First AG - Orfy's Hobgoblin Clone II (from Home Brew Talk)

[bolty]

Well I have got through it! Was not all that bad but did not hit my OG (was meant to be 1.056 and got 1.044).

All my stuff lined up all methodically (thought I can't get this bit wrong).

This is my heating rig for the sparge water. Got a ket to convert for the HLT but not finished yet so doing the 1 pot approach. Got a 13kg propane cylinder and 8.5kw (30k BTU) burner.

Mashing is underway in my Hop and Grape cooler.

I decided to use an old blanket to keep the tun warm, as the lid is thin. Worked a treat. Only lost 1C!

Here are my 3 hop addition ready.

Part way towards the boil.

Not really part of the brew process but necessary! Had to dip into my blueberry cider.

This cooler from Hop and Grape is well good! Only took about 15mins. was about 6C outside though.

The final result. In the bath the the Nottingham yeast. I pitched it dry without a starter. Hope it will be OK.

Overall had a good laugh. Did it mostly on a natural high and got a real buzz out of doing it. Dit narked about the lower than hoped OG, but you live and learn right?

Cheers

Bolty :

 

[Wez]

Bolty - great post :thumb:

I add the yeast dry all the time - you'll be fine :)

Looks like you did great for your first AG - don't worry about missing the target OG - I think most of us did that on our first (and still do now from time to time) - wait till you taste it it's like going from black and white TV to full colour HD :thumb:

 

[highwayman]

Well Done Bolty :clap: Like the Shiny HLT/Copper what size is it?

 

[bolty]

11 Gallons from Nisbets. Its a vogue aluminium stock pot.

Not as cheap as a keggle, but a very tasty pan.

 

[BrewStew]

nice one!

 

[Jonnyv]

Great first attempt!

Don't worry about missing the gravity - I do it all the time and until you hone in your equipment, it'll happen :thumb:

Great post, and it's a great beer :

 

[Vossy1]

Well done bolty, great pics :thumb:
I bet it's going to be a winning brew :

 

[bolty]

Less than 24 hours in and I was greated home by less than 1 second bubbling, and a smell that if reminiscent of hobgoblin (smelt nothing like during the actual brew process).

I also realised I did not do a correction on my hydrometer reading and it was 30C wort (calibrated to 15C) so corrected to 1.047. Does make me feel just a little bit better.

 

[Ian]

That's quite respectable then! Glad it all went well and great set of pics :thumb:

 

[A T]

Well done on your first effort :clap: It's a great recipe, i've done it a few times myself

 

[bolty]

Fermented down to 1.009 so 4.9%. Its now in the pressure barrel and getting primed. Did get a mouthful while syphoning it and tasted well nice. Was in 2 minds about swallowing it as it was 9.30 in the morning, but I hate to waste good beer! :drink:

Can't wait for the next brew day now.

Anyone suggest a good amount of time to leave this before the first 'test'? It's in a top tap king keg if that makes any diffence.

 

[Wez]

Leave it to carb up for 5 days then move it to a serving position, somewhere cool, nothing wrong with trying a sampler then.

Tonight I've been suppin a beer I brewed 2 weeks ago tomorrow, Its good as it is :thumb:

 

[Frisp]

Are you drinking it yet.... whats it drink like?

 

[bolty]

Drinks pretty well :drink:

Had my first pint on Saturday (was away skiing, which helped me to help it age!)

Did add more bittering Styrian as it had a lower alpha than the recipe.

I did a side by side comparison last night and tastes fairly bang on for hobgoblin, but actually a bit more to my taste as is a bit more bitter and has more flavour (closer to the cask, rather than the bottled version).

Very, very, VERY recommended.

 

[A T]

Great, well done :thumb:

 

[Wez]

Nice one bolty :party:

 

[Orfy]

Orfy Calling.

Glad you like the recipe. :

 

[evanvine]

Well done Bolty!
Nice pics, I wish my first AG had been that sucessful.

 

[jonewer]

Looks good :clap: Home my first is as good as yours!