Incorrect Temp

[mctoon]

I made a 25Ltr deuchars IPA using my digital thermometer, it started acting a bit eratic, ie the temp would not drop below 51C in a cup of cold water. I ditched it and decieded to use the trusty glass one..

Unfortunately, tonight, i tried them both in a cup of boiling water,, digital read 101C, glass one read 85C,, so i think that means my mash temp was about 50C, and the sparge 70C,, i was a tad low on the OG,, about 1034 as oppose to 1038,, what about the taste?

Tommorrow shop for a new thermometer!!!!

Cheers Mal

[Parp]

What's wrong with sticking with the glass one?

I think mid to high 80's C is about right for just boiled water into a cup, then a glass room temperature thermo stuck in it.
More If you've preheated the cup.
I tested an old kettle, and it was bubbling a bit "dinking" off at about 96C.

As I seem to remember from doing it a few years back

As for taste, I'm not entirely sure. At 50C there will still be beneficial enzyme activity, but I'd Imagine at a lower rate.
So, I'd reckon there might be more slow to ferment or unfermentable sugars in there.

I'm thinking the beer may taste OK, but will get a bit cloying after a pint or something, or have a 'thicker' than desirable mouthfeel.

This is merely supposition on my part, hopefully someone who's done this before will pitch in with the answer we're looking for

[delboy]

Try the same expt with boiling water on a stove, the glass itself will have brought the temp down to something like 85 C i would have thought.

[mctoon]

Cheers fellas, just put them both in a boiling kettle, glass one was 96/7 C, so i think my beer may be fine after all,

Just threw the digi one in the bin,, it was reading 110C