Batch #19 - IC 5150 Ale

This week's brew is a tribute to a famous craft ale brewed out of Colorado.  The hint of that brew is in this title.  Here is a pic of the nebula IC 5150.

This week's brew session went fantastic.  I feel I have my software dialed in now as I hit all my marks.  This is a lower gravity beer as well, so that probably helped.  Here is the recipe:

Batch Size - 5 gallons

Grains

9 lbs 14.1oz - 2-Row Belgian

1 lbs 3.8 oz - Special B Malt

9.9 oz - Munich Malt

9.9 oz - Crystal 120L

Hops

0.52 oz - Brewer's Gold 10.4 alpha (90 min)

1.41 oz - Saaz 3.1 alpha (45 min)

Yeast

Wyeast 1762 - Belgian Abbey II - Target 223 billion cells

The brew schedule was as follows:

Mash

1.25 q water/lb

90 min at 152 degrees

Mashout to 170 degrees for 10 min

Sparge for approx 1 hour

Boil

90 min boil

Start - Add Brewer's Gold

45 min - Add Saaz

Final 10 min - Add Whirfloc

Fermentation

Primary - 14 Days @ 65

Secondary - 21 Days @ 55

Keg Condition - 21 Days @ 60

Here are the specs on this brew:

IBU's - 

Color - 20.5 SRM

Calories - 193 per 12 oz

Estimated OG - 1.058

Actual OG - 1.059

Estimated FG - 1.013

Estimated ABV - 5.9%

New Estimated ABV from OG - 6.0%

I hit all my numbers on this brew which felt real good.  The only part that didn't go complete to plan is factoring in how much wort evaporates getting the brew pot up to a boil.  I need to figure that part out and include it into my software.  The reason for it being an issue is it reduced the amount of time the starter hops were on.

The next time I brew I also am going to pay close attention to getting gravity readings right at flameout, and then in fermentor.  I sort of tried to do so this time, but got caught up in activities.  I took a reading at flameout and was at around 15 brix which is where I wanted to be.  I later took a reading from some of the wort going into fermenter and it was a higher reading, too high.  I then waiting until the entire wort transferred into carboy and took a gravity reading with my hydrometer which was in line with what I was looking for.  Lesson is next time I am going to really focus on these readings and understand how (if at all) gravity readings change from taking a reading in boil kettle at flameout vs. final chilled wort in carboy.

I am lining up some cool spring/summer brews to get going over the next few weeks.  Getting ready for these cold temps to break!