Get'er brewed Belgian Dubbel Review

[dad_of_jon]

coming soon.....

Thought i'd build up a bit of suspense as I think I'm the last of the
get'er brewed draw winners to post a review.

my excuses for this are:

1. It was late arriving
2. Been on holiday

 

[dad_of_jon]

well here it is,

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b619/dadofjon/IMG_0622_zps7wz9gely.jpg

thought there might be a dog or two inside for a moment.

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b619/dadofjon/IMG_0623_zpsf89gqzvy.jpg


That looks like a lot of grain to my untrained eye.

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b619/dadofjon/IMG_0624_zpseo8cuwl3.jpg

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b619/dadofjon/IMG_0624_zpseo8cuwl3.jpg



I'm actually worried at this point, what have I let myself in for?


Ingredients:
The kit comes with dextrose. Having not seen or used dextrose before it looked more like a packet of cocaine (no - i've not seen or used that before either!)
There's an unidentified packet of hops and a bag of multi grains for recipe copyright reasons of course and a not so anonymous packet of t-58 which i've used before. A whirlflock tablet rounds the package off.

Instructions:
Read instructions, there's a typo in the mash temp it says 65deg F that surely has to be C all the other temps are.

I will say that the instructions aren't comprehensive enough for beginners. However, if you're stepping up from extract brewing they're not too bad. The mashing and its related techniques are the only new bits to learn.

There are og and fg ranges there which is good. Reading up on this it's if you're in the range you'd have an abv between 5.78% and 8.79% which is quite a wide range although if you hit both the lower figures or both the higher figures it would be 7.09% or 7.48%


I used an alternative way to brew the beer as I couldn't mash all the grain in one container so I mashed in two pots and recombined them for the boil.

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b619/dadofjon/IMG_0626_zpslrfpqpvu.jpg
http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b619/dadofjon/IMG_0627_zpsm3krdae6.jpg
http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b619/dadofjon/IMG_0629_zpscstw2zk6.jpg



I was still only be able to boil about 12 litres. Also I don't have a chiller so I did a no-chill like myqul and then topped up the FV with the rest of the bottled water to an appropriate level. previously I did 4-4.5 liters on wort and diluted with ice cold water to pitching temp.

did 2 biab and managed to get both pans to 67 deg c and topped up with boiling water from kettle when grain added. Big problem was trying to keep both pans at correct temps.

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b619/dadofjon/IMG_0628_zpsky55dw1x.jpg

will not attempt this again with 2 pans. It would be easier doing a recipe for half the amount in the bigger pot so I could keep the mash temp spot on. Also left the other two cooking rings on rather than insulate both pots as I don't have enough insulation to hand for two pots. still this will serve as how not to do a 5 gallon AG!

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b619/dadofjon/IMG_0628_zpsky55dw1x.jpg
http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b619/dadofjon/IMG_0633_zpsjbbw9ija.jpg

had a grain bag faux pas , it split in the sink :shock:

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b619/dadofjon/IMG_0631_zpsxgnintsf.jpg

did a 60 boil and added another 2 litres water to top up. The hops went in for 60 mins and the dextrose and whirlflock in the last 10 mins.

spent all the boil time tidying up the grain spill!

left about 12 litres of wort to chill overnight wrapped in star san'd cling film - respect to myqul :hat:

Couldn't get back into kitchen till 4pm Saturday.

No worries as the wort was still too warm but myqul's no-chill method is a great extra technique to have onboard.
used bottled water to mix with boiled water to rehydrate the yeast.
At this point I still didn't have an og but diluted short.

1044 giving an estimated abv of 4.5% so way off the mark.

May I say that this is in no way GeterBrewed's fault as I found the kit to be of good quality, the grains smelt lush during the mash/boil. What I have found is that AG brewing for 20+ litres requires more equipment than I can utilize, splitting it into a number of pans and trying to maintain mash temp is not the easiest thing to do. Also if I had sparged I may have got a few more % points? The bottom line is I can't handle that much grain in a small kitchen with limited brewing equipment storage space so I think DME brewing with speciality grains is where i'll set my bar.

The sample tube tasted very malty so quite confident it will be a nice brew if a bit low with the abv..

will update once fermented.

 

[stevej]

Good report dad :thumb:

 

[dad_of_jon]

Good report dad :thumb:

Stevej - :hat:

I've no idea how you can brew so much, it must be in the genes!

 

[stevej]

It gets easier i think my record was 4 ags in a weekend:lol:

 

[Tony1951]

It gets easier i think my record was 4 ags in a weekend:lol:

I'd definitely end up on the streets living in a box if I tried that.

Not because I'd become a drunk - the wife would throw me out. She already comes into the kitchen looking doleful at various points, squinting through the clouds of steam and looking at the tiles for splashes of wort. Then she is running a mop between my feet as I walk about, lest I trample sticky malt through the house. I'm managing about one AG per fortnight at this stage. Maybe in time she will grow to love brewing....... Not sure about that. Doesn't seem likely. :)

 

[dad_of_jon]

SteveJ & Clibit are legends.

Steve for his immense brew volumes and clibit for all his knowledge of brewing (not saying SteveJ doesn't have that knowledge. I think he brews sooo much he has less time to spend on the forum ;-) )

Tony, My kitchen time is limited but my other half is engaged with my brewing.

Mind you, I have made 2 recipes specifically for her and she likes them although she tends to fall asleep after drinking them. Which is the same effect when I talk to her about the brews

 

[Tony1951]

Tony, My kitchen time is limited but my other half is engaged with my brewing.

Mind you, I have made 2 recipes specifically for her and she likes them although she tends to fall asleep after drinking them. Which is the same effect when I talk to her about the brews

Ah - this is where I went wrong. I've been taking the approach of, "I'm brewing today woman. Keep out of the way. You can come in later and mop up the slops." Do you think I might have been tactless? :)

 

[stevej]

Ah - this is where I went wrong. I've been taking the approach of, "I'm brewing today woman. Keep out of the way. You can come in later and mop up the slops." Do you think I might have been tactless? :)

Yeah a bit Tony

Mine just said get in the basement and do it, Its like a dungeon down there nice and cool though:wink:

 

[Tony1951]

Yeah a bit Tony

Mine just said get in the basement and do it, Its like a dungeon down there nice and cool though:wink:

You have a dungeon?:shock:

What do you do with it when you are not brewing?

How do you get rid of the steam? :lol:

 

[stevej]

You have a dungeon?:shock:

What do you do with it when you are not brewing?

How do you get rid of the steam? :lol:

Haha ive installed a huge extractor in it, Tbh its full of beer things and beer when i get time to clear it out properly il put some pictures up of my setup

 

[dad_of_jon]

well here it is,

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b619/dadofjon/IMG_0622_zps7wz9gely.jpg

thought there might be a dog or two inside for a moment.

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b619/dadofjon/IMG_0623_zpsf89gqzvy.jpg


That looks like a lot of grain to my untrained eye.

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b619/dadofjon/IMG_0624_zpseo8cuwl3.jpg

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b619/dadofjon/IMG_0624_zpseo8cuwl3.jpg



I'm actually worried at this point, what have I let myself in for?


Ingredients:
The kit comes with dextrose. Having not seen or used dextrose before it looked more like a packet of cocaine (no - i've not seen or used that before either!)
There's an unidentified packet of hops and a bag of multi grains for recipe copyright reasons of course and a not so anonymous packet of t-58 which i've used before. A whirlflock tablet rounds the package off.

Instructions:
Read instructions, there's a typo in the mash temp it says 65deg F that surely has to be C all the other temps are.

I will say that the instructions aren't comprehensive enough for beginners. However, if you're stepping up from extract brewing they're not too bad. The mashing and its related techniques are the only new bits to learn.

There are og and fg ranges there which is good. Reading up on this it's if you're in the range you'd have an abv between 5.78% and 8.79% which is quite a wide range although if you hit both the lower figures or both the higher figures it would be 7.09% or 7.48%


I used an alternative way to brew the beer as I couldn't mash all the grain in one container so I mashed in two pots and recombined them for the boil.

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b619/dadofjon/IMG_0626_zpslrfpqpvu.jpg
http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b619/dadofjon/IMG_0627_zpsm3krdae6.jpg
http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b619/dadofjon/IMG_0629_zpscstw2zk6.jpg



I was still only be able to boil about 12 litres. Also I don't have a chiller so I did a no-chill like myqul and then topped up the FV with the rest of the bottled water to an appropriate level. previously I did 4-4.5 liters on wort and diluted with ice cold water to pitching temp.

did 2 biab and managed to get both pans to 67 deg c and topped up with boiling water from kettle when grain added. Big problem was trying to keep both pans at correct temps.

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b619/dadofjon/IMG_0628_zpsky55dw1x.jpg

will not attempt this again with 2 pans. It would be easier doing a recipe for half the amount in the bigger pot so I could keep the mash temp spot on. Also left the other two cooking rings on rather than insulate both pots as I don't have enough insulation to hand for two pots. still this will serve as how not to do a 5 gallon AG!

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b619/dadofjon/IMG_0628_zpsky55dw1x.jpg
http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b619/dadofjon/IMG_0633_zpsjbbw9ija.jpg

had a grain bag faux pas , it split in the sink :shock:

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b619/dadofjon/IMG_0631_zpsxgnintsf.jpg

did a 60 boil and added another 2 litres water to top up. The hops went in for 60 mins and the dextrose and whirlflock in the last 10 mins.

spent all the boil time tidying up the grain spill!

left about 12 litres of wort to chill overnight wrapped in star san'd cling film - respect to myqul :hat:

Couldn't get back into kitchen till 4pm Saturday.

No worries as the wort was still too warm but myqul's no-chill method is a great extra technique to have onboard.
used bottled water to mix with boiled water to rehydrate the yeast.
At this point I still didn't have an og but diluted short.

1044 giving an estimated abv of 4.5% so way off the mark.

May I say that this is in no way GeterBrewed's fault as I found the kit to be of good quality, the grains smelt lush during the mash/boil. What I have found is that AG brewing for 20+ litres requires more equipment than I can utilize, splitting it into a number of pans and trying to maintain mash temp is not the easiest thing to do. Also if I had sparged I may have got a few more % points? The bottom line is I can't handle that much grain in a small kitchen with limited brewing equipment storage space so I think DME brewing with speciality grains is where i'll set my bar.

The sample tube tasted very malty so quite confident it will be a nice brew if a bit low with the abv..

will update once fermented.

18/07/2015 - update

trial sample:



And the obligatory hydro shot....



1.007 adjusted = 4.86% - better than expected attenuation.
looks really clear, taste is very good like a dubble not as strong as the usual dubbels but that's due to my error :whistle:, not the kit. Anyhow, was contemplating doing a second fermentable addition, but I think it's good enough to stand out on its own. Would I recommend this kit? If you like dubbels and can handle the larger grain bill it is supposed to be a 7.0% + abv after all i'd definitely recommend it.

primed with 90g dark candi sugar and 40g brewing sugar.

Just realised the instructions that came with the kit didn't give priming instructions or come with any priming fermentables. A typical priming value for the style would be welcome as muntons and brewferm include them at it would help any newbies who jump straight in AG kits.

Not a worry for me as the bottling bucket is hardwired to head into the kitchen the moment the FV is carried into the kitchen:)