Back into the swing of things

[brumbrew]

So...it's been two years since I managed to brew. Won't bore you with the real life nonsense about swapping jobs, re decorating an entire house including carpets...etcetera but here we are.

I've brewed quite a few times by myself, but normally with my friend. Who I visited today to pick up some bits and bobs from our collective brewing equipment.

I left my FV s soaking all day in sterilizer and had already scrubbed them (With a non scouring pad) inside and out to remove two years of dust and dirt.

Itching to just brew something I've used the following sealed yet out of date grains that I could find in my brew box and my friends.

2kg MO
125g Amber malt
250g special w 250

Mashed at 70 for an hour 15 litres, strained out through a bag into a bucket. Then wash the grains with a mix of hot and wort already in the bucket.

Boiled for an hour with

25g sazz 3.0% at 30 mins pellets
50g Ahthanum 4.6% at kettle off
1/2 tsp of wyeast nutrient last 15 mins
1tsp Irish moss last 15 mins

Not being at my friends, and having collected supplies on my bike, I don't have our chiller coil.

So eventually I've ended up with about 17 litres of beer cooling on my new carpet. SWIMBO will be pleased....I hope.

It all went a lot smoother than I thought. Made a few equipment errors, like had the wrong filter bag to fit the FV at first. Hadn't got Irish moss out the box, but I've not lost the knack.

Will be fermenting when cool, with a year out of date packet of GV12 maybe two if it doesn't get going by tomorrow night.

OG and FG predictions welcome. Closest gets a bottle in the post, UK mainland only unless I can sweet talk the post lady at work (like I used to, but work at different place now)

 

[brumbrew]

On the boil

 

[brumbrew]

Think cooling thoughts

 

[brumbrew]

Anthanum hops were whole cones, dried and came in a silver sealed bag, it was open but stored in a big kilner jar along with other hops we have.

 

[brumbrew]

Sprinkled yeast onto surface at 6am, been out busy all day. Just got home and it's bubbling away nicely.

 

[Gerryjo]

Sounds like a nice little experiment with the out of date stock,though I'm sure that it will be fine even if only for a practice run.Like riding a bike you just never forget although maybe a bit rusty.
Good luck.

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[GerritT]

Looks like it will become beer :) And a nice pale ale too! If you're happy, the missus will be happy. As long as you haven't spilled anything

 

[brumbrew]

I poured the hot liquor into the FV through a zip tied muslin bag by myself. Outside. The dog lapped up the bits that I did spill.

It was just because I'm itching to get back into the swing of things. I've used out of date stuff before to no real ill effect.

Again. OG and FG predictions welcome for a chance to win a bottle sent to your door.

Edited because of phones predictive text

 

[brumbrew]

Try and guess without brewing software. Whilst I did find my hydrometer I prefer using a refractometer.

So my gravity readings are corrected using this sites links. Either hydro or refract readings are welcome.

 

[GerritT]

Try and guess without brewing software. Whilst I did find my hydrometer I prefer using a refractometer.

So my gravity readings are corrected using this sites links. Either hydro or refract readings are welcome.

1050-1015, not completely sure about batch size and attenuation of the yeast.

 

[brumbrew]

1050-1015, not completely sure about batch size and attenuation of the yeast.

17 litres to FV but about a litres worth of sediment has already dropped out

 

[GerritT]

Then I stick to the numbers, considering that the yeast might have lost some attenuation powers :)

 

[brumbrew]

This seems to have slowed somewhat. Will dump some hops in to dry hop. Will bottle next weekend. Only one submitted gravity estimate at the moment.

 

[brumbrew]

Gravity readings are in. GerritT was the only one who entered.

You all had a chance.

It was 10% brix or 1.040
Brewing software said 1.041 so I'm happy with that.

Final was 2.5% or 1.010

Ever so slightly under but still happy to proceed to bottling. Not bad for two years out of the game.

Winner is the only entry. PM me your address and I will send once bottled for you to condition yourself at home.

Congratulations

 

[GerritT]

Gravity readings are in. GerritT was the only one who entered.

You all had a chance.

It was 10% brix or 1.040
Brewing software said 1.041 so I'm happy with that.

Final was 2.5% or 1.010

Ever so slightly under but still happy to proceed to bottling. Not bad for two years out of the game.

Winner is the only entry. PM me your address and I will send once bottled for you to condition yourself at home.

Congratulations

Yay! BUT I pass. Why? Because I'm across the North Sea and that would make postage bizarrely expensive. I love a good beer and appreciate your offer, but the Royal Mail should not have to be able to compensate their bad balances.

So here's my request: would you please send it to one of the better tasters in this forum? I'm only a taster in training, no use for me in important issues. And since you've been off for a 2 years, a decent taster is quite what you deserve.

 

[brumbrew]

Fair and honest enough. Anyone you wish to name?

 

[brumbrew]

This was the first brew in 2 years. I used to give away a free beer from every brew. And I still am. GerritT I can probably still ship it to you from work via DPD won't cost me anything. We ship all over the world. So offer still stands.

But as GerritT says I need someone to taste it. So I'll give away a second bottle of out of date grain and hops ale....to...

Just the first person to volunteer really.

Free beer. Can't even give it away.

 

[Snrub]

You want someone to volunteer to drink a free beer and tell you what it tastes like? Having read about your brew day, I feel it'd be remiss not to stick my hand up! At the same time, if you want someone with any kind of expertise, that aint me :)

 

[brumbrew]

You want someone to volunteer to drink a free beer and tell you what it tastes like? Having read about your brew day, I feel it'd be remiss not to stick my hand up! At the same time, if you want someone with any kind of expertise, that aint me :)

Well you'd give an honest opinion. I hope. PM your postal address I will tell you when it's despatched

 

[Gerryjo]

Anyone on this forum would give an honest opinion as far as im aware.
There is a section for bottle swaps.

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