AG#1 Blonde Ale from THBC (pic heavy)

[Scott]

I decided yesterday would be a good day to get my first ever all grain on. The overall day was a success I think, I made a few mistakes which hopefully I will learn from! One of them was forgetting the Whirlfloc tablet and the second was cooling the wort in the primary fermenter, I panicked as I didn't know whether I could cool in the boiler! Daft I know.

Anyway, the grain soaked a lot of water and I seemed to run out of space in the mash tun, so I ended up with 27 litres going into the boiler and came out with 21 after the boil. Ill tell you what though, it smelt bloody lovely! Came out with 1.044 so expecting a beer around 4.5%

Below are a few pics of my day.

Grain shot

Hops

Mash

Wrapped up warm

Recircling

First batch

Batch sparge

Spent grain

A nice rolling boil, took 20 mins!

First hop addition

Hops left behind

In the FV

 

[bunkerbrewer]

Congratulations on AG#1! You won't go back :)

I don't think getting the wort out of the boiler to cool was a mistake at all - it's better to get the hot wort off the hops or you'll end up with too much bitterness.

A no-chill cube is a good cheap alternative.

 

[Scott]

Does it not matter that I have break material in the FV then? I was worrying the most about that to be fair, but glad it wasn't a mistake!

 

[Dr Mike]

Congrats on your first AG! :

Even cooling in the boiler, I find it impossible to stop a lot if the break material coming over. It just settles out in the FV so no worries. :thumb:

 

[bunkerbrewer]

Does it not matter that I have break material in the FV then? I was worrying the most about that to be fair, but glad it wasn't a mistake!

It doesn't matter at all, it certainly won't affect the flavour, but might take an extra day or so to clear. It'll be fine :

 

[pittsy]

well done on popping your cherry , looking good . It would be better to cool in the boiler so as to get proteins and crap to drop out , it is best to give the wort a good stir to get a whirlpool effect and leave for 20 mins then cool with wort chiller . This will also help against chill haze . But don't worry you won't notice the difference . :thumb:

 

[Scott]

Just had a sample, it's brilliant. The hop profile is coming through and it's light, it's beautiful! At only a week old I really can't wait to bottle this and see how we'll it goes down.

 

[jonewer]

Well done that man!

Do you have a tap in your boiler? I couldnt see one. If not how did you get the wort out?

 

[jonnymorris]

Congrats and welcome.