I posted in the recipes section about brewing a big beer to open on our impeding little 'uns birthdays over the next few years, and got it on the go yesterday. Not sure about the name, will have to see what name we choose for the baby!
It was the 3rd brew with my DIY plastic HERMS set-up and I still need to iron out a few things with the Arduino code and the hardware; I need to get some copper fittings and get a re-circ / sparge manifold made for starters, and probably need a new false bottom in the mash tun, recirc was not as smooth as it could have been. I used a couple of 1/2" BSP - 15mm speedfit appliance hoses on the pump which were better that the the odd bit of hoses I had cobbled together.
I have managed to get a case sorted to house the SSRs and all the Arduino stuff (I spent hours soldering up my own board but couldn't get it to work in time for brewday so it was back to the breadboard!). I also need to find my dymo label writer to print some labels:
Grist with new mash paddle:
Sparging with PVC hose:
First runnings:
First wort hopping with a whole load of hops!:
Hot break:
Cold break:
I did have a bit of hassle with the run off from the boiler and had to resort to tipping half the wort into the FV through the sieve:
Filth!:
Not the clearest of samples, I've never seen a hydrometer sit that high!:
Not quite a short a brew day as that, I had to turn off the box and upload some revised code:
All in all not a trouble free brewday, but nothing some minor changes wouldn't overcome. It came in at 10 points shy of target at 1.100, should still be a big enough beer to keep for at least a year! Hopefully the two packets of Nottingham will rip through the 14 litres I collected and I can bottle it before baby arrives, then try to forget about it for a year!
Cheers,
Jamie
Barley Wine - Sun 29th April (with pics)
- stevetk189
- Lost in an Alcoholic Haze
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Re: Barley Wine - Sun 29th April (with pics)
I wish I could computer my brewdays. I like to computer and internet but I don't think I could do it to my brews
Is your wooden paddle as big as it looks or is that a small bucket? Want!!! My bending plassy spoon is doing my head in.
Is your wooden paddle as big as it looks or is that a small bucket? Want!!! My bending plassy spoon is doing my head in.
My Craft Brewery in France - Brasserie Artisanale en Limousin
My Craft Distillery in France - French Gin
My Craft Distillery in France - French Gin
Re: Barley Wine - Sun 29th April (with pics)
Steve, If I can get my head round the Arduino and do a lot of copy and pasting of other peoples code, anyone can!
The paddle is 750mm long and to be honest it's a little too big, 'tis a normal 25l bin! I may screw that one to the wall and make a more manageable one. We've got some maple on the go at work at the moment and if there's a suitably sized off cut I'll cut one out of that.
Cheers,
Jamie
The paddle is 750mm long and to be honest it's a little too big, 'tis a normal 25l bin! I may screw that one to the wall and make a more manageable one. We've got some maple on the go at work at the moment and if there's a suitably sized off cut I'll cut one out of that.
Cheers,
Jamie