Punched in the Eye PA

[Richard]

Ok, so time to finally test the spunding valve... Given the demonstrated success in producing a high-ABV IIPA, I came up with this recipe. Hoping the smaller grain bill (for the 4.5 gallon batch) makes for an easier brew day, but we shall see

12lbs Maris Otter
2lbs Vienna
1lb Munich
1lb Carafoam
1lb Caramunich II

2.0oz Magnum 12% - FWH
3.0oz Nugget 13% - 60
1.0oz Crystal 4% - 10
1.0oz Centennial 10.5% - 10
1.0oz Crystal 4% - Flameout.
1.0oz Centennial 10.5% - Flameout.
1.0oz Centennial 10.5% - Dry Hop 1 Week.
2.0oz Crystal 4% - Dry Hop 1 Week.

S-04.

Mash 4.5gal @ 149F, sparge 3.5gal @ 169 - 8 Gallons into mash tun, ~6 into boil kettle after absorbtion, ~5 at end of boil after evaporation, ~4.5 into fermenter avoiding trub. Mash grain:water ratio is somewhat low, so this will end up on the sweeter side, especially considering the yeast. If efficiency is terrible post-sparge I may do a second batch sparge and boil more.

I may tweak this a little... It's supposed to end up somewhere between an IIPA and a barleywine.

[fakr]

when are you planning on making this batch Richard?  I just made your black ipa yesterday, and am using the spunding valve for the first time.  it's hissing away nicely....very very excited to taste the finished product!

[Richard]

Hopefully tomorrow - on a bit of a mission to get all the kegs filled up so I'm actually making use of them rather than just leaving them sitting around... I figure then the pipeline can be re-filled at a less grueling pace

Wanted to have something on-tap at the insane end of the spectrum; with a little luck, this is it.

[Richard]

Measured OG was 1.091, so about 70% efficiency. I got about 4.25 gallons into the keg - hoping that will be enough head-space.

[JohnQ]

4.25 will leave lots of room.
Just make sure that when you rouse the yeast a couple times a day....you TAKE OFF THE SPUNDING VALVE FIRST.
Not that I shall admit to such a Failure, but lets say that the easiest way to get a "few drops" for a refractometer to test gravity might not be the smartest way.

JQ

[fakr]

John, could I not just disconnect the gas fitting attached to the spunding valve, and attach a gas fitting with a picnic tap on it to attain some wort for the refractometer?  I'd obviously have to tip the keg so the gas tube is submerged in wort.
I hope that's a decent procedure as that's what I've planned to do to get SG readings.

btw, refractometers are great!  no more wasting all that beer!

[JohnQ]

I found that if I checked the gravity after shaking it was best. I tried the tip and sample with less success than I expected...seemed getting the thick trub to actually get out of the way didn't work so well for me.  It seemed that the trub was pretty deep and thick, but give it a try and let me know how it goes for you.

JQ

[Richard]

Yeah I'd already realised that you shouldn't move the keg with the valve on, when I charged it to 6PSI to start the process... was about to pick the keg up with the valve attached and then the repeated stories of beer-rammed valves came to mind

I'd have made mistakes if others hadn't made them for me first... I think that's a large part of the club's value


JQ: he was talking about the gas (in) post... the trub would surely be too viscous to move without completely rousing it.

[Richard]

So with the spunding valve and S-04 I noticed some things. The ferment happened so damn fast that I never actually heard hissing, but I maintained 6PSI for the duration - at one point I knocked the valve and it got up to about 10psi, but I'm guessing that didn't hurt things much. I think it's actually still going at this point, but not nearly as aggressively as it would in an atmospheric pressure situation - I took off the valve yesterday when I was moving the keg to crash, and it had built up to 10PSI again where it was sitting. This is a process that will take some getting used to, and you definitely need your gravity readings to be sure - even moreso than usual.

Pity I broke my damn hydrometer when I made this! Where have people been getting their refractometers? I figure I'd like to get one of those instead.

[fakr]

got mine from hopdawgs. that model has auto temp correction which is nice.
only tricky part with the refractometer is you have to use a spreadsheet to calculate the actual SG as alcohol affects the reading.  I still prefer it though.

[Richard]

What is the spreadsheet doing a function of? OG + temperature?

[Kyle]

btw, refractometers are great!  no more wasting all that beer!

Whenever I am re-making a tried and true recipe, I tend to not bother with gravity readings at all.