AG1 - Darkness Falls......

[AndyBWood]

Evening All,

Well, we’re now approaching the end of day 8 of AG1 and I’ve still got a myriad of pin-prick size bubbles rising from the depths of the Yorkshire Square yeast. Really impressed with this; only ever used dried in the past with the kits I’ve brewed previously and they’ve all been done n’ dusted (visible fermentation wise) long before now.

Took a reading last night and coming in around 1.011. So, definitely getting there.

Been holding the temp between 19.8 and 20.0 degrees with the STC1000. Anyone have any experience of the Whitelabs Yorkshire Square ? I’d be interested to know if others have had a long slow finish.

Cheers

 

[evanvine]

If its any comfort ABW, my ferments frequently take 3 - 4 weeks!

 

[AndyBWood]

evanvine,

3-4 weeks eh ? Well.......... looks like I can put my feet up then !

Cheers :thumb:

A

 

[Asalpaws]

Just a guess but I would surprised if a british ale yeast will get much below 1.011, it's probably done. T

 

[evanvine]

My average FG is 1.008

 

[carl_saint]

1.011 from 1.070 is done I'd say but I'd leave it for a good 12 day sat least! I'm gonna rack mine off at 14 days!

 

[AndyBWood]

Evening All,

Still just a tiny few bubbles rising tonight at the end of Day 10.

So, looks about it but..... will take on board the advice and wait until the weekend before kegging.

Cheers :thumb:

 

[AndyBWood]

Morning All,

Well, it's done. Kegged the brew this morning; finished at 1.006 – 1.008 ?

Wasn't expecting this and never had a brew (all kits) finish this low before. Initial taste suggests that there is still a nice malty hum going on though and the hops have mellowed out over the 14 days in the fermentor but, definitely still there. I’ve never achieved anything like this with a kit before; there’s that fresh-zesty-zing-thing going on.

The hops are certainly reminiscent of TTL so Wheeler is definitely in the right ball park with his suggested ingredients. Hopefully it won't come across too dry; will have to wait and see.

If I had to take a punt I'd say because the mash temp dropped by 3 -4 degrees I may have stripped out more fermentable sugars than I wanted and that's why its gone 'all the way' ? Its also a fair bit lighter than your typical TTL but Wheeler does say the black malt additions are a bit of a guesstimate.

So, taking on board all the advice, for AG2 I’ll be :

Doing a better job of pre-heating the tun. I thought I’d done enough but……

Filling the tun airspace with insulation. I suspect this was the main culprit of the temp drop.

Warming the grain so there isn’t such a temp shift.

Controlling the sparge liquor temp. PID is calling; I’ve got the PID unit, SSR and heatsink but need to sort out the probe and thermowell. (apologies, I fear more questions are on their way……)

For No1 though, I’m happy. I may not have created TTL but I’ll certainly end up with a nice pint of hoppy ale.

Thanks again for everyone’s input, advice and encouragement. :thumb:

Cheers :

A

 

[Baz Chaz]

You wait until it's aged a bit :thumb: it'll be a crackin pint, it may not be exactly as you thought it may be but it'll still be good :thumb:

so the next one will be slightly different, but there lies the fascination and the enjoyment of brewing :

 

[evanvine]

I see nothing wrong with the colour you have achieved!
well done! :thumb:

 

[AndyBWood]

Baz Chaz,

Yeah - can't wait for it to develop. I'm away for the next few weeks so will be forced to leave this alone which is probably a good thing !

Evan Vine,

You could be right about the colour. Just opened a bottle of Marston's Pedigree and its maybe just a tad lighter. Perhaps it was just the small sample I was looking at that made it appear that bit lighter ?

Will do a side-by-side when its finished against a bottle of TTL to compare.

Cheers :

A

 

[Baz Chaz]

.... Will do a side-by-side when its finished against a bottle of TTL to compare.

They will be different :!: similar but different, I've done (or mates have done) the same type of comparison and its always the same comment, "very similar but slightly different" :!: often followed with "yours is a fresher cleaner taste" or something similar.
Now my bunch are not going to hold back, if its crap I'll get told so, but often it's "prefer yours, tastes fresher/not as fizzy" or similar comments :thumb:

 

[AndyBWood]

Thanks BC,

We shall await the outcome; its a good job I'm not around for the next few weeks otherwise I don't think I could resist a daily test ( or two ).

Just checked tonight (purely medicinal) to see if holding pressure and all systems go.

Thats it now; no more peeping...... :hmm:

A