2-day Brew Day

monsterelf · Joined: 17 May 2017 Posts: 15 Location: Williamston, MI

Hi all,
Wondering if anyone here has split up their brew day into two days. I've seen/heard a lot of different opinions on it and wondering if anyone's used their setup to do it. Specifically interested in mashing and sparging in the late evening, then doing the boil and everything else the following morning. Anyone ever done this? Do you boil the wort for a few minutes first and let it sit? Do you use the control panel to keep the wort at a certain temp overnight?
Curious as to whether anyone is doing this at all

McGruber · Joined: 12 Aug 2014 Posts: 237 Location: Idaho

I've only ever done that for kettle souring, and I've let it sit for a couple days. I do boil it for 15 minutes first and then cool to about 110'F. Then I pitch lactobacillus and let it sour for a few days. I've left my panel on and set a 110' F, but I've had problems with the temp sensor in the wall of the kettle not registering the correct temperature and the temp has regularly overshot my target. I have not circulated the wort because I didn't want lacto in my pump and hoses, but overshooting temp isn't good for the bacteria. You might want to circulate continuously.

For your application I personally think it would be doable, but not really ideal. You would definitely want to boil it first, and if you could keep the wort around 140'F (pasteurization temp) overnight you'd probably avoid any contamination from bacteria or wild yeast. You will have more Maillard reactions though, so your beer will likely be a little darker in color than you're shooting for. You might have some extra evaporative loss even with the lid on, and theres potential for increased rate of oxidation. None of these are a huge deal though, so if it works for your schedule - give it a go.

silverspoons · Joined: 21 Dec 2010 Posts: 555 Location: Webster NY

I've done it many times because getting 5 hours in one day can be tough. I mash and sparge to the boil kettle on day one, put a lid onfor the night then boil and into the fermenter on day two..

never had any issues

Silverspoons

monsterelf · Joined: 17 May 2017 Posts: 15 Location: Williamston, MI

Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, between work and two kids under the age of three, it's hard to carve out 5, 6, 7 hours for a full brew day. I'll give it a go!
Thanks!

**kal** · Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2017 12:47 am Post subject: