Left the mash in the wort - problem?

[Captain Crisp]

Hi, I didn't read the instructions properly on my first attempt and left the mash in the wort (if that makes sense...) Is that a problem? It's been about a week in the cellar... All the mash has settled at the bottom. However, there doesn't seem to be much fermenting going on...

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Crisp

 

[foxy]

Hi, I didn't read the instructions properly on my first attempt and left the mash in the wort (if that makes sense...) Is that a problem? It's been about a week in the cellar... All the mash has settled at the bottom. However, there doesn't seem to be much fermenting going on...

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Crisp

Was it all grain? Did you boil it with the mashed grain in the boil? have you pitched the yeast?

 

[Captain Crisp]

Not sure what the mix was... It's a Brooklyn Brewhouse IPA... Yes, I pitched the yeast a week ago... Is it a right-off?
Thanks,

 

[Captain Crisp]

And, yes, I booked it with the mashed grain in the boil - was that wrong too!!??
Maybe I should stick to sourdough...

 

[Gerryjo]

And, yes, I booked it with the mashed grain in the boil - was that wrong too!!??
Maybe I should stick to sourdough...

I would put that down to experience as your ment to separate the wort from the mash, boil, add hop additions, cool then add your yeast but hey we all make mistakes and is something that you will learn from so take it as a rookies positive...

 

[DarrenSL]

It's only a write off if you can't drink it

But, above 78 degree's (ish) you start to get tannins extracted from the grain which will make the beer dry and astringent. I expect boiling the wort at 100C for an hour isn't going to give good results.

Your lack of fermentation activity is concerning. You should have seen a fluffy head on the wort during fermentation (the krausen) which will have settled down by now and leave a scummy ring an inch or so above the level of your wort. Ideally you would take a gravity reading using a hydrometer which should read around 1.010. If you don't have a hydrometer then just leave it another week and then do a taste test. If it tastes ok, get it bottled and enjoy.

 

[Captain Crisp]

Ok... Rookie Street... I'll get some more grain and start again I think...
Many thanks!

 

[foxy]

Not sure what the mix was... It's a Brooklyn Brewhouse IPA... Yes, I pitched the yeast a week ago... Is it a right-off?
Thanks,

Its more than a write off, its a disaster, before getting more grain your time would be well spent reading John Palmers, How to Brew, at least twice, and while your at it report to Chippy tea and take a drop in rank down to Private Crisp.

 

[Sadfield]

In almost Bullseye fashion, "Let's have a look at what you should have done"

 

[Sadfield]

In almost Bullseye fashion, "Let's have a look at what you should have done"

Don't stick to Sour dough though, it's a great hobby once you get the basics down.

 

[AdeDunn]

I blame the countless, badly written, articles floating around right now about how they took up brewing during lockdown.... Every single one of them that I have read talks about boiling grains in the bag etc etc at some point, almost like they're confusing brew in a bag with boil in the bag....

Brews go wrong sometimes, shame it was a kit as they cost more than just buying the ingredients usually, but heh you live and learn. Rather than running out and buying John Palmer's How to Brew (an excellent book, but massive and goes into a LOT more depth than you need initially), I'd actually recommend either Brewing Britain, The quest for the perfect pint, and how to make it by Andy Hamilton (my first choice, as not only does it tell you all the different methods of brewing, with recipes etc, but also goes into the history a bit, and also gives commercial examples for the various styles discussed. Really enjoyed reading it), or good old Home Brew Beer by Greg Hughes if you want something a bit more direct. Both excellent books for the beginner, where diving straight into John Palmer's How to Brew is likely to give you a migraine.... lol Heck, at a push there's even Brew by Jame Morton, but you'll end up breaking the bank with the quantity of hops in his recipes.... On the plus side, he's very BIAB/stove top oriented. Whichever you chose though, DO either beg, borrow or buy a book and read it.

 

[Henders]

Lovely post Ade! I went for the Greg Hughes "Home Brew Beer" just as I started out on all grain and never looked back. I seem to have skipped a few lessons though and am very much enjoying Scott Janish's "The New IPA" now :).

I will add, Home Brew Beer is beautifully put together with many helpful pictures, nicely spaced out recipe pages, and 3 useful lists of grain, hops, yeast, that I still refer to when trying to hack together a new recipe.

 

[pms67]

I blame the countless, badly written, articles floating around right now about how they took up brewing during lockdown.... Every single one of them that I have read talks about boiling grains in the bag etc etc at some point, almost like they're confusing brew in a bag with boil in the bag....

Brews go wrong sometimes, shame it was a kit as they cost more than just buying the ingredients usually, but heh you live and learn. Rather than running out and buying John Palmer's How to Brew (an excellent book, but massive and goes into a LOT more depth than you need initially), I'd actually recommend either Brewing Britain, The quest for the perfect pint, and how to make it by Andy Hamilton (my first choice, as not only does it tell you all the different methods of brewing, with recipes etc, but also goes into the history a bit, and also gives commercial examples for the various styles discussed. Really enjoyed reading it), or good old Home Brew Beer by Greg Hughes if you want something a bit more direct. Both excellent books for the beginner, where diving straight into John Palmer's How to Brew is likely to give you a migraine.... lol Heck, at a push there's even Brew by Jame Morton, but you'll end up breaking the bank with the quantity of hops in his recipes.... On the plus side, he's very BIAB/stove top oriented. Whichever you chose though, DO either beg, borrow or buy a book and read it.

I agree with you regarding James Morton
Some of his recipes use 600g of hops in one brew, I like hops but cmon

 

[Deadhead]

I haven't ever made a Brooklyn Brew Shop kit, but I have the book they wrote as I was intrigued in a few of the small batch recipes. Boy if their kit instructions are as bad as their book instructions, it's no wonder you were confused! Luckily, I had been brewing for a while already so I was just looking at the recipes, rather than needing to follow it.

I think you'd be much better off following the instructions on this site :Have a go at simple AG

 

[AdeDunn]

Lovely post Ade! I went for the Greg Hughes "Home Brew Beer" just as I started out on all grain and never looked back. I seem to have skipped a few lessons though and am very much enjoying Scott Janish's "The New IPA" now :).

I will add, Home Brew Beer is beautifully put together with many helpful pictures, nicely spaced out recipe pages, and 3 useful lists of grain, hops, yeast, that I still refer to when trying to hack together a new recipe.

Yeah, it's a good book to learn the basics from. Then buy more books to learn even more and get more inspiration. Always room for more brewing books I say. lol

I agree with you regarding James Morton
Some of his recipes use 600g of hops in one brew, I like hops but cmon

Yeah, sometimes he just seems to put more and more in for the heck of it, to see how far he can go. All I can think of is that he's a massive hop head and has developed a serious tolerance to lupulin to the point he has to bombard himself with them... lol

I haven't ever made a Brooklyn Brew Shop kit, but I have the book they wrote as I was intrigued in a few of the small batch recipes. Boy if their kit instructions are as bad as their book instructions, it's no wonder you were confused! Luckily, I had been brewing for a while already so I was just looking at the recipes, rather than needing to follow it.

I think you'd be much better off following the instructions on this site :Have a go at simple AG

At a push, folks on here will even help him to come up with a decent recipe to then go and order a custom kit form somewhere like malt miller or get er brewed or something. Before all that though, learning the basics makes it all easier. When I first joined here, and another couple of sites, I had to go away, buy some books, and at the very least read the glossaries.... Otherwise you can end up lost in a sea of mashing, lautering, sparging, vorlaufing, krausening..... All of which becomes super simple and clear once you know what it all actually means. lol Heck, I wasn't even sure what folks were going on about with "flame out".... I had this odd Fantastic 4 image in my head of Johny Storm brewing beer.... Even something as simple as cold steeping some malt can seem daunting the first time you do it.

 

[Captain Crisp]

Wow... Loads of great help here! I'll report back after my next attempt!
Many thanks!
Private Crisp

 

[Mrhandsome]

Private Crisp

Don't worry, you'll earn your stripes!