Brew UK Forum | Brewdays
First AG - 22/11/09
Hey all,
Just thought Id give you the heads up that I will be "performing" my first AG tomorow. I got all the hops and malt sorted and just wanted to know if anyone has some tips for me. Anyone have any routines they like to do?
Excited isnt the word. But it is a word
Conditionin'/Drinkin' - OPA Pale
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Responses
Posted 2 years ago by Moderator
Good luck Nath! what brew are you making!
My tip would be start early!
Posted 2 years ago by Moderator
I have been given a recipe by greg (ta dude) which is an IPA of sorts I believe. Im starting early (about 9ish) but im now on my 4th beer so far so it may be a messy start! Nether the less I will pull it together for the good of nathkind (like mankind but for me that is).... Oh yeahhh
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 2 years ago by Admin
Plan exactly how you are going to execute every process and then you will be fine on the day. Also start as Dan suggested, start early as it will probably take you 6 hrs from start to finish.
Let us know how it goes.
What are you drinking at the mo?
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 2 years ago by Moderator
just make sure you plan everything,
Type your recipe into beersmith and print it out as a 'classic brewsheet' it is like a check list even reminds you to preheat your mash tun, and has a little tick box to mark that you've done it!
I usually have the hops weighed out before the boil, but dont forget to mark which is which!
Posted 2 years ago by Member
http://www.brewersfriend.com/images/brewersfriend_checklist_allgrain.pdf
Posted 2 years ago by Admin
Oh and I forgot to say the most important thing to remember - have fun!
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 2 years ago by Moderator
Thanks for the replies peeps, I have run out of my beersmith trial and apparantly "santa" is bringing me a full versuion so I cant purchace it! Still thanks to varnish I have a pdf that will keep me more on track! (well it would if my printer hasnt just run out of ink!)
Greg im drinking horrible lager at the mo - tuborg but it was on offer and I redeemed myself as I also bought some of their lurvely fairtrade honey ale to drink at the end of the chemicalness that is shop bought lager!
Its the first "proper" run of my DIY boiler so I will post plenty of pics from start to finish, hopefully none with fire!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 2 years ago by Admin
Ah I saw that Turborg on offer in the local shop - looked pretty dodgy.
Better wear rubber soles shoes when firing up that boiler! You may not need hair gel tomorrow!
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 2 years ago by Moderator
Okay, well after a skinful lastnight, a massive chinese and the kids and cat waking us up all night only to wake me up at 6.30....ON A SUNDAY!!!! I thought I would start really early. Pics to follow! Wish me luck!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 2 years ago by Admin
Good luck Nath, look forward to hearing all about it later!
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 2 years ago by Member
Excellent ... have fun nath! I love brewdays, love laying the stuff out, the smells, the vapors, the drinking that usually accompanies it ... unfortunately the other half doesn't so I'm now banned from making until after Christmas. That was the promise I made ... so I'll be up bright and early on boxing day he heh!
Good luck, I wish I were doing the very same thing!
(with grateful thanks to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and slightly adapted)
Posted 2 years ago by Member
Remember to wear shoes. And have a mop handy.
Posted 2 years ago by Moderator
Okay here goes the first part -
Making sure the theory works!
The inside of me DIY boiler (working greg and my hair is fine!)
EVery bit of stuff I need to produge a "beer" - Labled with amounts and times!
DIY Boiler - Boiling without fire or leaks or elictrical hazards - SHOCK!
Up to temp (didnt take as long as I thought) so 12.5 ltr into mashtun (pre warmed)
I foolishly waited a while before adding malt and as a result -
The temp was out a lil bit, so I had to add a fraction more water (just under 1 ltr) hope this is ok, in the instructions that came with the mash tun it says you may need to.
Lid on 65c - Just told the kids not to open or play with the tap so we dont have any burnt feet/hands - and then guess what happened......
About 1/4 ltr on the floor. How did it happen you ask? Let me show you with the medium that is pictures.
My Wife happened! I told her it was only 65c and not to worry.
Then again! Still she is a nurse so I rekon she will be fine....... Poor beer.
So the timers set. I may pop down to diy shop quick so I can sort out a rose for me to sparge with as I was going to use a tin plate with holes in but Im not too sure about that.
1 question - I have 22 ltrs ready to get up to sparge temp, am I right in thinking that you must loose some in the mash tun as 22 + 12.5 ltr is too much for the ferment bin.
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 2 years ago by Admin
Hi Nath, hope Emma is okay. I thought your house was turned on its side at first!! I was thinking never seen a setup like that before then I realised the photo was at 90c..... its early Sunday morning!!!
Yes the grain will absorb quite a bit of the water. You will probably end up with about 24 litres or so in the boiler.
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 2 years ago by Moderator
Sweet, Well im a bit late as the roads are mental at the mo with all the flooding. Still 20 mins wont matter too much! On to the next phase. Piccys later.
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 2 years ago by Member
What did I say about having a mop and wearing shoes?
Looks like it's going well apart from that.
Good stuff.
Posted 2 years ago by Moderator
Hehe, should a told the missus!
The boiler I crafted with my own hands is mental. I use both to get to a rolling boil, but had to turn 1 off. Its still splurting everywhere. Awsome! My kitchin looks like a scene from "gorrillas in the mist" but without gorrillas!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 2 years ago by Moderator
Do I just throw away the used grains from the tun? Are the degradable enough to be chusked on the veg patch?
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 2 years ago by Member
I put mine on the compost heap.
The worms go mental for it.
I'm sure the worms will sort it out if you put it on the veg patch, especially if you dig it over.
Posted 2 years ago by Moderator
My used grains go straight onto the raised beds in the polytunnel!
Posted 2 years ago by Moderator
Cool the boiling is done and im left with about 18 ltrs, Is this normal? Should I have kept the lid on during the process?
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 2 years ago by Moderator
Having a look at the fg its obviously quite high so i will need to add water. Now because I dont have a wort chiller I was ust going to cool in my brew fridge. Seeing as I need to add some water can I add cold water to the fv then put the rest in from the boiler to help with the cooling process?
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 2 years ago by Admin
Hi Nath, that will be fine or just add straight into the boiler. Remember to adjust for the temperature when taking hydrometer readings. I always end up adding 2 or 3 litres of water at the end.
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 2 years ago by Moderator
I took a reading from a trial jar and cooled it to 20c. The first reading was 1060+! so I added 3 ltr, waited for an hour cooled in trail jar and it was 1055. I ended up making the batch to 23ltr (from the 18ltr from the boil) and Im still waiting for it to cool in the brew fridge till I take another reading.
The graham wheler book says that after its reached temp you should stir vigoursly again to introduce oxygen to the mix (for yeast purposes) but surley that will greatly increase the risk of infection?
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 2 years ago by Admin
Personally I find that I get enough oxygen in it from simply dropping from the boiler tap into the fermenter. Its usually got a massive foamy head.
This is the only time you want oxygen in the brew as it helps the yeast get going. Same reason you should stir vigorously if you get a stuck fermentation.
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 2 years ago by Moderator
Trouble is its still cooling - I have not wort chiller, so it will take like 5 hours to cool to pitching temp.
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 2 years ago by Admin
I reckon it will be fine. Maybe give it a stir before pitching.
Did you have a taste?
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 2 years ago by Moderator
yeah it tasted good. I forgot the camdem tablet, but the way I see it most of the chlorine must be boiled off anyhoo. Just waiting for imageshack to sort itself out and I will post the final piccys.
Ta for all the help and talk people.
Nath
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 2 years ago by Moderator
The story continues!
Bang on temp, kept its heat to the dot 65c after 90ish mins.
Pouring the first couple a' bits back
Sparging - Took me a while to get the flows right at both ends but then all sorted, took just over 30 mins.
The yummy result pre boil!
Boiling away nicely! Using only 1 of my elements!
Mmmmmmm. Steamy steamy!
Gorrilas in the mist. But without gorrilas, and not in africa.
Pouring into the FV.
The remains (that are now in the veg patch with the used malt!
Cooling in the brew fridge!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 2 years ago by Moderator
Okay, so the final product was fg 1050, pitched s04 yeast at 26c 21:35 22/11/09. Cool, gave it a lil mix when adding the yeast with my brewers paddle attached to my drill. Sweet.
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 2 years ago by Member
That all looks very good.
I'm sure it'll turn out great. Loving the fly sparging. I'm going to fly sparge my next batch.
One question.
What have you made?
Get the recipe up!
Posted 2 years ago by Admin
Nice one Nath, sounds like it all went well. No looking back now then!
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 2 years ago by Moderator
Ta guys, the recipe is one of gregs so I will have to ask his permission as it could be a guarded secret! Its an IPA that I believe Greg has done more than a few times!
Its funny, I know it takes way longer than kits/extract but when I think about it - one and a half hours in the mash tun I got on with otehr stuff and apart from 1 s***t my pants moment when the boiler got up to a rolling boil and I thought the head was gonna splurge everywhere it was just a case of looking in now and again as the boiling was quite easy and well contained. It just goes to show that 3 hours of the ag day was doing other stuff. Fire up the xbox, watch a moooooovie, do some (more) diy and let it do its stuff.
AG is great. Gonna get another keg, drink all my other kit full kegs quick and chuck the lager in bottles I done (as it is horrible!) and get some more AG on asap. Cant wait to check on this baby!
Thanks for all the help to peeps on the forum, thanks to mr Greg as I wouldnt have taken the plunge if it wasnt for you mate!
I raise my AG glass and salute you all!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 2 years ago by Moderator
Well done Nath! bring on more AG's!!
Bonne santé tout le brasseur de grain!
Posted 2 years ago by Admin
I actually find AG quite relaxing now that my setup has been used so many times. Love the steamy kitchen shot, mine looked worse than that usually.
I can't wait until I've got a sink/tap installed and can brew in the garage.
No problem with sticking the recipe up.
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 2 years ago by Member
Hey nath ... I always make up a couple of loaves of bread with my spent grain .. well not all of it :o)
I'm sure I have the recipe around here somewhere - shout if you'd like it. Best bread I've ever had!
(with grateful thanks to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and slightly adapted)
Posted 2 years ago by Moderator
Bread! Really! Sounds unbelievable - Yep that recipe would be great!
A lovely foamy head 18 hours in and smells great. Drew of off a bit to test gravity, which has gone down to just under 1040 already. had to drink it to make sure its ok and it already tastes amazing.
Will post the recipe tonight.
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 2 years ago by Member
hi,
tony. how do make bread from it?
Posted 2 years ago by Member
Hi folks, no problem. I'll post the recipe in the Recipes section.
(with grateful thanks to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and slightly adapted)
Posted 1 year ago by Member
superb post - that is very very helpful to all of us who prefer pictures as apposed to loads of words . cheers butt. Right i'm going to buy a purpose built mash tun next
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Go on son! Make sure you start a thread with all the piccys!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
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