Applesnmore Brewdays

[Applesnmore]

Forgive me my amateurish attempts at brewing but I thought I'd just jot down my attempts.
I have just taken ownership of a Brewzilla thanks to the forum sales. Have done 1 water brew and 1 AG brew on the kit to get the feel of it..
I previously asked about doing a BITB AG bitter, feedback from which nudged me in the all in one approach. Timing.

AG #2
Walkers Bitter.
Walkers was a brewery in Warrington and sold know it was sold in West Lancashire as it was the bitter that my dad sold in the pub back in the 60s.
The bitter has 4.97kg Maris Otter, 460g medium Crystal with Magnum and EKG hops.
Brewday went well and am happy thus far.
The whole process was better than my first brew in that the wort looks better, clearer, hitting 1.056 so happy. Think that was in part due to a longer mash and a gentler recirculation.

Now in the fermentation fridge at 20°C with wyeast 1028 which had Good Fridays date on it.

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

Good for you: fingers crossed :-)
Recipe looks good - I think if I were using yeast with that short a date on it though I would recommend a starter as it might have slightly marginal viability.
Keep an eye on it, and it hopefully you’ll see some activity - if not, you might think about lobbing in some dried yeast

 

[Applesnmore]

Thank you. Agree about the yeast, I was more eager to play with the Brewzilla and forgot about the yeast. Have a packet of US04 if needs be. Give it til Tuesday lunchtime and go from there. Don't want to be the expectant father checking every hour!

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

Don't want to be the expectant father checking every hour!

Every hour!! Good Lord man, five mins at most… that’s me

 

[Applesnmore]

Pleased to report that the yeast is starting to do its thing.

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

 

[Applesnmore]

In 4 weeks, maybe

 

[Applesnmore]

AG#03
Vacant Guesture.
Harrison's Brewery is 9 miles down the road, so it seemed right to have a go. The major difference for me is that I am not into water treatment /additives.

Got off to a 9am start, ruined by pressing go on the Brewzilla, but failing to flick the heater elements on!. Being cooler outside, it has taken longer.

Apart from that ran well. Got 29l post sparge, pH 6.1, higher than previous brews. A 60 min boil left me with around 25l, 2 more than target.

OG slightly off. The wort has a cloudiness to it, shall see how it progresses. US05 pitched at 19°C.

 

[Applesnmore]

Started a brew, picked up a bargin on eBay, a Youngs Red India Ale kit. 17.5l kit

Vacant guesture has had its 2 x dry hops and should be ready for bottling Thursday. The Mosaic hop pellets have formed a blanket on the top of the brew, hopefully they'll drop.

AH#2 Walkers Bitter, has taken its time but got there - 1.005. Double batch of bottling by the looks of it, better get washing bottles!

 

[Applesnmore]

Just finished bottling #AG2 Walkers Bitter & #AG3 the Vacant Guesture.
In my mind the colour is a bit too pale for the walkers, shall have to test my dad out when it's ready. Then there is the Vacant guesture. Hops coming the the bottling wand so had to bag the syphon. Colour wise looks OK. Certainly dank aroma, presumably that is the Mosaic??
See what they are like in a months time. Thus far, I'm happy. Drinkable at least!

 

[Applesnmore]

AG#04
I was lucky enough to be gifted some whole Red X malt, the beer that sprung to mind was Cameron's Strongarm.
4kg Red X 235g Carapils. Pre crushed the malt and set for this morning. Smug, got an early spart all set up outside at 7am. Warmed up 15l mash water, added the grist, doughed in no problem. Where's the top plate! Lifted the malt pipe out, emptied the grist recovered the screen and started again!
Got GW book so 90min mash recommended. Went with that @67°C. Wort recirculating only had a temp of 55°C, perplexing. Temperature set properly, 1900w element on. Leave it.
Time up. Sparge.
Pre boil sg 1.025
Returned the malt pipe back into the Brewzilla. So having sparged there is 24l of wort, right to the top of the basket. Turned the temp up to 68 and had both elements on. Wort and display now agree. Given it half an hour, sg up to 1.039.

Going to raise the basket and hope all goes well from here.