Grains

2007-01-23T15:41:34Z

Billvelek:

Grains

2007-01-23T15:40:28Z

Billvelek:

Overview

2007-01-12T17:34:30Z

Billvelek: Added identification of sections of main window

There are several steps which user's should follow in order to make the most of BTP; doing so at the very beginning will save you frustration and enable you to begin to use the software to its full capacity as soon as possible. However, before proceeding with those steps, it might be useful to first identify areas of the program screen, and to then summarize how one typically uses the program from start to finish.

'''SCREEN LAYOUT''' (I am giving my own names to these areas of the main screen because it will be useful during explanations, and I haven't found where BTP does that.)

'''Menu Bar''' -- across top of window, and self-explanatory.

'''General''' Section -- the top one-third of the window (when viewed full screen); except when pop-up windows obscure it, this area remains in view regardless of which "Display" is selected or which "Tab" is chosen, and it contains fields for Recipe/file Name, Style, Author, Date, and other key information such as volumes, efficiency, and attenuation.

'''Display''' Section -- the middle one-third of the window which contains a 'Display' selection menu on the right side, top of the 'Display' section, which allows users to change the middle of the window to alternatively display "Ingredients", "Equipment", "Schedule", etc.

'''Tab''' Section -- the bottom one-third of the window which contains a series of tabs for "Style", "Analysis", "Schedule", "Carbonation", and "Notes".

'''Pop-Up''' windows -- a general term I use to decribe the various 'Edit' windows, 'Browse' lists, 'Databases', and other various windows that BTP will open to display additional info and functions; they should each appear as a separate BTP window in your bar at the bottom of your screen.

'''SUMMARY OF TYPICAL USE'''

Upon opening BTP, you will be presented with a Session page (either a completed recipe or the start of formation of a recipe, depending upon how you have set your default, etc.). The Session page begins with an Ingredients '''display''' and Style '''tab''', but before working on ingredients, it is best to start with the '''general''' section first, where you will insert information, as needed, to determine your batch size, and make some assumptions about how you brew (i.e., your [[efficiency]], your [[attenuation]], which you can adjust based on your experiences as a brewer, and the evaporation rate you expect; remember to make any necessary changes in the file name, too. Then, based upon the ingredients that you might add using the browse button in the '''display''' section, including grain and hops, or any modification of quantities of an existing recipe, BTP will indicate on the style bar-graphs, in the '''tab''' section, how well your 'recipe' fits into standard style-guidelines.

If you are an all-grain brewer, your next step will be to change your '''display''' to 'Schedule' to review your mash schedule; assuming that you have already calibrated your equipment in the 'Vessels' '''display''', 'Schedule' will tell you the volume and temperature of any water additions to your mashtun, from mashin through sparge. Within 'Schedule', you can select either presets (and modify them as you choose), or create your own mashing schedule from scratch. After you've brewed your batch and fermentation is finished (including any secondary), you will reopen your recipe (hopefully you will have 'saved' it), and then choose the 'Volume Adjustments' '''display''' which will permit you to account for losses due to trub and raking, as well as the addition of primer.

Finally, you can then select 'Packaging' as your '''display''' and decide how you want to bottle and/or keg your batch. Assuming you took hydrometer readings before and after fermentation, you can compare those readings with what BTP predicted; if your initial reading was different than BTP, go to the 'Analysis' '''tab''' and insert your actual [[Original Gravity|OG]] Reading and BTP will automatically display what your actual [[efficiency]] was. You can then insert your actual [[Terminal Gravity|TG]] reading when all fermentation is finished, and BTP will automatically display what your actual [[attenuation]] was. When you are finished, BTP also displays information available regarding the nutritional content of your beer under the [[Analysis Tab|Analysis]] '''tab'''.

Mash In

2007-01-12T10:32:03Z

Billvelek:

The Mash in is the step where the grain bill is combined with the brewing liquor. The mixture is the mash. The brewing liquor is heated to a temperature that will equalize at the desired first rest temperature when combined with the grain.

[[Image:Mashin.jpg]]

The various fields in the "Mash In" edit box are used for the following purposes:

'''Name''' -- though you can label this what you want, calling it the "Mash In" will help others who use your recipe to understand that this is the first water addition to your grist.

'''Notes''' -- useful to mention anything special about this step for this particular recipe, etc.

'''Mash Vessel''' -- this field is selected via a drop-down menu which lists the various "vessels" you have created in the "Vessels" display; you should select your mashtun which you are using, and it should be calibrated (done via the edit vessel screen).

'''Heating Vessel''' -- unless you are using a RIMS or HERMS, or perhaps are doing a 'decoction', this should probably be set to "None" (this Wiki edit is my first experiment with it, and I'm still learning about BTP, too.).

'''Target Temp''' -- the temperature that you want your mash to reach as soon as the temperature has equalized throughout your mash.

'''Grist Temp''' -- the temperature of your dry grains before adding your strike water.

'''Infusion rate''' -- the ratio of water to grist for your mash at this particular stage in your schedule; it will determine the initial thickness of your mash.

'''Liquor Volume''' -- the amount of strike water you will add for this particular infusion; BTP will calculate this value for you based your amount of grist and the "Infusion Rate" you have selected.

'''Strike Temp''' -- the temperature of the water you will initially add at this stage of the schedule; BTP will calculate this value based upon your target temp, grist temp, and the calibration data for the particular mash vessel you have selected.

'''Equalize''' -- the amount of time that it typically takes for the temperature to reach the same level throughout your mash; this value is not calculated by BTP, but rather is entered by the user based on brewing experience with your equipment; most brewers stir their mash at mashin to achieve a uniform thickness of mash and eliminate any doughballs, as well as to help evenly distribute heat in the mash.

'''Heat Output''' -- I don't really know what that is for yet.

'''Heat Duration''' -- I don't really know what that is for yet.

Mash In

2007-01-12T10:29:46Z

Billvelek:

The Mash in is the step where the grain bill is combined with the brewing liquor. The mixture is the mash. The brewing liquor is heated to a temperature that will equalize at the desired first rest temperature when combined with the grain.

[[Image:Mashin.jpg]]

The various fields in the "Mash In" edit box are used for the following purposes:

'''Name''' -- though you can label this what you want, calling it the "Mash In" will help others who use your recipe to understand that this is the first water addition to your grist.

'''Notes''' -- useful to mention anything special about this step for this particular recipe, etc.

'''Mash Vessel''' -- this field is selected via a drop-down menu which lists the various "vessels" you have created in the "Vessels" display; you should select your mashtun which you are using, and it should be calibrated (done via the edit vessel screen).

'''Heating Vessel''' -- unless you are using a RIMS or HERMS, or perhaps are doing a 'decoction', this should probably be set to "None" (this Wiki edit is my first experiment with it, and I'm still learning about BTP, too.).

'''Target Temp''' -- the temperature that your mash to reach as soon as the temperature has equalized throughout your mash.
Grist Temp -- the temperature of your dry grains before adding your strike water.

'''Infusion rate''' -- the ratio of water to grist for your mash at this particular stage in your schedule; it will determine the initial thickness of your mash.

'''Liquor Volume''' -- the amount of strike water you will add for this particular infusion; BTP will calculate this value for you based your amount of grist and the "Infusion Rate" you have selected.

'''Strike Temp''' -- the temperature of the water you will initially add at this stage of the schedule; BTP will calculate this value based upon your target temp, grist temp, and the calibration data for the particular mash vessel you have selected.

'''Equalize''' -- the amount of time that it typically takes for the temperature to reach the same level throughout your mash; this value is not calculated by BTP, but rather is entered by the user based on brewing experience with your equipment; most brewers stir their mash at mashin to achieve a uniform thickness of mash and eliminate any doughballs, as well as to help evenly distribute heat in the mash.

'''Heat Output''' -- I don't really know what that is for yet.

'''Heat Duration''' -- I don't really know what that is for yet.