Greetings

[Ian9365]

Hi, I've have read the forum for quite some time but have not previously posted. I have recently retired and so now have much more time and no more excuses to both post and become more actively involved in this fascinating hobby.

I've brewed beer and wine in a generally haphazard fashion over many years, the beers mostly from hopped kits but the wines from self collected fruits, blackberry, Elderberry etc. I've probably been lucky but never really had a disaster with generally pretty good beers but wines sometimes less so, maybe my previous description of HAPHAZARD is relevant here.

As I said I am now retired so it is my intention to become more involved with brewing, learning and using more advanced techniques. I definitely want to start all grain but wouldn't have the space for a full on 3 vessel system so intend initially to use up a single vessel setup. I could afford a Grainfather or similar but don't really want to go down that route. I would rather make my own mistakes and learn from them. With that in mind it is my plan to set up a BIAB system with a false bottom, bag and maybe re-circulation.

I have most of the big equipment, 10 Gall Brewtech kettle, 3kw Buffalo induction hob, mag drive pump, loads of silicon pipe, fittings, thermometers, hydrometers etc. All gained previously from different brewing projects, so that's another reason I don't want an all singing dancing do it for you type system and it just seems that it would lend itself to BIAB without much difficulty.

Ian

 

[An Ankoù]

Welcome, Ian.
The first mistake was retiring- you'll find you haven't got time for anything through trying to do all the stuff you wanted to do when you were at work!
Sounds like an interesting project. Let us know how you get on. What kind of beers are you going to start with on your AG system? I suppose it's the same question as, what do you like drinking?

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Welcome to the forum Ian. :thumba:

 

[Ian9365]

Yes point taken except that more and better brewing was one of the things I didn't have time for before. My favorite tipple, hmmmm that's a hard one, truthfully I'm not sure I have one. Real beer I suppose you could say, I'm not really a fan of lagers but then maybe I've never had a good one. I will undoubtedly start off with something simple like a smash or even an all AG kit. But definitely want to get into different styles, Scottish, Irish, German, Belgian, even American beers, sort of work my way through the BREWERS ASSOCIATION BEER STYLE GUIDELINES database. I just like to try different things !

 

[Gerryjo]

Yes point taken except that more and better brewing was one of the things I didn't have time for before. My favorite tipple, hmmmm that's a hard one, truthfully I'm not sure I have one. Real beer I suppose you could say, I'm not really a fan of lagers but then maybe I've never had a good one. I will undoubtedly start off with something simple like a smash or even an all AG kit. But definitely want to get into different styles, Scottish, Irish, German, Belgian, even American beers, sort of work my way through the BREWERS ASSOCIATION BEER STYLE GUIDELINES database. I just like to try different things !

Hi @Ian9365 and welcome to the forum.
Sounds like you definitely have a decent set up already and the idea of trying SMaSH beers first is a good one as it will let you experiment with your grain and hop types and get to know what types suit your pallet but no doubt that will not last long as you will probably become impatient like the rest of us and want to grab the bull by the horns.Good luck on your retirement and brewing adventure.....