Brew UK Forum | Grain
My First AG Brew... Raspberry Blower..
I am well chuffed i made my first AG Brew today hopefully, a raspberry wheat beer will be the end result but we will have to wait and see.
But i was really pleased with how it went i could well be hooked... I've added a few pictures hopefully,
Responses
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Good piccys there mate. What you do to add piccys from your photobucket account is hover over the pic you want and copy the direct link (I had to right click on the link and copy as it didnt copy it for me for some reason) and you will get code like this when you paste it in the forum:-
http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac266/Beermonkey1/DSC03686.jpg
all you do is then add
<img src=
before the link and add
>
after the link
So was this an extract or an AG? Take us through the pictures, I...Must....Know....More!!!!!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Wooo hooo! Thanks Nath..
This was my first attempt at an AG Brew... it has to be said it was great fun.
This is the recipe - thanks to Greg! And Beersmith.
Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size: 10.00 L
Boil Size: 11.45 L
Estimated OG: 1.049 SG
Estimated IBU: 20.1 IBU
Boil Time: 60 Minutes
Ingredients:
------------
Amount Item Type % or IBU
1 kg Lager Malt, (2 EBC) Grain 50 %
1 kg Wheat Malt, (2 EBC) Grain 50 %
Mash the grains with 5.22 litres of water @ 67c for 1.5 hrs.
Sparge to collect 11.45 litres of wort then boil as per hop schedule
5 gms of Perle Hops - 60 minutes
10 gms of Perle Hops - Last 15 minutes
Top picture is the first 5gms of Perle hops. Great aroma by the way.. These go in at the start of the boil.
Pictures 4 & 5 is the grains in my mash.... bit of a bugger having to spend 90mins in the kitchen watching the temperature fluctuate but hopefully it will be worth it. Will need to get myself a mash tun at some point.
Sparging was basically pouring very, very gentley over the grains. Again not ideal but my mate has made loads of beers and it's worked for him.
Picture 3 is the boil... after the first hops have gone in. I've got a 20ltr swan boiler but totally forgot that it will cut out after it reached boiling point! Damn i thought as did my mate who was helping out. However, he came up with the genius idea of pushing in the reboil button sticking cellotape on it then wrapping a piece of string all away around the boiler nice and tight. Tell you what that worked at treat 60 minute rolling boil done jobs a good un.
Final picture is taken after the boiling has done and it's now gone into my fermenation bucket.. nice froth there so pleased with that. It's now cooling down waiting to put the yeast in. It's times like this when i wish i had a wort chiller. Some day maybe.
So all in all a very successful day.....
Neil
Posted 1 year ago by Member
My only concern now is it's come out dark? I thought all wheat beers were supposed to be light in colour? I've not burnt the grains i'm sure of that. So i wonder why it's come out like that? Hopefully, the yeast will have the desired affect.
Will put the raspberries about 20gms in the secondary fermentation stage. I don't want it too strong in that flavour. So perhaps less might be better. Any advice on both of the above would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks again.
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Nah its not dark, my pale ales look wayyyyyyy darker than that when ive collected the juice! im not sure about the rasberries as I have never added any type of fruit. I will have a looka round my Ray Daniels book to see if he mentions percentages.
Well done on popping the AG cherry, first of many Im sure!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Hi and well done on your first AG brew. Looks and sounds a tasty little number! I just done my first AG brew a couple of weeks ago so being a newbie I know the lovely feeling of success when you finally pitch that yeast after your hard graft. It amazes me how ingenious we all become in pursuit of making beer when faced with problems.
Cheers
Howard
Conditioning - Theakston Old Peculier
Conditioning - Christmas 2010 (Strong Xmas ale)
Maturing - Peach wine kit
Drinking - Summer Lightning, Summer Wit
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
Nice one Neil. Its looks good to me, not too dark.
Daniels suggests no more than 0.5 pounds of Raspberries / gallon ie 225g/4.5 litres so I think 20g would not be enough. I would suggest around 200g. Are you using fresh or frozen raspberries?
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Hi Everyone,
Thanks all of you for the advice and reassurance. My desire for a wort chiller has become more aparent today - i'm tired! After several sinks of cold water i finally pitched my yeast with the wort at 23c at 12:45am this morning. Kids waking me up at 6am! Don't they know it's fathers day? I wanted a lie in. Although i must be a sucker for punishment,it doesn't help making an AG brew at 4pm though i must admit. I can see why Tony and others get up at 5:30 in the morning to make a start. Anyway i am digressing here... (like a kid at christmas! through excitement)
I checked my beer this morning and it's bubbling away nicely... My friend suggested leaving the hops in for a bit more flavour. So i've done just that - you can all but find out.
Greg i will be using frozen raspberries in the secondary fermentation stage. Maths was never my strong point so 20gms was WAAAAAYYYY out... but 200gms sounds ideal nice flavour to it.
I want to drink it now.....
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Nice one BM .. great work there! I was thinking how lovely and light your brew was looking!
I second what greg has said, you may well get the colour from 20g of raspberries but you'll need WAY more than that to get any flavor.
Welcome to the obsession! :o)
(with grateful thanks to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and slightly adapted)
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Cheers Tony,
It's been an obsession since i started this hobby by in December... 4 brews down and i am always looking for recipes to try out.
I can see why you get up early when you do your brews... mental staying up late waiting for the brew to cool down.
Neil
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
Starting early is definitely the way forward, you can get 2 in then!!!
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 1 year ago by Member
No don't put ideas into my head Greg! I have a very understanding wife who actually loves dipping in and helping out when i do a brew.. She doesn't even mind the Horlicks smell from the grains or malt extract. However, i fear she would have a few words to say if i turned around and said "i'm making two brews today"
However, never say never and watch this space....
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Lucky man. The first AG I done the missus said "what that got in it?" (the mash tun) and then opened the tap on her foot. Unbelievable. Then the next to brews basically melted the paint off the kitchen celing and walls so I have been relegated outside! Touch wood though (and I regulary do as its my fetish) shes fine now and has actually started to drink my pale ale!
(no pun intended)
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
This only thing my wife didn't like was the smell of the Perle hops - weird? The aroma was unbelievable best i've smelt for sure.
I got on the right side of her though because i was cleaning up as i went along, including the tea dishes and made her a cuppa as well. So i don't think i've been relegated out of the kitchen just yet.
What the hell did you brew make the paint come off the walls Cilit Bang? Vanish? Must have been pretty powerful stuff is all i can say. Were you going for a high abv around 10% mark?
DAMN! I know one thing i forgot to do last night although not critical and that's take my first hydrometer reading before adding the yeast... I should be able to take one later?
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Nah, the yeast is already going so a reading now wouldnt be any good but remember to use it to make sure fermentation has finished (2 identical readings in 2 days).
As for the stripping of paint, well..... have you ever seen my boiler?
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Blimey! That's a good rapid boil you have there... I'm impressed.
Cheers for info regarding the hydrometer reading. I will give it until next Wednesday and see whether we have anymore action. It's bubbling really nicely now good head on it.
How do you get your boiler going that well? Or is it just the make?
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
Nath and his boiler are available for any paint/wallpaper stripping jobs in the local area.
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
By the way Neil, the best way to get round the double brew day is to say that you'll have to brew less often! Also with the price of shop bought ale, you really don't want to be running out.
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 1 year ago by Member
NIce one Neil. Looking good. Must admit I'm tempted to try something fruity, always been partial to a bit of kriek.
By the way, I too have a Swan boiler. I took the bottom off to try and disconnect the thermostat, but there were too many wires for me to be comfortable with what does what. So instead, I hotwired the reboil switch, so instead of needing the button to be pressed, its effectively always pushed. its dead simple to do, and no soldering required. I just unclipped the two square connecters on each side of the switch, and connected them together. If you want me to take a pic I'd be glad to.
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Stu,
That would be great if you could do that? It will give me some idea of what i need to do.
I will let you know what it tastes like once the secondary fermentation is over. Question is once it's in the barrel how long will i leave it to ferment? I think i know the answer as do most people on here
2 weeks is a long time...
Neil
Posted 1 year ago by Member
No problem sir. Hope the below are clear enough? (couldn't find my macro lens...)
I should also probably say that I am in no way shape or form qualified to advise on any modifications of an electrical nature. However, this worked for me.
Also, in case this isn't clear, I haven't just joined the two spade connectors with the electrical tape. They are firmly wedged together and the tape is just to stop any surprises.
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
@ Beermonkey - I made my boiler and like Stu I removed the boil cut outs so its on a continous roll. Oh yeahhhhhh
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Nice one....!
Cheers Stu. I will do my best Billy Berne from DIY SOS and have a go at some point.
However, my next question is concerning my brew. It has appeared to of stopped fermenting nothing, nada, nowt! Is this ok? I only put the yeast in early hours of Sunday morning and i checked today and where previously there was a nice foaming head it's gone? I am a wee bit concerned because i am sure it will need longer than 24hrs surely?
Neil...
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
Whats the gravity reading Neil?
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Not sure yet... will take a reading later tonight. I'm stuck at work at the moment. Damn!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Hi Greg,
I've just checked my beer there is no head on it now the bubbles have all but disappeared. So i've taken a reading and it came out at 1038...
So not sure whether that is good or bad? I am wondering whether it has stopped or not. If it has then bring on those raspberries. It's a nice white beer i and my mouth watered when i saw it. Tried some as you do and hops have made it taste lovely but it's not quite there yet.
Cheers
Neil
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
1038 says to me its definitely still fermenting. Leave it alone for a few days then take another reading. I would say you are looking for around 1010 but depends on the yeast, maybe higher then that.
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Nice one....
Thanks Greg i will leave it for a few more days and take another reading.
Cheers..
Neil
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Well... no more bubbles were appearing. So i took the second hydrometer reading 1012 on the nose. So was more than pleased with that. My beer came in at a very respectable 3.4% Abv just right for those summer evenings.
Add 45gms of sugar and 150gms of raspberries into the keg. So now all i have to do is sit and wait... Who knows could well be cracked open ready for Sunday.. Although i might and should leave it longer.
Neil
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
I'm sure a little sampler won't hurt. In fact I found my wheat beer was pretty good young.
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Lol... you know what Greg? I think i might just have to do that....
It's a nice pink colour.... i will have to post a picture of the first pint on here..
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
PINK?????
PINT?????
WHHHHAATTTTT!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Well i might have got my wires crossed with some instructions regarding the raspberries Nath.
I blended them last night and put them in my keg..! Poured my wheat like ale on top and viola it's now a shade of pink! Different granted but i am sure it will taste nice.
We all learn though lol....
Can send you a pint if you want?
Neil
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Well i pulled my first pint tonight from my wheat beer.
I have to say i am slightly disappointed. There wasn't really any head on it when i pulled it and i used 45gms of sugar which is more than i've used before. The barrel was done up nice and tightly and there is no leaking from the barrel either that i can hear or see. So not sure why there is no head.
It's nice and cloudy like a wheat beer should be and has a hint of raspberry colour in it too. So i tasted it and it was a bit watery... no hint of raspberry and i used 150gms of those. So i wonder why?
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Neil
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Crazy idea maybe, but is it because the raspberry goodness has settled out in the keg? I vaguely remember reading that fruit beers are best bottled. But I also may have just made that up...
Posted 1 year ago by Member
I keep telling myself that the next beer will be a fruit beer... but haven't gotten around to it - mainly because keep reading that you need enormous amounts to get any flavour. I suggest finding a recipe and tripling the amount listed :o)
(with grateful thanks to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and slightly adapted)
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Why not add 2 (or more?) raspberries to each bottle when bottling instead then.
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
Neil, what yeast did you use?
Normally you would either add the fruit to the wort after the boil and steep or add to secondary fermentation, not heard about adding them to the keg but if anything I would have thought that would have made the raspberry flavour stronger if anything. I guess it depends in the fruit itself too. You could always add some more to the keg.
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 1 year ago by Member
After 4 weeks of waiting...
I pulled my first pint from my first AG brew and wow! I can see why you guys are hooked on AG Brewing.
It came out lovely and clear then a decent head on it too. But the taste of raspberry... wow... not too over powering very subtle but it's there.
Hopefully, this will have come out?
Neil
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
Hi Neil, looking good. In fact that's making my thirsty and I'm trying to have a night off from beer!
I just edited your post by the way to insert the photo, rather than a link to it. Your way worked but if you add <img src="blah blah it will insert the photo into the thread.
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Good work Neil ... looks a real cracking pint! :o)
(with grateful thanks to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and slightly adapted)
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Thanks everyone...
I am rather chuffed with it. I must admit i love this home brewing lark. Especially when you get a decent pint.
I think in an earlier post i might have been a little impatient. The beer hadn't settled properly so was still a bit green.
My wife even enjoyed a taste of it and said to me "You'll have to make a Christmas one this year" Which has already got me thinking about what to make...
Neil...
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
Yeah, I may get a Xmas special on soon as they definately need some time to mature. I was planning a Vanilla Bourbon Stout sometime ago which I may revisit. Would be a good one for Xmas (and presents!).
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Now thats a nice looking pint. Why does looking at a piccy of a uber-clear golden coloured beer make me wanna drink asap. I bet it tastes awesome. So whats on next?
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Hmmmm that's an interesting thought Nath...
I've got the Amarillo extract kit to make up. Then the recipe from the ingredients my father-in-law gave me.... But i really want to do a Christmas ale. Trouble is i've looked around and can't find anything about.
If anyone can point me in the general direction? I can use Beersmith see what that comes up with.
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