First AG Brew/disaster Oatmeal Stout

[Cussword]

So, even though it went a bit Hong Kong I shall share:

Alemans Recipe Oatmeal Stout
Grams

Pale Malt 3250
Barley 625
Oat Malt 375
Roasted Barley 300

Bittering Hops.
Bramling Cross 50

The grain minus flakes

Hops

The Tinkers Cuss Brewery

While most of the grains were mashing I heated a pan of water & added 1/4 of the grains plus all the flakes.
I was supposed to take it up to 35C for 20-30 minutes, then up to mash temp 66C & add to the mash.
C*ck-up 1,

The flakes went up to 44C while I was paying attention to something else.

After 90 mins, ready to sparge.
C*ck-up 2 ,

The mash had lost 6 degrees.

First runnings.

Sparging.

what was left,

I managed 23/25 litres.

The boil,

Adding hops,

Cooling,

Gunge,

Result,

.
Unfortunately, after the boil I only had about 16 litres. :x
C*-up 3

Once I had it boiling, maybe I should turn one element off.

I intend to do this again asap to get it right. I've bought some more squirty foam to have another go at the mash tun, & of course, I must pay better attention. I'm sure there is a school teacher turning in his grave

 

[Sean_Mc]

Nice pics and like your setup Toni :thumb:

Sure it will still taste good

 

[Cussword]

Thanks mate, couldn't believe it. I'm going for it again as soon as I get the grains :thumb:

 

[bones]

What was the Gravity of the last running from the mash tun?
It looks as if there is plenty left to be washed out?

 

[Hawks]

Nice looking set up, and for AG1 I think 'disaster' is unfair, more a learning curve :clap:

Looks like you are still going to have a nice pint at the end of the day, and that's what it's all about!

Sounds like you were aiming to collect 25l of wort? Assuming you are looking for something like a 23l brew length, I'd be looking for 30l of wort, every set up is different, but I would think losing 7l to trub, hops & evaporation is fairly average. I batch sparge mind, so if I want 30l, I get 30l and don't have to worry about gravity coming from my mashtun.

I would think you'd get away with 1 element though, I think most people at this size use 2 to get the boil and then keep it rolling on 1. This would help someway.

You also look to have quite a bit left in the boiler - not sure if you took the pic before it was finished draining though.

Looks like a good day though all in all, and still admiring that set up :thumb:

 

[Cussword]

What was the Gravity of the last running from the mash tun?
It looks as if there is plenty left to be washed out?

Confession, the mash tun ceased to give any more. I made a perspex false bottom for the mash tun but thought that there would be too much liquid underneath it to mash efficiently so I didn't use it. I have since thought of filling the space under the perspex with marbles to fill up the 'dead' space, or use more liquid to mash. Any suggestions? Anyone?

 

[Cussword]

You also look to have quite a bit left in the boiler - not sure if you took the pic before it was finished draining though.
Looks like a good day though all in all, and still admiring that set up :thumb:

I couldn't get any more out of the boiler, someting else I have to look into :thumb:

 

[Aleman]

:hmm: :hmm: With Equipment like that it was really difficult to screw it up :hmm: :hmm:

Ok so you didn't get all the sugars extracted from the mash . . . You need to look at your mash screen . . . show us a picture of the inside of the tun showing what you have in there. . . . What you could have done is used a grain bag . . . I'm sure you have one :whistle: which would have helped with the sparging

With insulation that boiler only needs one element on . . . even if you are boiling 55L outside in the winter . . . for a 25L batch I would probably use the Burco element and leave the 2.75KW switched off once you have a boil. . . . too much evaporation and you've left a lot behind. . . . Do you have a syphon on that kettle outlet? It is possible to get much more liquid out of the kettle than you achieved.

If you give me a couple of days notice before you brew again, I'll come around and laugh at you . . . If you're really lucky I won't charge you :lol:

 

[robsan77]

I like the scourer hop strainers, great idea :thumb:

 

[rickthebrew]

first one out the way well done

 

[31bb3]

Theoretically you may have had afew cockups however you have made beer from grains therefore its not all lost well done on your 1st ag

 

[Cussword]

For the second time today, thanks mate :thumb:

 

[Cussword]

. . You need to look at your mash screen . . . show us a picture of the inside of the tun showing what you have in there. . . . What you could have done is used a grain bag . . . I'm sure you have one :whistle: which would have helped with the sparging
:

OK then, you asked for it. Couldn't show mash tun last night as I had squirty foamed it (a lot):

What might not be too obvious is the amount it deformed on the inside.

So now the clearance under the screen is quite substantial :grin:

Even the manifold that I spent ages making does not now fit as the bottom is also deformed:

So,,, it looks like the SS braid & a grain bag from now on:whistle:

 

[Tony]

I think I see the prob Toni. Your hops are out of focus.



I bet none of us can stand up and say our first few AGs went perfectly. In fact, I can't stand up at all ... been at my own brews. :shock:

You wait .. then next brew will be so much smoother. You'll probably find that this one will taste great too ....

Experience is a great thing - and can't be bought!

 

[rickthebrew]

Experience is a great thing - and can't be bought!

:thumb: Very well said - get your next brew on I say :whistle: