Have a go at simple AG

[Dave 666]

Ah right, I see what you not seeing here. You wouldnt be able to do a full boil 23L using a 33L pot (thats the smallest recomended size, if affordable its recommended to use a 50L pot) on your hob. Unless you have one of those fierce wok burner (@Clint has one and therefor able to do a full boil in his kitchen, but then again his cooker and hob is bigger than my whole kitchen ) . What people usually do is use a gas bottle and burner outside or a powerful induction hob like a 3000kw buffalo induction.

As mentioned I used to use an 18L pot and that was definately the biggest pot my large gas ring could handle

I'm probably thinking way into the future AG wise, it may turn out I'd have more fun and better options sticking to small batch 10 litre AG brews. In which case a 15 litre pot aught to be OK.

 

[MyQul]

To much to think about lol, but certainty gives much food for thought. But also thinking if or how that might affect the finished brew or could be fun to play with 2 different malts in a single brew.

I know, and you havent even done your first AG yet

The point is that their loads of different ways, means and workarounds to produce good quality beer that suits everyones individual circumstances (and budgets)

To give you my personal example. I dont have an outside space to use a gas burner and full boil, so I started off doing Maxi-BIAB to produce 23L of beer at a time. But recently I've a) cut down on the amount I drink b) due to my small kitchen doing 23L can be messy and at times a little difficult. I therefore cut down to 10L which was a lot easier. The past month or two Ive cut down to 5L because its even easier to do than 10L and if I do 30min mash /30min boil (another workaround) I can knock out 5L in two hours, so if I choose I can do more then one brew day in a week

 

[MyQul]

I'm probably thinking way into the future AG wise, it may turn out I'd have more fun and better options sticking to small batch 10 litre AG brews. In which case a 15 litre pot aught to be OK.

A 15L pot is more than enough for 10L batches. If your on a limited budget like me, equipment-wise, smaller batches is much cheaper

 

[Dave 666]

A 15L pot is more than enough for 10L batches. If your on a limited budget like me, equipment-wise, smaller batches is much cheaper

Not so much limited budget (but a serious thought all the same), but more a case of not to much to soon spending wise as it would really annoy the other half I feel .

My next plan is to simply get the 15 litre pot, get a 10 litre brewing bucket, ingredients and simply see how I get on with my initial AG brew. Medium term term (well by end of this summer) 2 10 litre brew buckets and 2 AG brews at once, likely different brews staggered so I'm never more than 2 weeks away from bottling up something new.

 

[MyQul]

Not so much limited budget (but a serious thought all the same), but more a case of not to much to soon spending wise as it would really annoy the other half I feel .

My next plan is to simply get the 15 litre pot, get a 10 litre brewing bucket, ingredients and simply see how I get on with my initial AG brew. Medium term term (well by end of this summer) 2 10 litre brew buckets and 2 AG brews at once, likely different brews staggered so I'm never more than 2 weeks away from bottling up something new.

Sounds like a plan. Be warned though. This hobby is extremely addictive, before you know it you'll have a 50L 3 vessel set up, brew fridge and full compliment of corny kegs including, keggerator for dispensing....oh, and a divorce. Full kegs,empty wallet as I someone once said

 

[Dave 666]

So, a slight change of plan I think. As my kit brew looks to have finished off, well ready for bottling (once the beer & hops clear\drop) in the next day or so anyway, that has freed up the 20 litre fermentation bucket. Which times nicely with when the 15 litre stock pot will arrive to :) .

So, what I'm now thinking is to use the 20 litre bucket for the first AG brew and get the smaller 10 litre one come pay day. But as I don't like to waste the bucket space I'm looking at upscaling the brew to 15 litres (instead of 10) . Sure, a 15 litre AG brew might not be possible in a single 15 litre stock pot. But I still have a smaller 5-7 litre stock pot that make up the difference I'm hoping. As in doing the AG brew in 2 pots from scratch.

Now not 100% decided on recipe yet, but malt wise I'm thinking Maris Otter (3kg) & Crystal (500g) & Caramalt 500g. Caramalt I've read is a lighter version of crystal anyway, but adds sweetness?. I might adjust the quantity as 1kg should be enough to do 5 litre, yet my target brew is 15 litre. Anyone any thoughts so far?.

Undecided on hops and yeast yet, maybe a single hop choice or 2 different ones seeing as I'll likely be doing another AG brew after I get paid anyway.

 

[JebKerman]

It's really pretty simple making beer, it's made complicated by fancy equipment and loads of jargon I guess.

So much this.

I've only ever done AG and used brew in a bag. I tend to do 3 gallon(ish) batches in a 20l kettle and have had some good results.

Another good thing someone told me about brewing: If you can make follow the instructions to make a cake, you can make beer.

 

[AlanHarper]

Not sure I would MAKE a cake,,, lol

 

[Dave 666]

So much this.

I've only ever done AG and used brew in a bag. I tend to do 3 gallon(ish) batches in a 20l kettle and have had some good results.

Another good thing someone told me about brewing: If you can make follow the instructions to male a cake, you can make beer.

Yeah, in reading these last few weeks, I'm starting to feel even the home brewing industry is trying to overcomplicate AG brewing and would prefer us to stick to pre made kits or persuade us expensive equipment is needed to get our hands into AG. If it were not for this thread I'd never have given AG brewing a look. But in saying that, there will always be a place for kits, as clearly it gives us a benchmark for types of beer to try making or tweaking the kit by adding to it etc.

Seems crazy, when I still have my first kit brew in the bucket that I'm looking at the next 2 brews being AG and giving serious thoughts to buying the main grain by the 25kg sack in the next month or so if things work out.

 

[MyQul]

Yeah, in reading these last few weeks, I'm starting to feel even the home brewing industry is trying to overcomplicate AG brewing and would prefer us to stick to pre made kits or persuade us expensive equipment is needed to get our hands into AG. If it were not for this thread I'd never have given AG brewing a look. But in saying that, there will always be a place for kits, as clearly it gives us a benchmark for types of beer to try making or tweaking the kit by adding to it etc.

Seems crazy, when I still have my first kit brew in the bucket that I'm looking at the next 2 brews being AG and giving serious thoughts to buying the main grain by the 25kg sack in the next month or so if things work out.

I'm aware of forumites that started out AG straight away and have never went near a kit. I think I even remember one member who went out an bought a grainfather straight away.

A 25kg sack is a good bulk buy.

 

[JebKerman]

Not sure I would MALE a cake,,, lol

Oops... Fat fingers there, possibly caused by too much cake... or beer

 

[Dave 666]

So, my recipe is now likely to consist of:

Malt:
3kg Maris Otter
500g Crystal
500g Cara Gold

Hops:
Magnum or
Brewers Gold (not both)

Yeast:
M44 US West Coast

This might (but by no means certain) give me something similar to my current kit brew I'm thinking. But as a different process will likely be something completely different taste and flavour wise.

My first question is before I go and buy, should these ingredients be compatible and give an acceptable brew?. Second question, is the quantity of malt correct for an estimated 15 litre brew, to much or to little?. Final question, I'm looking at adding around the 50 gram mark of hops, at different points. Is this likely right, to little or to much?.

 

[AlanHarper]

So, my recipe is now likely to consist of:

Malt:
3kg Maris Otter
500g Crystal
500g Cara Gold

Hops:
Magnum or
Brewers Gold (not both)

Yeast:
M44 US West Coast

This might (but by no means certain) give me something similar to my current kit brew I'm thinking. But as a different process will likely be something completely different taste and flavour wise.

My first question is before I go and buy, should these ingredients be compatible and give an acceptable brew?. Second question, is the quantity of malt correct for an estimated 15 litre brew, to much or to little?. Final question, I'm looking at adding around the 50 gram mark of hops, at different points. Is this likely right, to little or to much?.

==========================================
Hi Dave, I plugged your idea into the Recipe Generator in Brewer's Friend web and it screamed too alcoholic (9.5%+) and bitter (unless you wanted it that way) so I tweaked the values to get it within the assumed style of a strong American Ale (based on the yeast you used).

The results are below. It also uses a reduced bill - so you can make it again for not much more cost.

I hope this helps. By the way I'm a newbie too so all I have learned is by using the recipe builder...

HOME BREW RECIPE:
Title: Dave666_Idea
Author: Dave666
Brew Method: All Grain
Style Name: American Strong Ale
Boil Time: 90 min
Batch Size: 10 liters (fermentor volume)
Boil Size: 15 liters
Boil Gravity: 1.045
Efficiency: 80% (brew house)
STATS:
Original Gravity: 1.068
Final Gravity: 1.019
ABV (standard): 6.48%
IBU (tinseth): 107.13
SRM (morey): 9.25
FERMENTABLES:
2.5 kg - United Kingdom - Maris Otter Pale (92.6%)
0.1 kg - United Kingdom - Crystal 60L (3.7%)
0.1 kg - United Kingdom - Cara Malt (3.7%)
HOPS:
10 g - Magnum, Type: Leaf/Whole, AA: 15, Use: Boil for 90 min, IBU: 38.59
20 g - Magnum, Type: Leaf/Whole, AA: 15, Use: Boil for 30 min, IBU: 55.45
10 g - Magnum, Type: Leaf/Whole, AA: 15, Use: Aroma for 10 min, IBU: 13.08
MASH GUIDELINES:
1) Infusion, Temp: 65 C, Time: 0 min, Amount: 10 L
2) Sparge, Temp: 70 C, Time: 30 min, Amount: 5 L
Starting Mash Thickness: 3 L/kg
YEAST:
Mangrove Jack - US West Coast Yeast M44
Starter: No
Form: Dry
Attenuation (avg): 78%
Flocculation: High
Optimum Temp: 15 - 23.33 C
Fermentation Temp: 21 C
Generated by Brewer's Friend - https://www.brewersfriend.com/
Date: 2018-06-21 20:43 UTC
Recipe Last Updated: 2018-06-21 20:43 UTC

 

[GerritT]

3 kg pale and 1 kg cara/crystal (25%)? That's übersweet and leaves you with diabetes level sweetness. Even the rearranged recipe stops at 1019. @AlanHarper Where do you base the 80% efficiency on? It's doable, but a bit high. 75% might be more realistic. MJ is a good choice.

 

[Dave 666]

==========================================
Hi Dave, I plugged your idea into the Recipe Generator in Brewer's Friend web and it screamed too alcoholic (9.5%+) and bitter (unless you wanted it that way) so I tweaked the values to get it within the assumed style of a strong American Ale (based on the yeast you used).

The results are below. It also uses a reduced bill - so you can make it again for not much more cost.

I hope this helps. By the way I'm a newbie too so all I have learned is by using the recipe builder...

HOME BREW RECIPE:
Title: Dave666_Idea
Author: Dave666
Brew Method: All Grain
Style Name: American Strong Ale
Boil Time: 90 min
Batch Size: 10 liters (fermentor volume)
Boil Size: 15 liters
Boil Gravity: 1.045
Efficiency: 80% (brew house)
STATS:
Original Gravity: 1.068
Final Gravity: 1.019
ABV (standard): 6.48%
IBU (tinseth): 107.13
SRM (morey): 9.25
FERMENTABLES:
2.5 kg - United Kingdom - Maris Otter Pale (92.6%)
0.1 kg - United Kingdom - Crystal 60L (3.7%)
0.1 kg - United Kingdom - Cara Malt (3.7%)
HOPS:
10 g - Magnum, Type: Leaf/Whole, AA: 15, Use: Boil for 90 min, IBU: 38.59
20 g - Magnum, Type: Leaf/Whole, AA: 15, Use: Boil for 30 min, IBU: 55.45
10 g - Magnum, Type: Leaf/Whole, AA: 15, Use: Aroma for 10 min, IBU: 13.08
MASH GUIDELINES:
1) Infusion, Temp: 65 C, Time: 0 min, Amount: 10 L
2) Sparge, Temp: 70 C, Time: 30 min, Amount: 5 L
Starting Mash Thickness: 3 L/kg
YEAST:
Mangrove Jack - US West Coast Yeast M44
Starter: No
Form: Dry
Attenuation (avg): 78%
Flocculation: High
Optimum Temp: 15 - 23.33 C
Fermentation Temp: 21 C
Generated by Brewer's Friend - https://www.brewersfriend.com/
Date: 2018-06-21 20:43 UTC
Recipe Last Updated: 2018-06-21 20:43 UTC

Thanks for correcting this and the malt quantity, the quantity being something I need to pay much more serious attention to in future. I really must look at this recipe generator for next time.

 

[Dave 666]

I can see where my original quantity went wrong now looking at the recipe generator, I had the thought of the batch size being 15 litres and not 10. As the pot is only 15 litres I couldn't do a batch size much more than 10 litre anyway unless I use multiple pots (a bit of a pain).

But yes, the recipe generator sure is handy for helping to work out the quantities.

 

[Martybhoy]

Each to their own, but when starting out in AG, I'd recommend using a tried and tested recipe. That way, any issues your brew has you know will not be down to the recipe. It is an exciting but steep learning curve, and the less variables you introduce at this stage, will let you dial in the other things you can control.

Plus, there are some amazing recipes out there.

 

[Dave 666]

Each to their own, but when starting out in AG, I'd recommend using a tried and tested recipe. That way, any issues your brew has you know will not be down to the recipe. It is an exciting but steep learning curve, and the less variables you introduce at this stage, will let you dial in the other things you can control.

Plus, there are some amazing recipes out there.

Well this made me think, and I've yet to buy the ingredients but will later on today. So knowing me, I'll either stick with this, the recipe in the first thread post or something in a recipe I like and think try that instead for reasons you say, tried and tested than trying to create something from scratch which wasn't my intention as such.

Like a kid in a sweet shop for the first time all this, must learn and take small steps :)

 

[Martybhoy]

My first AG brew was clibit's recipe at the start of this thread. You can easily scale it up and also change the hops easily enough. It's a great place to start.

Other advice I'd give you for your first AG, is have a plan. Write down step by step what you think you'll need to do, and update them each brew as you learn.

 

[AlanHarper]

3 kg pale and 1 kg cara/crystal (25%)? That's übersweet and leaves you with diabetes level sweetness. Even the rearranged recipe stops at 1019. @AlanHarper Where do you base the 80% efficiency on? It's doable, but a bit high. 75% might be more realistic. MJ is a good choice.

Yes I may need to look at that. I did an early brew and followed the calculations set out in John Palmer's book (http://howtobrew.com/book/section-2/what-is-malted-grain/mash-efficiency) and plugged the result into my recipe builder defaults. I haven't looked at it since which is why ot came up in Daves recipe sample.

I'll see what I manage on the next run and update it. It may explain the anomaly I had in my last brew where my post boil SG was a lot higher than expected.