Denny Conn's Bourbon Vanilla Imperial Porter

[neddles]

Denny, have you fiddled around with this to see where you like the mash/kettle pH to fall? Do you agree with the higher 5.4-5.6 mash pH for dark/roasty beers line of thinking? Any guidance WRT pH on this recipe?

[denny]

@neddles

Denny, have you fiddled around with this to see where you like the mash/kettle pH to fall? Do you agree with the higher 5.4-5.6 mash pH for dark/roasty beers line of thinking? Any guidance WRT pH on this recipe?

I haven’t messed with it really.  I just shoot  for 5.4.

[bigv2004]

@69franx

Just a quick thumbs up for that recipe. I made it last year and it was loved by all, have fun with it

Thanks Frank

[bigv2004]

BTW, I hope no-one minds me using the AHA Forums being a Brit LoL!!
I’m loving the North American passion for great beer. I only wish I could brew it

[denny]

@bigv2004

BTW, I hope no-one minds me using the AHA Forums being a Brit LoL!!
I’m loving the North American passion for great beer. I only wish I could brew it

You’re a beer lover…that’s the only nationality we recognize!

[bigv2004]

One last question

With this recipe is it best to steep the specialty grains and mash the pale malt, or mash the lot?

[denny]

@bigv2004

One last question

With this recipe is it best to steep the specialty grains and mash the pale malt, or mash the lot?

I always mash everything, always, and adjust the water to compensate .  Some people might steep the dark grains separately but I think that’s more effort than it’s worth.  Also changes the flavor from what I intended.

[bigv2004]

@denny

@bigv2004

One last question

With this recipe is it best to steep the specialty grains and mash the pale malt, or mash the lot?

I always mash everything, always, and adjust the water to compensate .  Some people might steep the dark grains separately but I think that’s more effort than it’s worth.  Also changes the flavor from what I intended.

Thanks Denny

Do you adjust the PH or the temperature

[denny]

@bigv2004

@denny

@bigv2004

One last question

With this recipe is it best to steep the specialty grains and mash the pale malt, or mash the lot?

I always mash everything, always, and adjust the water to compensate .  Some people might steep the dark grains separately but I think that’s more effort than it’s worth.  Also changes the flavor from what I intended.

Thanks Denny

Do you adjust the PH or the temperature

I adjust pH.  Not sure why you’d need to adjust temp.

[bigv2004]

@toby

@bigv2004

There’s no issue entering in the information, but the recipe doesn’t provide mash / sparge volumes. Are these volumes largely the same for each recipe, or do they differ?
I’ve recently finished a Black IPA brew where I ended up bottling approximately 12 litres (24 bottles).
So If I want to bottle twice this, do I keep the mash volume the same and increase the sparge volume or add water to the fermentation vessel?

Mash/sparge volumes are a function of your equipment, process, batch size, and target profile.  For a Denny porter/stout recipe, I would assume using a single infusion, medium body, batch sparge profile in BeerSmith.  Do you have your equipment profile already in BeerSmith?

Single Infusion, medium body, batch sparge: at least I have that part right
I’ve chosen the pot and cooler (10Gal / 37.8L) which seems about right.
I’ve just this second set up my equipment in Beersmith using a handy YouTube video
Thanks for the hint!!

[toby]

@bigv2004

Single Infusion, medium body, batch sparge: at least I have that part right
I’ve chosen the pot and cooler (10Gal / 37.8L) which seems about right.
I’ve just this second set up my equipment in Beersmith using a handy YouTube video
Thanks for the hint!!

Yeah, once you have your equipment profile set up, it’s a relatively simple matter of telling BeerSmith your target batch size, and the Brew Steps view will get you most of the way there.

[bigv2004]

@toby

@bigv2004

Single Infusion, medium body, batch sparge: at least I have that part right
I’ve chosen the pot and cooler (10Gal / 37.8L) which seems about right.
I’ve just this second set up my equipment in Beersmith using a handy YouTube video
Thanks for the hint!!

Yeah, once you have your equipment profile set up, it’s a relatively simple matter of telling BeerSmith your target batch size, and the Brew Steps view will get you most of the way there.

Thanks Toby
I’m getting closer to understanding what I’m doing with Beersmith.
I purchased the app and didn’t read the instructions

[denny]

IIRC, Beersmith gives you FG estimates.  You should ifnore that’ especially worh this beer.  It should finish in the 1.026-28 range, higher than most people expect.