First SMaSH completed.

SMaSH - Single Malt and Single Hop.
BIAB - Brew in a Bag

Hey all. I decided to do a few SMaSH batches this weekend. Purpose was to try a few base malts and see which I like best and hopefully learn a little bit. I kept the batch size small so the primaries have approximately .85 gallons. I went with BIAB method so I brewed in my kitchen. According to online efficiently calculators I hit 80+% on all 4 batches but I have a feeling Beer Smith will not be that kind. Once I enter them into Beer Smith I will give a better update. I hope to get 8 bottles per batch from this. I’ll bring some to a meeting and let everyone sample and give feedback. I wanted to try Simcoe with this but it appears last years crop was really bad and Simcoe is hard to find at the moment.

Goal was to mash all 4 batches at 152 for 75 minutes but that didn’t work out. BIAB is a little bit different but after doing 4 batches I think I could hit 152 if I did them all again. With my first batch I wrapped my kettle in a sleeping bag and place it an ice chest in hopes of maintaining mash temp. First 20 minutes I stayed at 153 but at the end I was down to 148.5. Next 3 batches I decided to heat my oven to 170 and place my kettle in there. I was able to maintain the mash temp within half of a degree and by batch 4 I was dialed in.

Batch 1 – expected OG 1.047. Actual OG 1.057 mashed at 153.
2 lbs Vienna
.15 oz Cascade at 60.
.35 oz Cascade at 3.
½ pkg Safale 05

Batch 2 – expected OG 1.049. Actual OG 1.062 mashed at 157.5.
2 lbs Maris Otter
.15 oz Cascade at 60.
.35 oz Cascade at 3.
½ pkg Safale 05

Batch 3 – expected OG 1.047. Actual OG 1.051 mashed at 154.
2 lbs American 2 row.
.15 oz Cascade at 60.
.35 oz Cascade at 3.
½ pkg Safale 05


Batch 4 – expected OG 1.048. Actual OG 1.052 mashed at 152.
2 lbs Germ Pilsner
.15 oz Cascade at 60.
.35 oz Cascade at 3.
½ pkg Safale 05

1st post in my first ever blog

Hey everyone.  I live in Sherman, TX and have an interest in homebrewing.  My homebrewing career started in 1994 or 1995 when I was in the military stationed in Anchorage, AK.  I brewed on and off since but until this year I haven’t brewed in probably 5 years.  I jumped back in this year after a friend took me to a homebrew club meeting in March.  Since then I have joined the club and brewed 4 all grain batches.  Interesting part is I have never brewed AG before. 

My purpose for this blog is to keep track of my brew days and brainstorm on new brews or ways of brewing.  So basically anything goes.  Lol.