Well I have had a great evening brewing. Weather was fantastic up here tonight so the kids were in the garden playing and I got to spread my time between the kitchen, garage and the garden.
What a difference the new boiler made. I was at a boil within 10 minutes of finishing me final batch sparge. With my single element electric boiler this could take up to an hour. In all I was finished before 9pm. The sanatised lid is on the bucket in the garage. The temperature is supposed to drop fairly low tonight so I will be able to pitch the yeast before I go to work tomorrow morning.
Here is my hot break. I was amazed how quickly it came to the boil. Especially after a couple of years with the electric system. It looks like a 8.8kw/hr gas ring eats up 5 gallon brews for breakfast!
Here is the "bloody good boil" going strong.
Some other picures from the garage
The beer corner and bottled beer shelves. Both of these plastic barrels preserve and dispense beer of great quality. I know that cornelius kege are the future (perhaps the present) but I am not even close to throwing these out just yet (however you will notice I am collecting conries aswell).
This is the Hefe store (wife calls it the fridge in the garage - little does she know
)
My hop. You can say all you like about global warming but if I can grow hops in Dunfermline then surely it must be a good thing !!!
Kids (Cameron 7 and Gemma 3 (last week)). Both demanded that I take their photos as I had the camera out. Don't worry, they were both bathed after the filming of this (especially the wee one).
Collection after boil.
It is the first time I have used the propane system and I obviously had an extremely vigorous boil going. I am left with quite less than I would usually be left with. I'll leave to cool and check gravity and dilute to specification tomorrow. Definately some experimentation with the settings on the boiling ring are required (don't know if this will cut it as an excuse to brew again next week).
