Ok,
Before you read I must stress that there is no real point to this post other than its my first brew. I would hate for you to be disappointed when you get to the bottom.
So I started my first proper brew yesterday (New to this malarky). My first was a larger kit that was bought as a present, its ready but has a funny tang a little sour I think, its hard to tell exactly. So rather than perfect another kit I stepped my game up, with a partial mash.
I collected my pot from Mrlard in the week and I have to say even the missus thinks its looks impressive. Then yesterday I spent boiling up the recipe from Brewers friend that Steve made up for me (Thanks Steve). Well I tinkered with it to suit the amount of ingredient I had, it was a part mash.
I only have my boil pot and not a mash tun at the moment and the chap at Love My Brew suggested I mash my Crystal Malt while I bring the wort up to the boil it was only .5kg so we will see how that goes. I sparged it in some cold water in the brew tub. Once I turned the back room in to what my missus said was a "French Sauna" (??) and made the house smell like it did in Broadmead when i was a kid. I drained my wort through a borrowed preserving colander into my brew bucket. Naively I though first this would aerate the wort but also chill it!! Nah.. Well it possibly aerated it but its still at 30c this morning I still daren't put the "cappuccino" (Yeast Starter) in.
So I'm waiting impatiently for it still to cool, will keep you updated, not on the cooling but on the brew.....
Phil
First Brew thanks Steve
- steve crawshaw
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Re: First Brew thanks Steve
Good stuff, you are on your way. With the purchase of a brew bag you can move to all grain and then a world of home brewing joy awaits. Have a look at my post on one pot BIAB - cheap and simple.
You might also want to think about brewing \ boiling outside to avoid the sauna effect. You could also boil with a lid on and vent it outside though you might need some heating control to avoid over - boiling.
Hope your beer comes out well. If you want feedback you can bring it to one of the clubs in Bristol.
cheers
steve
You might also want to think about brewing \ boiling outside to avoid the sauna effect. You could also boil with a lid on and vent it outside though you might need some heating control to avoid over - boiling.
Hope your beer comes out well. If you want feedback you can bring it to one of the clubs in Bristol.
cheers
steve
I like to keep a bottle of stimulant handy in case I see a snake, which I also keep handy.
Re: First Brew thanks Steve
Ok so,
Its done!! Could not believe the amount of time it took to cool so will have to amend the method for next time. I pitched the yeast and this morning it looked like a very good Vietnamese Whirl , not so good now. My only concern is the gravity should have been 1.045 and it came out as 1.04 will this be an issue how much is 0.005? I have no concept of this??
Phil
Its done!! Could not believe the amount of time it took to cool so will have to amend the method for next time. I pitched the yeast and this morning it looked like a very good Vietnamese Whirl , not so good now. My only concern is the gravity should have been 1.045 and it came out as 1.04 will this be an issue how much is 0.005? I have no concept of this??
Phil
Re: First Brew thanks Steve
Retrolamp wrote:Ok so,
Its done!! Could not believe the amount of time it took to cool so will have to amend the method for next time. I pitched the yeast and this morning it looked like a very good Vietnamese Whirl , not so good now. My only concern is the gravity should have been 1.045 and it came out as 1.04 will this be an issue how much is 0.005? I have no concept of this??
Phil
It will probably come out about 0.7% abv lower
What is the target final gravity?
You can check it here http://www.brewersfriend.com/abv-calculator/
60 percent of the time it works every time.
Re: First Brew thanks Steve
Apparently 1.011.
Is it normal to start a brew with a big head and then on just day two for it to be little more than 5m thick?
Is it normal to start a brew with a big head and then on just day two for it to be little more than 5m thick?
Re: First Brew thanks Steve
If you mean the yeast "krausen" then yes, that's entirely normal.Retrolamp wrote:Apparently 1.011.
Is it normal to start a brew with a big head and then on just day two for it to be little more than 5m thick?
60 percent of the time it works every time.
Re: First Brew thanks Steve
After a google search yes I did mean the "krausen" I'll try and add that one to my vocabulary. Well I'm dead impressed I have just taken the gravity and it comes out at the target 1.01 and I had a sneaky taste very drinkable unlike my kit larger I tried.
Well plan to leave it in the vessel for another week before bottling.
Im off to buy a Carboy I'm feeling uncomfortable with this open brewing, will tweet my recipe slightly and get another on the go....
This could get addictive, no way I could get addicted to consuming it as well right????? :-)
Well plan to leave it in the vessel for another week before bottling.
Im off to buy a Carboy I'm feeling uncomfortable with this open brewing, will tweet my recipe slightly and get another on the go....
This could get addictive, no way I could get addicted to consuming it as well right????? :-)
- I_used_to_brew
- Posts: 2356
- Joined: Sat Nov 20, 2010 1:06 pm
Re: First Brew thanks Steve
There is no R in l*gerRetrolamp wrote:very drinkable unlike my kit larger I tried.
Re: First Brew thanks Steve
Roger, if you could follow me around and correct my spelling on a daily basis that would be brill. I know there is no R in Lager but dyslexia strikes and sadly spell check doesn't pick it up.
I spent a good amount of time last night searching all the on demand players getting frustrated looking for "Merder Detectives"
I spent a good amount of time last night searching all the on demand players getting frustrated looking for "Merder Detectives"
- I_used_to_brew
- Posts: 2356
- Joined: Sat Nov 20, 2010 1:06 pm
Re: First Brew thanks Steve
Half the Beer forum posters in the UK must be dyslexic in that case. It's such a common error, people truly believe it's larger.