AG#37 Amarillo Blonde

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One of the wee solar pumps. I use a bigger totton job for the mash, etc.

The solar pumps are fine for moving water about but I wouldn't risk them for anything sugary or liquid that potentially has bits of grain. I use my solar pump for re-circulating the water in the HLT to get even temps then I simply hook it onto the mash tun output valve and shove the water in. After the mash I use the same wee solar pump to drive the sparge frame. Therefore it's only ever got hot water in it and it works fine.

The other bigger pump is first used to re-circulate the mash so it clears/settles then it sucks the mash out and into the boiler whilst the sparge is happening.

Here's the wee one :

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I don't have a specific photo of the bigger pump, but it can be seen in this pic :

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Lastly, here's my old 40 litre system running with both the pumps. Obviously I've changed the mash tun and sparge frame since then, but you get the idea. Will do another quick vid today when it's time to sparge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egc0kGVXsgU

K
 
I normally don't remove the lid of a mash when it's going but on this occasion I did to see how the new tun was getting on and add hot water if needed. Shouldn't have bothered......not dropped anything in an hour!

I love thermopots! It's below freezing, I didn't pre-heat it and I haven't filled in a large cavity on the bottom yet it's held temp perfectly!

K
 
Just came back into the garage......I've missed that smell!

K
 
Me again. Boil just about started. Sparge went well and I was bang on volumes from my beersmith recipe so I'm happy in the knowledge that my system, deadspace, etc is correct. Therefore making future recipes easier.

Oh how I've missed you!

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Dead mash

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Pot on the burner

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Wee bit of hoppage :

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1st addition & boil

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Wee bit of wort cooling before being used to wake the yeast

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LET THE YEAST MEET THE WORT!

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AAAAHH noticed a crack in my flask?! Can only assume this was because of the recent cold snap???? I've never boiled this flask.

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kev...what's your losses to boil off with the big ss pot and boiling outdoors in this cold weather
 
Bloody loads!!

Will let you know when it's finished and in the FV.

K
 
cheers only done a quick test run with 30 litres water in 100 litre pot as yet 0C temps and it showed a 32% loss !
Were you tempted to put lid on pot for a time during boil ?
 
All done. 40 litres tucked up in the fermenting fridge!

I hit my 40 litre target bang on and from previous brews/notes I know to start with 55 litres in order to hit my target. That said, this brew has a LOT less hops than my other brews in this boiler (this recipe uses a lot of dry hopping and not a huge amount of kettle hops) therefore this brew should have been above 40 litres due to less hop absorption, etc. In other words, I probably lost a litre or two extra because of the cold.

To answer PD's question above, I had the lid half on all the way through. I only fully removed it during cooling and for photos.

Also totally sold on what I read recently about yeast. Basically make a starter and let it finish. Settle out the yeast and decant the wort. Take a bit of your wort during the boil, chill it then waken the yeast up with it before pitching. Honestly, the wee conical flask was frothing in about 10 mins. Couldn't believe it.

Here's some pics

See what I mean???? Very active yeast! Only been there 10 mins!

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Break forming

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Using chiller exhaust to clean/sterilise the FV's

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Dropping clear

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Runnings from kettle

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Filling

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Break material

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All done

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Colour

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Sight for sore eyes

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In summary, I ended up with 40 litres at 1049. Beersmith said 1048. Can't complain at that.

That gives me a mash efficiency of 76% and a brewhouse efficiency of 66%.

K
 
5 hours later and the air lock is burping like mad!

Job done.

K
 
Really nice brew day write up. I've got some Amarillo hops which I've not tried yet some I'm keeping an eye on this one. Lovely set up too!
 
WEe update on this. Decided to dry hop half with 21g of Amarillo and the other half with 21g of Citra. Also harvested the yeast.

I've just done it all and plopped out the yeast but I'm waiting on the boiled water cooling before I rinse it.

K

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Going to wear them to the spring thing so you know who I am!

K
 
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