I screwed up a 'decoction' brew

[bigvalen]

So, either I screwed up, or BeerSmith screwed up, or both.

I was trying an imperial stout, but was using Beersmith to help me do a recipe, rather than completely doing it on my own. Someone mentioned a 'decoction mash' was a good idea for strong stouts, so I gave it a go.

I didn't realise that it was telling me to use 39 liters of water + 8.5kg of grain for a 24l boil...until I was pouring in the second batch of water for the saccirification step, and then realised my 40l mash tun was going to overflow. So, I was left stuck  with a mash that was 60C and no way to get it to 69C. It's now in the bin, and I'm in a rage.

Any idea what could have happened ? Have I misunderstood a decoction mash ? Was there anything I could have done to save the brew ?

[armedcor]

Was your equipment profile correct?? There shouldnt be any way beersmith would use too much water etc if it has the correct mashtun capacity etc.

[armedcor]

Also with decoction mash you remove portions of the mash and boil the grain and liquid and add it back in to reach the next mash temp not add extra water.

[nigel_c]

Sounds very harsh. You could have pulled and decorations and heated and held. Drain the mash into another bucket and add the heated mash back. Repeat till you got to the temp you wanted.

[armedcor]

Ignore my first comment. I just replicated your reciepe on my beersmith. On the mash page it will tell you how big a mash tun you need and it is a over what your mash tun can hold.

Also were you doing a decoction mash or infusion? Because the recipe you linked has infusion on it.

[Oh Crap]

Not sure if I read the link correct but is it saying to fly sparge with -5.13 Litres of water ?

[armedcor]

Not sure if I read the link correct but is it saying to fly sparge with -5.13 Litres of water ?

Beersmith says that when the mash tun isnt big enough.

[Simon_]

Why didn't you just fill as far as you could and be damned? Maybe add water to the boil?

Chucking it all sounds very drastic