Hello from just north of Glasgow

[weagoodall]

Hello everyone. New brewer here and looking forward to getting started. Having only ever made 1 coded and a pear wine before I’m wading in thick and fast with doing a full grain brew for my first beer.

I just bought a Klarstein Mundschenk kettle and about to add a few bits and bobs before making my first attempt in a couple of weeks. Anyone else here bought one? Any tips on their use?

 

[crowcrow]

I have the system below that one, and it is a great bit of kit! Sure you will get on fine with it. There will be plenty of videos for similar systems on YouTube, but only advice I'd give is to allow plenty of time ad don't rush on the day. Check everything twice and write down times and keep asking questions as you go if you want y need too

Good luck! AG is far better than kits and not much harder, just longer.

Here are some tips people gave me when I asked https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/...-how-to-guide-for-the-klarstein-system.82410/

 

[Brewnaldo]

I have done two AG brews so far and really enjoyed them despite neither day going smoothly. Absolutely go for it. Steep learning curve I think and starting to wish I had something to taste! Patience being the hardest of the AG skills to pick up IMO!

 

[The Baron]

In my opinion I would get a few kit brews under your belt so as to understand the brewing process, cleaning and sanitisation etc. It will help you to focus on the process as kits are pretty simple to do and will give you time to sort this out, trying to sort this out and the Ag process all in one go may create too many errors but if you understand it all and have read up on it by all means have a go

 

[The Baron]

Ps I have not entered the question above as I do not think anybody is stupid it is a learning process

 

[Banbeer]

Go for it, I dreaded stepping into AG but it's quite easy if you take your time and concentrate. Good luck bud.

 

[weagoodall]

Thanks for your thoughts. I am looking forward to getting stuck in. I just need to decide on a few extra bits of kit. Now one thing I’m unsure about, having read quite a bit on it is about cooling the wort. Anyone use a plate heat exchanger as opposed to a coil and if so do you have issues with it blocking?

 

[HarryFlatters]

I started with all grain brewing, also.

Watch as many YouTube videos and read as many books as you can. It'll be fine.

 

[crowcrow]

I started with all grain brewing, also.

Watch as many YouTube videos and read as many books as you can. It'll be fine.

Not tried either - I do no chill and worked for me so far (it also means I can 'finish' my brew day sooner as I just fish out the hops bag and leave it to cool, moving to the fv the next day)

 

[steveinUS]

Anyone use a plate heat exchanger as opposed to a coil and if so do you have issues with it blocking?

I have both and alternate between them, depending on the brew, and the season. All thing being equal, the plate chiller is generally more efficient (chills faster with less water useage). If you use whole hops you can either bag them to keep them out of the chiller, or use a boil screen in your kettle. For pellet hops you can also bag them or use a hop spider. Also, a vigorous whirlpool and a 20 minute rest before chilling should settle out the pellet hops and trub.

But for winter and spring brewing when our ground water is still really cold, the immersion chiller is usually what I go with. Chilling happens fast enough with really cold water, and it requires almost no effort to clean the chiller afterwards. Plate chillers... You can pump hot PBW solution through it forever, and still never see if it’s really clean inside.

 

[foxy]

Get some good books, I will always recommend Palmers book, How to Brew as a starter, read it thoroughly, a couple of times, or more. Secondly Dave Millers Home Brewing Guide, Google whatever you don't understand, all the answers are on the web. Just make sure the answers you are seeking are from bona fide brewers or experts in home brewing.

 

[steveinUS]

I would second foxy’s book list, and add Brewing Classic Styles by Palmer and Zainasheff. All recipes are explained as to style and process, and presented in extract and all grain alternatives.

 

[HarryFlatters]

Any books by Randy Mosher, just because his name is hilarious.

 

[Stewart Brewing]

Hello everyone. New brewer here and looking forward to getting started. Having only ever made 1 coded and a pear wine before I’m wading in thick and fast with doing a full grain brew for my first beer.

I just bought a Klarstein Mundschenk kettle and about to add a few bits and bobs before making my first attempt in a couple of weeks. Anyone else here bought one? Any tips on their use?

Hi Weagoodall,
To start I would go for a kit, either standard kit or steeped grains and extract. Then move on to a grain kit. Jumping in at all grain is going to be a head ache.
Before you all grain consider attending something like Innis and Gun Brew school in Glasgow's west end. Its a 4 hour course with lunch and some beers from the bar. They take you through the process, mashing/ boiling /cooling / pitching.
Enjoy

 

[Ghillie]

Jump straight in pal. The difference between kits and AG is night and day.

 

[Cyberjip]

Welcome, and good luck on your AG adventure, plenty at good help and info here.

Where about are you I'm also north of Glasgow but perhaps a little further north than you.

 

[weagoodall]

I’m in Bishopbriggs, whereabouts are you?

 

[weagoodall]

I’m in Bishopbriggs, whereabouts are you?

 

[weagoodall]

Hi Weagoodall,
To start I would go for a kit, either standard kit or steeped grains and extract. Then move on to a grain kit. Jumping in at all grain is going to be a head ache.
Before you all grain consider attending something like Innis and Gun Brew school in Glasgow's west end. Its a 4 hour course with lunch and some beers from the bar. They take you through the process, mashing/ boiling /cooling / pitching.
Enjoy

I’ll have to have a look at that course, sounds very useful. Thanks for the advice.

 

[weagoodall]

Get some good books, I will always recommend Palmers book, How to Brew as a starter, read it thoroughly, a couple of times, or more. Secondly Dave Millers Home Brewing Guide, Google whatever you don't understand, all the answers are on the web. Just make sure the answers you are seeking are from bona fide brewers or experts in home brewing.

You can’t have enough books. I’ll check them out, thank you.