First, hot brake, do i have to wait for it to start throwing hops at the wort? Sometimes it take more than 5 - 20 min like i read, at least in my short experience and im losing more water do to the boil. 2nd, last weekend i was brewing and aiming for 1.046 EG, preboil was already 1.047 EG, what can i do there? Add more water? But how much? Check my efficiency because i think i was like way below with my calculations, but thats for later, in this scenario, 1.047 preboil, is there any formula or something i can use to know how much water should i add to land on my FG 1.046 after boil? And last but not least, i was making a blonde ale, for competition, but it will end up with more than 5.5% ABV, so is not a blonde according to BJCP 2015, it will end with 6.5 o 6.8%, if its not a blonde then how do i call this beer? Imperial blonde? Lol i really dont know, it was a blonde recipe, the only thing i missed was the ABV. Tx and happy new year all.
You can throw your hops in anytime, honestly. I typically throw my bittering addition in before it even comes to a boil (as I transfer wort from mash tun to kettle), also known as “first wort hopping’. No need to wait for any hot break, that just occurs on its own and will eventually drop out. Sounds like your efficiency was higher than you expected, resulting in higher gravity. Typically, you would adjust your brewhouse efficiency or mash efficiency if using software tools. As you seem to be aware of, already. For dilution, here is a tool… As you didn’t post your volume, I can’t tell you exactly by how much. But here you go: https://www.brewersfriend.com/dilution-and-boiloff-gravity-calculator/ - It will advise how much water to add to reduce the OG. Not sure about the name for competition, I don’t do those so someone else will have to chime in there.
Judges don't know the ABV of your entry. If it tastes like a Blonde Ale, and if there are no hot alcohol notes, I would recommend entering it as a Blonde Ale.
Throw the bittering hops in the beginning whenever. Just as long as you dont boil over and spew them out. For your efficiency I would calculate the efficiency you actually got and use that next time, probably using less grain. If you come out low next time bump it back up ant try try again. I do not think I would do a dilution unless I really fucked up and ended up with a 1.160 or some such nonsense. Only thing would concern me is the pitching rate, but it does not seem you will be far off enough to worry about it. Competition I do not know much about. My advice is to enter it and let it ride and go have a good time.
That's inspiration my friend. To hell with the brut IPA fad (is it a fad?) My pool-side picnic homebrew this coming summer is going to be a 7 percent blonde called Top Heavy Blonde. Unless someone patents that one. Cheers!
Thanks a lot for your replies, ill take your advices into consideration, ill try the beer abd if it doesnt have alcohol notes ill go for the competition. Gonna recheck my efficiency and my whole setup. Thanks for the volumes tool, is really handy for me right now. I prefer BIAB, i think i have more efficiency with this method and sometimes i brew alone and feel small volumes is better for me. Happy new year and ill update when i have the beer ready. Thanks again.
