6X extract kit: instructions question

[StuAlban]

Hello all,
I'm planning to do my first extract kit this weekend - it's a BrewUK Wadworth 6X kit.
I've got a few of questions on the instructions which maybe someone can help me with.

1) It says to steep the grains by adding them straight into 6 litres of 65-70C water, leaving for 30 mins at no lower then 65C and then remove the grains with a strainer. Surely I'd be better off using a grain bag?

2) What size grain bag might I need for 184g of grains? I've got some hop bags like this http://www.balliihoo.co.uk/muslin-bags-pack-of-2-p-86.html but these won't be big enough I guess.

3) Part the instructions say '...Boil for 75 mins and turn off the heat and allow the liquid to cool to 80C and add 8g of Golding hops and allow to steep for 30 mins. Turn off the heat and add the rest of the malt extract and the sugar. Does that mean I need to keep the heat on when steeping the hops? I thought steeping implied that the heat should be off (ie not boiling).

All the rest I think I understand!

Cheers, Stu.

 

[pittsy]

hi , ok no1 best get a grain bag , yes its around £6 but you re use so not too pricey , you could try a muslin bag but they tend to stretch and you'll have bits of grain in pot etc if you use muslin bag just sieve the wort before boiling no3 hops are added at start of boil (not 80c) which are for bittering then also at 15 mins before heat turned off for hop flavour and the last 5 mins (and also at flame off ) hops are added for aroma . so for your kit those 8 g are just chucked in when you've stopped boiling and after leaving 30 mins before transfering brew to fv etc , hope that helps

 

[Sandimas]

I haven't bothered with a separate grain bag so far with my BrewUK brews, just steeped them in a separate pan then strained the liquid into the main boil pan, which seemed to work OK.

Regarding the remaining malt extract and sugar, just add it to the boil pan and stir in at the end, I normally do it just at the end of the boil then steep any remaining hops after that.

The BrewUK instructions can be a bit confusing, I've done a few of their kits now and they're not that plain to understand. BTW, I just bottled their Old Peculiar last night - my word, what a fine brew that is going to be, judging from the cheeky sample I had

 

[StuAlban]

Thanks pittsy, I'll invest in a grain bag. Looks like my kit only has the bittering and aroma hops with nothing at the 15 mins for flavour.
I might do it darrellm's straining method this time as probably won't have time to get the bag for Saturday. darrrel, do you bother with a muslin bag for your hops or do you just strain those as well? Old Peculiar - that might have to be my next one :thumb:

 

[Sandimas]

No I don't use bags for the hops, just chuck it all straight in the pan then strain later My LHBS makes up kits with the hops in muslin bags, they are a lot less messy to make but can be quite big once they've soaked up some liquid, I bent the spoon last time I pulled one out of the pan as it was so heavy.

The Old Peculiar is amazing, dunno how I'm gonna have the patience to leave it to mature. Todays a mate of mine gave me a London Pride from a BrewUK kit, so I'll be sampling that soon too.

 

[StuAlban]

I picked up a straining bag like this http://www.dorsethomebrew.co.uk/sho...d-nylon-straining-bag-fine-5017458052173.html this morning. Am intending to use this for the steeping grains and a muslin bag like this for the hops http://www.balliihoo.co.uk/muslin-bags-pack-of-2-p-86.html.

Do I need to wash or sanitise these in any way? I was looking at Ritchie's Mashing and Sparging bag in the LHBS and it said not to use santisers like VWP with it because it breaks down the fabric.

 

[pittsy]

i wouldn't be overly worried , it wants to be clean etc but remember you'll be boiling the wort so all will be well

 

[StuAlban]

Cheers, it's brand new so it is clean. Steeping now.

 

[StuAlban]

I made this last Saturday and it took what seemed like ages! Mostly went ok but two things weren't ideal. 1) Not sure that I got a good hot break. Certainly got a decent rolling boil going but was expecting more 'fireworks' in the pot. Will probably check out some videos/forum posts to see what it should have been like. 2) Lumps of DME in the wort - really difficult to get everything dissolved! Think I've heard people mention that before as being a problem. Anyway I've got 23 litres in the fermenter. OG was only 1.038 instead of an expected 1.042 per the instructions. Probably not bad for my first go at something more than a two can kit - will find out in a couple of weeks.