Thinking Of Moving On

[ian808]

Hi I have brewed kits for many years off and on. Having recently started again and finding this forum I am thinking of moving away from kits and onto all grain. Problem is I'm not sure what I need and what the process is, I know there are loads of videos on net but was wondering if there is a brewer near me (Kettering Northants) who would allow me round to show me there gear and go through brewing with me. I think it would be a lot better than just watching videos as I would be able to question things I'm unsure of. I have also seen posts on extract brewing which I may look into but would rather going the whole hog if it is cost effective.

Many Thanks in Advance To Anyone Willing

Ian Smith
Kettering

 

[Aleman]

Ian the Nottingham Brewers Group can be found on Facebook, I am sure that there are plenty on there who would be more than willing.

 

[LeithR]

Hi there,
You are making a good move, one I did a couple of years ago. The next decision you have to make is whether to go 3 vessel brewing or Brew in a Bag (BIAB)

3 vessel involves a boiler, a mashing vessel and another (could be the same one with the addition of a pump)boiler. This is more complex than BIAB but it is pretty authentic.

BIAB is simpler and less expensive in that you only need one boiler which with the addition of the brew bag completes the equipment required apart from your FV(s).

I elected to go with BIAB and am very happy with it. You need to be able to lift the bag out of your boiler so making "Big Brews" e.g. Robinson's Old Tom where you have a lot of grain in the mash is made pretty difficult, I always brew with a buddy which makes it a sociable activity and aids the bag pulling etc... I have also hung a pulley and hook in the garage where I do my brewing to enable me to get the bag out of the boiler. You can also arrange to sparge the grain in the bag once its moved into a bucket to let the wart drip out, this additional wart helps to counteract the grain absorbtion from the steep.

If you can arrange with a friendly local brewer is the way to go - good luck with getting that set up. :thumb:

 

[ian808]

Thanks Nottingham isn't to far from me but thought there would be closer. Have heard of the biab method and being a easier way to get started, may be the line to go down

 

[clibit]

I started with small batches (around 12litres) with BIAB. It is a great way to make great beer. I now have a coolbox mashtun, the main reason is to enable me to make larger (20-25 litre) batches. You can make 25 litres with BIAB, but I didn't fancy the larger bag thing.

And I still only have two vessels really. I heat water in a big pot, transfer to the coolbox, then drain the mashtun into a 5 gallon plastic bucket and transfer it from there back into the big pot once the sparging is complete.

I actually don't have a big pot, I have two 15 litre pots (which you can get from Wilko's for £15 each). I do a double boil, which gives me a quicker and better boil on the stove top and enables two different beers to be made, around 11/12 litres each. By steeping grains separately, and using different hops and yeasts, you can vary the two beers a lot. Last brewday was a pale ale and a porter, got about 12 litres of each.

You could do two small BIAB mashes in the two pots, and I have done that in the past. But I do find using the coolbox less faffy and less messy!

 

[Aleman]

Thanks Nottingham isn't to far from me but thought there would be closer. Have heard of the biab method and being a easier way to get started, may be the line to go down

They have members in and around Kettering

 

[ian808]

I'll have a look then thanks thought it be a bit far for Kettering

 

[Dave1970]

Leicester any use to you? I'm not BIAB though if that's what you want to see

 

[ian808]

Leicester any use to you? I'm not BIAB though if that's what you want to see

Not to far I was looking for the whole AG just don't know what all I need. May look down biab as a cheaper easier option.
If you are ok showing me your set up and the basics of what you do I will arrange to come and see you. I work nights but get one off during week so I'm sure we would get a suitable time soon

Many thanks

 

[tim_n]

BIAB and 3 vessel brewing are just two different ways of doing it.

I saw the three vessel way of doing it in London and it's very easy to follow, methodical but you've got two lots of cleaning to do which isn't much of a hardship.

Doing BIAB you've only got the one pot to clean and a bag, so it's similar. BIAB is also less efficient so you'll need to add extra grain.

I've gone down BIAB and there's a good community with a good spreadsheet for working out your brews on www.biabrewer.info. You can download sample recipes and just follow the simple steps.

You also have the benefit of doing maxi-biab which means if you have trouble getting a large enough pot, you can add extra water throughout the process to make up volume.

So in short, BIAB is a little more expensive in ingredients, cheaper on initial starting equipment and takes up a little less space. I think it's a winner personally.

The cheapest way to start with BIAB is to get a cheap fermentation bucket such as you'd find at wilkos (£6.80 currently) and a couple of tesco value kettles (about £6 each) viewtopic.php?f=30&t=36368

Then you just need a bit of voille (think net curtain) material for the grain sack and a thermometer.

This does require some electrical knowledge, also you need to make sure you don't plug into the same plug socket or ring main (note: you need two separate ring mains).

Alternatively get a stainless steel pot and a big burner, or make an investment and build a full on electric brewery! http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/ (I built a similar one pot system with a much smaller panel)

Have fun

 

[dx4100]

Can I just point out the the 3 vessel approach can quite easily be a 2 vessel approach.... I use my boiler as a HLT and as a Boiler, no pumps etc.... Just use spare FV to transfer the water. Save yourself quite a bit of money that way.

 

[timbowden]

I agree with dx4100,
I used to use a 2 vessel setup for years. It's only recently that I decided to go three vessel (plus brew shed :party: )

Tim

 

[Dave1970]

I also do 2 vessel at the moment, I sparge into 2 FV's & then lift them back up to the boiler (which was the HLT), until now.....

I have just bought a 2nd Buffalo boiler cheap from Nesbitts Clearance - very good price if you're considering the urn route for an HLT or boiler
http://www.nisbetsclearance.co.uk/p-3931-ebcc193-b.aspx

I have another suggestion that might be easier for you than a trip to Leicester, you're not far from Copper Kettle homebrew shop, it's at a garden center outside Burton Latimer. He has a video of a brewday on his website that you could look at too. He might well be able to talk you through the process

 

[ian808]

I also do 2 vessel at the moment, I sparge into 2 FV's & then lift them back up to the boiler (which was the HLT), until now.....

I have just bought a 2nd Buffalo boiler cheap from Nesbitts Clearance - very good price if you're considering the urn route for an HLT or boiler
http://www.nisbetsclearance.co.uk/p-3931-ebcc193-b.aspx

I have another suggestion that might be easier for you than a trip to Leicester, you're not far from Copper Kettle homebrew shop, it's at a garden center outside Burton Latimer. He has a video of a brewday on his website that you could look at too. He might well be able to talk you through the process

Never knew there was a home brew shop there, I've been to garden centre before I'll have to go check it out thanks

 

[ian808]

Went to the copper kettle on Sunday and had a chat with the bloke there who explained the basics of AG and BIAB. Had a good chat with him about home brew in general and bought a kit and some spray malt. He even gave me a little sample of a AG brew he had sitting there in a keg :

Will be popping back in the future for other purchases. Don't know if I'll be changing over just yet as I don't think I have space to have everything I need at the moment

 

[johnnyboy1965]

Might be a bit too far....Solihull, but your more than welcome. I can also brew your own recipe design, just give me a little time.

 

[ian808]

Might be a bit too far....Solihull, but your more than welcome. I can also brew your own recipe design, just give me a little time.

thanks I'm not sure about changing just yet but when the time comes I may take you up on the offer