First AG

[Growler]

I am about to take the plunge into AG brewing having recently aquired a 30 litre boiler etc from Runwell Steve

viewtopic.php?f=37&t=14999

I'm quite nervous about my first brew and was going to try a brown ale recipe I found on here but it uses quite a lot of diffrent ingredients

I wondered if any one could suggest a nice simply recipe for me to try hopefully some thing that is a bit idiot proof

I currently have been using kits including Tom Caxton Ales, Woodefords Admirals reserve and blackrock Nut brown ale

 

[Sean_Mc]

I'd suggest Wez's Big Kenny :thumb:

If you want to decrease the ingredients keep the hops the same and jiggle about with the malts a bit, Also MD's Poltergeist Porter is an easy one with few malts, but very nice

 

[Baz Chaz]

Growler, the best tip is not really about the recipe :shock:

Make yourself an 'idiot sheet' as a reminder, list down the running order and temperatures etc just so you don't miss anything, you'll be fine and enjoy it everything will make sense as you go along :thumb:

 

[luckyeddie]

Totally agree with Baz Chaz. You could put together the most complex recipe you wanted with 20 or so different malts and grains (assuming we're not getting into step mashes with lots of rests, decoction mashes etc) and it would not affect your brewing process one bit because you weigh out your grains, hops etc beforehand.

Make a list of everything that you need to do in the order you want to do it (I use an Excel spreadsheet and have my laptop close at hand) including temperatures, volumes, quantities, timings etc - then as you go through the process, put a tick against each item as you do it.

Also....

when it comes to your hops etc - LABEL things so you know what they are.

Also....

check your hop filter, mash manifold etc are in place and tightly pushed home (or your grain bag is properly tied off at the right height and clear of your heating element if you are doing BIAB) before you switch heaters on, add mash water etc.

Also....

Make sure all your taps are in the 'off' position before you start - then go round and check them all again.

Happy brewday.

 

[Growler]

cheers for the replies

I must say my biggest concern is sparging I'm still having problems getting my head around it

I do intend to print off the "how to" for AG so hopefully it will make sense in practise

 

[Growler]

have just ordered all the bits to make a Nanns Brown Ale :thumb:

I intend to sit down friday morning and run through it all before starting friday mid day

I will try to do some pics but I may be having a bit of a panic so we will see

 

[luckyeddie]

Piccies are always nice - you can always photograph your grain and hops etc beforehand, and there's always a bit of time during the sparge and when doing the boil.. You could always pinch someone else's brew photos and pass them off as your own if you haven't got time - this lot are too drunk to notice anyway.

:lol:

Above all, enjoy yourself. The first AG is always the most exciting, one way or another. It's one of the three most memorable occasions of my life, in no particular order....

My first AG brewday
The day I got married
My first 300 game

 

[evanvine]

I 100% agree with what both BC and LE have said, just don't do my trick and forget to close taps and fit your hop filter.
Hope the brew goes well and the best of luck.
PS. If you are unhappy with "fly" sparging, then "batch" sparge.

 

[Growler]

May be a stupid question but just want to check with the grain and hop filters I have slots being grain and holes being hops these are fitted with the opens to the bottom?

 

[Ceejay]

Exactly right mate. Slots/holes face down so the pick-up point for the wort is at the lowest point possible. This way, you minimise dead space :thumb:

 

[Growler]

Thanks for the replies everyone :thumb:

 

[luckyeddie]

Good luck :thumb:

 

[evanvine]

I have slots being grain and holes being hops

If you have a false bottom, which is full of holes, it kinda knocks the argument on its head! :whistle:
If you "fly" sparge, "dead space" isn't a consideration.

 

[Growler]

don't know if this will happen as my order is still processing

come on Brew UK I have faith :pray: :pray:

yahhhh just got the despatched e-mail it's on its way :party: :party:

 

[Runwell-Steve]

For sparging I always fly sparged.

I just layed the perforated foil tray, (which came from ASDA and had Garlic Bread in it), on top of the grain bed, then laid the end of the pipe from the HLT on the foil tray and turned the water on. You have both taps on at the same time, the HLT one and the Mash Tun one.

I used to aim to have the foil tray full of water all the time which gives you about an inch of water above the grain bed.

The nice sugary wort runs out the bottom of the Mash Tun into the boiler.

All you are really doing when sparging is rinsing all the sugars from the grains that were extracted during the mash, so as long as clean water goes in the top and sugary water comes out the bottom you're sorted.

 

[Growler]

cheers Steve :thumb:

 

[Growler]

It's definatly on as my order has arrived so there is nothing to stop me :rofl:

 

[luckyeddie]

It's definatly on as my order has arrived so there is nothing to stop me :rofl:

What are you doing posting on here then?

Get that mash water on, pronto...

 

[evanvine]

Get that mash water on, pronto...

Fancy calling it WATER!!!! :shock: :grin:

 

[Growler]

What are you doing posting on here then?

I'm still at w**k and while some people can brew at work I think the MD may not be impressed if I start making beer in the gatehouse