments, abuse welcome!
Simon
i have now brewed three, all grain, batches of beer using Beersmith as my software of choice. I thought I knew what I was doing but I have noticed that all of my brews so far have ended up being much weaker, in terms of the final ABV, than projected by the recipes (I have only used recipes from Beersmith).
Having spent a little time fiddling about with the application, I have noticed a few things that I just don't understand. Here's a couple of observations:
1. I set up my equipment profile (i'm using two 36 litre converted kegs for my boiler and one for my mashtun and a large pot for the lauter bin). I notice that when I apply my profile to a recipe, it lowers the projected ABV. I also note that if I modify the batch volume size, this also affects the projected ABV. Should I keep the batch volume of the original recipe rather than use the batch volume I want to go for with my equipment (I would normally aim for 25 litres into the fermentation vessel)?
2. I also note that the brewhouse efficiency also changes the ABV which makes sense to me. Clearly the less efficient the brewhouse, the less sugar one can extract from the grain. My efficiency is set at about 62% currently but I made this calculation based upon the last few brews, which as I said above, has used the profile to produce 25litres of beer.
3. Can I check that the volumes one adds to one's equipment profile for the Mash Tun Volume = the maximum volume your mash tun can take (mine is currently 36litres)
Is this me simply being an idiot and not "scaling the recipe" for my equipment profile? I fear it may be! I think my process to date has been to load a recipe and then select my equipment profile from the equipment drop down on the design tab.
Apologies for the rambling nature of this post. Thanks for reading, if you made it this far!
Any advice, comments, abuse welcome!
Simon