Hazelwood Brewday

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Crikey just catching up and not sure how I missed your technology efforts with the new timer and new Nimrod beer! You really do give something fir a girl to aspire to ! Sometimes- just occasionally I think I’m keeping up with you guys then I read your thread and realise what to aim for!
Anna

Hi Anna!
There’s a lot going on and you’re busy looking after the family, holding down a demanding job, and brewing - there are only so many hours...

I think you’re doing just fine and in many ways you’re already venturing into areas I haven’t started with fancy fermenters (I still use buckets), closed transfers, and pressure fermenting. :hat:

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

#i know nowt (confirmed)

You know stuff - I’ve tried your beer!

 

[DocAnna]

Hi Anna!
There’s a lot going on and you’re busy looking after the family, holding down a demanding job, and brewing - there are only so many hours...

I think you’re doing just fine and in many ways you’re already venturing into areas I haven’t started with fancy fermenters (I still use buckets), closed transfers, and pressure fermenting. :hat:

Thanks, though it is really inspirational reading your exploits and discovery with your brewing. Yes family is the priority for me, though sadly in the last few weeks my clinical work has been so busy, I've looked forward to focussing on bottling cider for my daughters, and kegging beer for my son. It's a real joy reading your engineering exploits and taking a step away from the day work and wondering what is possible at home.

Anna

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Thanks, though it is really inspirational reading your exploits and discovery with your brewing. Yes family is the priority for me, though sadly in the last few weeks my clinical work has been so busy, I've looked forward to focussing on bottling cider for my daughters, and kegging beer for my son. It's a real joy reading your engineering exploits and taking a step away from the day work and wondering what is possible at home.

Anna

I can easily imagine clinical work is a bit full-on, especially so at the moment. It’s nice though to hear my ramblings are of interest so thanks for that

While you’re looking after everyone else, remember to look after yourself too.

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

The Best Bitter is mashing away nicely. 20 minutes in and my gravity reading is 1042. I have no idea what the pH is because my pH meter has given up - reading the 4pH calibration buffer as 9.18 so it looks like I need a new one. Anyway, a couple of pics...

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Right, a new pH meter is on it’s way though not in time for this brew unfortunately. The second stage of the mash is complete and my gravity reading is 1055 so coming on nicely. The colour and clarity of the wort isn’t bad either. Another pic...

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Coming to the end of the mash now and about to start the mash-out to lock in the sugar profile. Gravity at this point is 1058. I may just get another couple of points in the last few minutes if I’m lucky.

If I do get another couple of points I will have achieved about 77% mash efficiency pre-sparge (I calculated the maximum potential gravity at 1078).

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Mash is done and onto the sparge. This is where I’ve made my efficiency gains over my old method. The old method was to drain the grain basket and then slowly pour some water through the grain to wash out the sugars. My new method is some kind of stepped fly-sparge where I continue to recirculate wort but every few minutes I remove a litre of wort and add a litre of sparge water.

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Mash and sparge done so time now for a break. Pre-boil gravity is 1042.

( Interval music )

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Back on it. Wort is boiling and I’ve got the bittering addition on the go. I opened a new pack of Magnum and this pack is from the 2020 season. I hadn’t noticed before opening the pack that the AA is much lower at 11.1% rather than 15.3% as it was last year. This will mean my IBUs will be a little lower so I’ve added an extra 5g to compensate (recipe included 10g).

 

[Cheshire Cat]

HB
I see you use a Burco like I do but you've also got either a grain basket or grain tube to fit in the Burco. Could you tell me which and where you bought it. Thanks
CC

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

HB
I see you use a Burco like I do but you've also got either a grain basket or grain tube to fit in the Burco. Could you tell me which and where you bought it. Thanks
CC

Sure. It’s one of these, perfect size for the boiler. I bent the feet straight to give clearance over the bazooka. If you do the same heat the legs before you straighten them or they may fracture off at the bend.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B082MXW...olid=213HCCG06Q64M&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Thanks HB
Bit dear at £81 but I've added it to my basket. Probably wait until I've had a few beers before I buy.

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Thanks HB
Bit dear at £81 but I've added it to my basket. Probably wait until I've had a few beers before I buy.

You know you’re going to. Always best to rip the plaster off. When you do press the “Buy now” button you’ll wish you’d done it sooner!

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Last bit of the boil in progress. A bit more plumbing, protofloc, Fuggles.

 

[samale]

How many litres can you squeeze out of your system. So last night I got 20 litres at 1.070. I plan to dilute this a bit to bring it down to 1.060. So say 23 litres @ 1.060 for 6kg of grain. Is that similar to your figure

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

How many litres can you squeeze out of your system. So last night I got 20 litres at 1.070. I plan to dilute this a bit to bring it down to 1.060. So say 23 litres @ 1.060 for 6kg of grain. Is that similar to your figure

I normally get 23 or 24 litres depending on the brew, some are more mucky than others so I have to leave a big extra in the “sump”.

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

All done and chilled down, draining the hop bag from the ceiling anchor used to haul my grain basket out. OG reading is 1042 which is what I was aiming for so all is good. Now to sanitise my fermenting bucket and get this puppy into the brew-shed.

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Beer is now in the fermenter. I got 24 litres, here’s a view in the boiler after I drained 24 litres into the fermenting bucket.

Bitter is now tucked up with Nimrod (Nimrod on the left).

 

[samale]

Are you using an inkbird to control the temp of the mash