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# Random Musings...
- URL: https://accidentalis.com/random-musings/
- Published: 2014-05-21T20:25:51.000Z
- Updated: 2025-11-20T14:53:57.000Z
- Author: Matthew Chrispen
- Tags: Brewer's Notes, Rambling, Brew-Magic, brewing, experiment, tools, #Migrated-1763650309909, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2025-11-20 08:51, #Import 2025-11-20 09:06

Well, I promised more stuff on water, and haven't gotten around to it. Apologies. I got detoured with the [Blacklands Malt](https://www.accidentalis.com/archives/487?ref=accidentalis.com), the [malt analysis sheets](https://www.accidentalis.com/archives/526?ref=accidentalis.com), etc. All around - poorly planned on my part.

![Brew Magic less PLC](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c2/87/c2876a49-5c65-4965-946c-679dac007e84/content/images/2025/11/bmshell-e1400703904285-2.jpg)

The Brew-Magic is sitting waiting for the PLC to arrive. I got the software upgrade, but had to send in the part to Toledo as there was a small issue. The poor thing looks so sad without a brain! Hopefully it will come in this week, and I can get up and running. I plan to write up a short upgrade article, and compare the new software with the old.

I am also working on an experiment, with the encouragement of M. Brungard, looking at the behavior of a static mash, and derived impacts of temperature stratification and mash pH. While I cannot likely draw a directly line, the premise may be that where and when we measure a dynamic biochemically reactive system can correlate with extraction efficiency. Not to say we are doing it wrong, but perhaps point to data that says - STIR STIR and STIR some more at convenient times during the mash.

I still have some more thoughts on water treatment procedures, but based on conversations with friendly professional brewers, may have taken this well beyond extreme. Still - we control what we are willing to control, and I am happy to obsess over water until something else strikes my fancy.

I am also going to explore some small batch brews - attempting to use a modified BIAB system and a [Sous Vide Immersion Circulator](http://www.amazon.com/Anova-Sous-Immersion-Circulator-Black/dp/B00GT753W8/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400703608&sr=8-1&keywords=immersion+circulator&ref=accidentalis.com). Could be a fun easy way to brew or a freaking disaster... Might be fun to watch. For those that don't know Sous Vide - it is a cooking technique where food is cooked under vacuum, but in a water bath. This allows for much lower temperatures, very even cooking and some interesting textures and flavors. Here, the circulator will simply moderate and hold temperature (hopefully very accurately) - as well as agitate the mash a bit.

I am trying to figure out what happened to a lovely saison. I split the batch, with half into a whiskey barrel, and the other half onto some raspberries blended in apple juice. The barrel batch, after two weeks, lost all of the phenols. It only has esters... tastes like a mango and banana beer - even though no fruit was introduced. The other bit remains wonderfully spicy and tart! So who knows...