What caused this disaster?

[BigDanny84]

Today I brewed a NEIPA. It's my second time brewing this recipe. However, this time my og was 1020 instead of 1069.

Two differences from the last time were that I crushed the grains myself. First time using the bulldog mill. Set the width so that a credit card can just squeeze through.

The other difference is that I have a new larger brew pot.

The recipe was:
6kg Pale malt
920g Vienna
750g Oats
500g Oat Hulls

Mashed at 65 degrees for 60 mins. Boiled for 60 mins.

For the mash water I used a ratio of 2.5L/kg. I included the weight of the oats in this but not the hulls (is this normal?). So this was 2.5 x 7.67= 19.2L. I mashed out with 4L of watered at 80 degrees and batch sparged with 16. I added 2 litres of water to bring my pre boil volume up to my desired 30L.

I boiled more vigorously than usual because of the bigger pot. Boil off total was 4.5L approx.

Added 24L to the fermentor before pouring down the drain.

I noticed that the mash was thinner than usual. I used 41L of water in total, when I brewed this the last time I used 37L, but my boil was more vigorous today. Even if wasn't more vigorous surely that 4L cant cause this huge loss.

After that I guess it's either the crush or my scales. The scales should be ok but I will double check.

300g of hops died today and I am feeling rather stupid so any help would be great.

Thanks.

[Fatcontro11er]

What temp was the wort in the fermenter when you took the oh reading?

[BrewDorg]

Check your hydrometer in water. Doesn't sound right at all, even with the worst crush possible.

[BigDanny84]

Temperature was down to 20 degrees when I took it. Will check the hydrometers but it's unlikely that both of them are off equally. Just checked my scales with a commercial at work incase it was drastically off but it's not.

[Leann ull]

Ok just ferment out that one don't bother dry hopping and go again.
Any spare grain you could crush a handful and post a pic?

[BigDanny84]

I just spilled it down the sink at the time. Didn't think there was any point in wasting the yeast.

I just checked my hydrometers in water and they are fine.

I will crush some grain tomorrow and post a picture.

Thanks

[Pheeel]

I assume that's before crushing?

[BigDanny84]

Unfortunately not. Just set it with  the credit card and never really looked at it tbh before mashing. Mystery solved

[Leann ull]

I assume that's before crushing?

Did I miss something?

[Shanna]

I assume that's before crushing?

Did I miss something?

I think he means that he either forgot to crush the grain or else the grain actually passed through without getting crushed.

Shanna

[BigDanny84]

Sorry, I deleted the pic trying to edit. Please don't laugh . Obviously the credit card setting isn't universal.

[Leann ull]

Ok what you are looking for is every grain crushed and popped out of kernel. If it's shredded to fines or you have too much flour it's too much.
The Kernals will stop you getting stuck Mash

[Pheeel]

No worries! You must have a thick credit card!! The grains aren't even cracked

[BigDanny84]

Well that was the setting Pheel.

Thanks CH

[Pheeel]

You can get gauge measurers that are a bit more accurate for width. Halfords (or an equivalent) should we have them