HBC Blonde Ale - BIAB

[Mr T]

Hi Everyone

So i finally got my hands on my new BIAB starter kit from the HBC on the 17th as it was my birthday. I brewed the HBC Blonde Ale kit.


I was really pleased with the equipment and the kit, everything you need in one box and bag!

Quickly i got set up and heated the 27l of water to 70 degrees before mashing the grain for one hour.


After the one hour i boiled the wort for a further hour adding in the hops at the specified time.


I heated an extra 8l of water to 80 degrees and decided to sparge the grain and re-top the wort up to the 27l as the instructions stated. If i was topping up i thought i may as well get all the goodness from the grain?

Ten minutes before the end of the boil i put in my wort chiller to sanitize and added the clearing tablet that came with the kit, when the boil was complete i chilled the wort down to 22 degrees in approximately 18 minutes. I drained off into a FV and took an OG reading. I was expecting 1050 but achieved 1052 - will that make much difference?


Yeast was pitched and it's been bubbling away for the last few days quite happily.

Really looking forward to this one!

Thanks

Andy

 

[TartanSpecial]

1.052 will be fine...you must have achieved a decent conversion efficiency in the mash. Look like it all went remarkably smoothly and under control. What hops come with that kit?? You didn't mention them so assume they went into the boil??:smile:

 

[cheapbrew]

I had a look at this blonde AG kit myself, the info on HBC says
Grain: Pilsner, Carapils
Hops: Pacific Gem, Liberty, Newport

 

[Mr T]

1.052 will be fine...you must have achieved a decent conversion efficiency in the mash. Look like it all went remarkably smoothly and under control. What hops come with that kit?? You didn't mention them so assume they went into the boil??:smile:

Yes they went into the boil, one pack for 60 minutes one for 15 and one at flame out. I used a hop bag, I know that will maybe diminish the effectiveness slightly but I was worried about blocking up the tap. I need a hop strainer for next time. Hops are as listed by cheapbrew. Must say the quality seemed fantastic, fresh as could be!

I forgot to mention the bit where I put the lid on tight when boiling and got a hot liquid volcano effect over the sideboard!

Still we live and learn.

Now the wait for a few weeks.....

Andy

 

[TartanSpecial]

I forgot to mention the bit where I put the lid on tight when boiling and got a hot liquid volcano effect over the sideboard!

Still we live and learn.

So it didn't go 100% smoothly :lol: ...normally you want to boil with the lid off to get rid of undesirable things (like DMS) with the steam..open boiling is part of the process. It generates a lot of steam..I boil outside but others have various methods to cope with it. I'm not allowed to do it indoors :nono:
Live and learn...thats what's great about brewing esp AG...loads of learning to be done for years and years

 

[cheapbrew]

Keep us posted, I like the blonde type ales and will get one of some description on the go myself before too long.

 

[clarkeuk]

thanks for the review Mr T
I am very new to home brewing but this type of brewing appeals to me and this kit seems great value for money
looking forward to see how it turns out