Have a go at simple AG

[Ste]

The last 2 brews I've done using this technique I've used 1kg MO and 50g of crystal malt for a wee bit more sweetnes but added a few more grams of hops on each addition. I've also dry hopped the last 2
Got some Munich malt, Aroma and special B to have a wee play about with the grain bill.

 

[dweb]

Had my 1st taste of my first ever AG brew last night.Very impressed.If it was a blind taste test,I could definitely say that I wouldn`t be able to tell the difference between mine and a guest ale from Spoons.I had no digital scales when I was measuring the hop additions,so I had to guess but I think I got a result.I also lost the OG reading,so have no idea what the alcohol content was.
I can`t wait to get my wherry kit out of my heater fridge,so I can get a full brew started using the new AG starter kit on the go.
Thanks for all the help.

 

[yeastinfection]

i must admit the difference between an AG and a kit is worlds apart. (thankyou Clibit) for the introduction to this form of brewing,
the downside is im a little dissapointed at my wherrys kit now.i was really looking forward to it, but in comparison there is no comparison.
my next kit will be tweaked in the hope of a better brew :
ive found a 16ltr pan in morrisons which should help.

 

[clibit]

Do a mini mash with the kit. See the how to guides forum. Will make a big difference.

 

[MartinHaworth]

Hi Guys,

Hoping to try my first BIAB this weekend. Got the Maris Otter and Cascade, a grain bag and some yeast. My query is about pans. I have an older stainless steel pan c14litres - but it has some pitting on the inside. Is this a problem do you think?

I was hoping to double up as I also have a 10l pan......

Thoughts welcome.

Martin

 

[clibit]

Can't see a problem with using the 14 litre pan. It's fermentation that needs scratch free containers.

 

[GHW]

My tip if you're splitting between pans is to write out separate timing plans from when each gets to the boil, as it'll almost certainly be at different times, and it's easy to one track of what got added when. I scribble them out once the pan is boiling and have everything weighed out and labelled ready to go, cross them off list as you add.

 

[GlentoranMark]

I can buy my grains crushed but would a food processor be fine for milling whole grains? It would massively increase the range of ingredients I could buy.

I'm putting on a Scottish Heavy today but gonna buy ingredients later and try my first batch next week.

 

[kev192]

ok here is how my all grain has turned out after a week
will it clear, tastes ok at 4%

.

 

[GlentoranMark]

I can buy my grains crushed but would a food processor be fine for milling whole grains? It would massively increase the range of ingredients I could buy.

I'm putting on a Scottish Heavy today but gonna buy ingredients later and try my first batch next week.

I got my question answered by the very helpful guys at The House of HomeBrew.

Using a food processor is too harsh on the grains, they really only need a light crushing. My question was redundant anyway as they crush any grain you buy at no extra cost on site.

I explained this thread and what I was about to do and he suggested I add 10- 20% "cara pils" to add more body to the beer. For hops, I bought Pacific Jade. They sell in smaller quantities and have a much bigger selection than the website shows so if you do order from him, give him a quick call for a chat.

Not sure how this will turn out but really looking forward to trying this.

 

[MartinHaworth]

I’ve just got my first AG brew into the FV, and learnt a lot.

My LHBS sold me 3kg of Marris Otter and 100g of Cascade, along with a grain bag. I was talked into American West Coast Yeast (BRY-97). I decided to have a go at around 15 litres – using up all of the grain.

I borrowed a very large pan from the kitchens at work (diameter 20 inches), and I started at 8.30pm once the kids were in bed.
Grain in bag, 9 litres at 75C insulated mash in pan– all fine. The only problem was my thermometer probe broke off just after adding the grain bag – had to do a bit of guess work from then on.

On the sparge (11Lt) the grain bag wouldn’t stretch around the rim of the very large pan, so this was a bit awkward, but doable.

I had real difficulties in achieving a good boil – it took me an hour to heat the wort to boiling point.. In the end I spread the pan over two rings and got a decent boil for an hour. I think a taller, narrower pan offering less surface area would have been better. I found this frustrating.

Hops added on schedule – 15g when the boil started and 20 g 5 minutes before the end.

Ah, that big pan. Wouldn’t fit in the sink. Had to carry hot wort pan upstairs to put in bath of cold water – not ideal from a safety POV.

Took a while to cool, but within 45 minutes it was ready. I was unsure how best to transfer into the FV. In the end I bailed it through a sieve using a sterilized jug. I got c13 litres at around 1050: I made it up to 15 litres at 1045 ish. I pitched the yeast – and done.

The key learning points for me, so far:
1. Allow enough time. This has made it a late night. In all it took 5 hours.
2. Use the correct pan – I posted up thread that I have a 15 Lt pan – I should have mashed in that and split the boil between a 9lt and 15 lt pan. This would have saved a lot of time.
3. My wife is kind and patient with me starting a too-long-job-too late.
4. I have had fun.

Thanks to Clibit for the guide, it gave me the confidence to have a go.

I would welcome comments / advice.

Martin

 

[clibit]

Nice one, congratulations! Was the mash at 75 after all mixed in or was the water 75 before you mixed the grain in?

 

[MartinHaworth]

The mash was at 75 before adding the grain. I understand that if the mash temp is too high, then we end up with a wort that will not fully ferment?

Thanks

Martin

 

[clibit]

Did you measure the mash temp after mixing the grain in, just before you wrapped the pot up? At that point you want it 64-69, and to stay in that range while it sits.

 

[Covrich]

Something I found helps is get the mash on early before the kids go to bed. I try and do it so that just after I put them to bed I can think about the sparge.

Your Strike water temp sounds one or two degrees higher than I would do but if your probe broke who knows what it mashed at.. sounds like you hit about the right OG so looks okay

 

[MartinHaworth]

Ah! That was the point where the temperature probe broke! It was (just) 75 when I added the grain....beyond this I had no way of knowing.

This, and the difficulty achieving a boil were the two things that concerned me technically.

(carrying boiling wort up the stairs was the biggest practical concern!).

Thanks

Martin

 

[Covrich]

ok here is how my all grain has turned out after a week
will it clear, tastes ok at 4%

.

You bottled and drinking it? didn't you only start fermenting it a week ago. Give it time and let is rest for a few weeks at least.

The looks of that it has a lot in suspension still.

 

[kev192]

i bottled a few to see if it improved and hada taster at the same time. it was also only 10litres in a 5 gallo fv so worried about the air inside.
so i transferred to gallon containers , im preparred to write it off as it didnt go to plan in the brew stage, but see what happens
ive got a 23l recipe waiting but reluctant to start it. i have purchased a grain bag after the first attempt. live and learn

 

[Twostage]

Thanks to Clibit for the guide, it gave me the confidence to have a go.

I would welcome comments / advice.

Martin

I think you've learned a lot already.

Wise after the event but :-

Have two thermometers AND two hydrometers. They are key bits of kit and are only a few quid each and break at awkward moments (well they are not going to break sitting in a box not being used are they ;-)). My hydro fell out of the sample jar and smashed. By the way if you buy a glass thermo from the HBS they will probably have a pile of them and you will be able to see what temp they are showing. Don't buy the one that disagrees with all the rest :-D.

 

[Vallyred]

Got up this morning with the intention of doing a Summer Lightning, instead I've mashed Maris Otter, Caramalt and Crystal and am currently half hour into my Wak-ena brew. Had a pack of Galena and Wakatu I hadn't opened so they're going in at various intervals over the next hour.

Gotta love a last minute change of mind :whistle: