First Brew day recommendations

[ian1971]

Hi Just about to attempt my first brew and after some recommendations for first try (maybe something like an Elvis juice or IPA) Thinking of buying one of the premade all grain kits .Just got a second hand grainfather connect and about to buy a keg and C0² cylinder (and a second hand fridge) .I am planning on just using a cheap plastic barrel out of Wilkinson's and just leave in utility room to brew ,Long term planning on trying to make a fermentation fridge but already above budget .So guess would need a beer that can be brewed in a changeable temperature .

Know I need

60" stainless steel paddle
Digital thermometer
Yeast nutrient
Planning on using wives large pan for sparging

Is there anything else I need .save a panic or brew day



Thanks for any recommendations or assistance

Cheers
Ian

 

[jof]

I am sure you won't need your wife's big pan, as grain father should do the sparging for you - else it nothing but a big boiler.

 

[Galena]

For your very first brew I would suggest an extract kit, perhaps one of these from Geterbrewed it means you will be able to concentrate on learning to use the kit and not worry about mashing etc. They are actually very good and not inferior to all grain brewing.
If you don't already have I would suggest a hydrometer and sample tube.

 

[jMac]

Digital thermometer
Yeast nutrient

You probably won’t need yeast nutrient. And you don’t necessary need a digital thermometer- just a standard analogue long thermometer will do.

I second the hydrometer and sample jar, and something to take samples with (I use a cheap turkey baster!). Also, if you haven’t thought about it already, sanitiser for your fermentation vessel and everything which your beer will come into contact with post fermentation.

 

[jMac]

Wanted to also say that ambient temps at the mo are pretty good for brewing most standard ales (18ish°), so unless your utility room is particularly hot it will probably be fine.

 

[trueblue]

https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/product/dennis-kings-galaxy-delight/

 

[Linalmeemow]

I am sure you won't need your wife's big pan, as grain father should do the sparging for you - else it nothing but a big boiler.

Don't think any of the all-in-one systems do the sparging for you, how would they? You need a separate vessel to hold and heat the sparge water.

 

[ian1971]

Thanks for all the assistance really appreciated i have got a hydrometer and sample jar forgot to list .Thinking of using ChemSan Self Foaming No Rinse Sanitiser (ChemSan Self Foaming No Rinse Sanitiser - (250ml): Amazon.co.uk: Kitchen & Home) and got some Grainfather High Performance Cleaner that came with the grainfather .

Like the sound of Dennis Kings Galaxy Delight thinking of trying this for first go , I see there is also Dennis Kings Vic Secret Delight sounds similar just a different hop .Trying see what sounds best .

Thanks again any other tips appreciated

 

[ian1971]

https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/product/dennis-kings-galaxy-delight/

Hi sounds good have you ever tried Dennis Kings Vic Secret Delight ( Dennis Kings Vic Secret Delight | The Malt Miller ) wondering if an improved version or original better ?

thanks for help

 

[trueblue]

Hi sounds good have you ever tried Dennis Kings Vic Secret Delight ( Dennis Kings Vic Secret Delight | The Malt Miller ) wondering if an improved version or original better ?

thanks for help

Not tried it with Vic Secret. The first time I tried the galaxy it was as a kit but for years I keep stocks of all the necessary grains and use different yeast than what they supply. I have used that malt bill with lots of different hops, if I am trying a new hop it allows me to assess it on it's own.

 

[Kveik Freak]

You probably won’t need yeast nutrient. And you don’t necessary need a digital thermometer- just a standard analogue long thermometer will do.

I second the hydrometer and sample jar, and something to take samples with (I use a cheap turkey baster!). Also, if you haven’t thought about it already, sanitiser for your fermentation vessel and everything which your beer will come into contact with post fermentation.

Here to second the long thermometer and third the hydrometer and sample jar. The Wilko one's what I've got, it's fine, but they are also cheap online. Brewstore.co.uk has one that comes with a trial jar.

Having two trial jars is handy. They are dirt cheap and you can put a thermometer in them and chill one while having the other on hand to do things like determining when recirculation has extracted as much sugar as it's going to. You need to chill the wort if you're measuring it when it's boiling or you risk breaking the hydrometer.

Heat safe measuring jugs are good for sampling and moving boiling wort.

If it's possible for you to read the scale when the hydrometer is in the FV, you can sanitise the whole thing and chuck it in.

Be careful when taking the readings. You need to spin and bob the hydrometer in the wort to free it from the surface tension and get rid of any bubbles attached to it which will give you an unreliable reading.

I like to spin and bob it three times to make sure. When you take the reading, take care you take the meniscus into account.

Good luck!

 

[MickDundee]

I am sure you won't need your wife's big pan, as grain father should do the sparging for you - else it nothing but a big boiler.

He needs something to heat his sparge water in, or at the very least to hold his sparge water while his mash is on.

 

[Mrhandsome]

Go for it with the all grain! My first brew was all grain and all I had was a saucepan, thermometer, and a small sieve. I've never looked back. You're definitely more prepared than me with a grainfather.

Temperatures are going down now, so you'll most probably be OK fermenting without TC unless we have a heatwave.

 

[Crappyfish]

I started with a Mangrove Jack's partial grain kit that's when I first thought emmmm all grain must be better although the partial grain kit was very nice. 2 years or more later and a spare room full of AG brewing stuff I never looked back. The only thing is I have forked out for a grain mill cos of this forum lol.