My 1st AG Brew

Get advice on making beer from raw ingredients (malt, hops, water and yeast)
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Biker_Dave

My 1st AG Brew

Post by Biker_Dave » Thu Mar 29, 2007 1:07 am

After brewing a number of kits on and off over a few years I decided to give AG brewing a whirl!. I've been lurking around this forum for a while gleening some great tips and inspiration... Many thanks!!!. After a few trips to the local DIY store I managed to knock together a boiler & CFC etc.
Got all grains, hops , yeast etc from H&G & after a couple of F@*kUps with the delivery finally got ready to go.

Decided on a simple Pale Ale first brew...

Maris Otter 4750g
Goldings(alpha4.1) 34g 90 mins
Fuggles (5.0) 41g 90 mins
Goldings 15g 15 mins
Goldings 10g 30 mins after boil steep
Irish Moss

Yeast WhiteLabs Burton ale WLP023

ABV 4.8%
OG 1050
FG 1010
23 litres

Mash 90 mins/66 DgC


Here's some pics:-

Mash under way. Hot waterbottle on top of the picknic cooler & cooler placed on heater tray resulted in no drop in temp over 90 mins.
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Home made boiler.
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Sparging.
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First runnings.
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CFC works great-cooled 23 litres to 25 Dgc in 10 mins.
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This one I like!!!! :D
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6 weeks later....ahhhhhhhh!!!!!
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tubby_shaw

Post by tubby_shaw » Thu Mar 29, 2007 2:18 am

Great work Dave 8)
I like the set up, the pictures and especially the pint at the end :wink:
Welcome to the forum BTW :D

BigEd

Post by BigEd » Thu Mar 29, 2007 4:30 am

Great documentary there, Dave. The final results look good too. 8)

Chiltern Brewer

Post by Chiltern Brewer » Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:19 am

Good job 8) an inspiration to all potential AG newbies out there!

The more the merrier I say :lol:

Chiltern Brewer

Post by Chiltern Brewer » Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:22 am

Oh, just spotted the Burco as a HLT top right on pic three. No good as a copper then?

Scooby

Post by Scooby » Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:38 am

Grand job Biker, like the hot water bottle and tray to maintain heat in the MT 8)

Biker_Dave

Post by Biker_Dave » Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:33 am

the HLT is only 18litres capacity Chiltern -too small for a copper.

BarrowBoy

Post by BarrowBoy » Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:41 am

Great stuff - and it's given me another couple of ideas for tomorrow's brew.

Chiltern Brewer

Post by Chiltern Brewer » Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:45 am

Biker_Dave wrote:the HLT is only 18litres capacity Chiltern -too small for a copper.
I couldn't see how big it was :lol: When I started with AG I only had the one boiler, wouldn't be without the second smaller one for HLT duties now.

Biker_Dave

Post by Biker_Dave » Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:59 am

Just a note on the yeast used:- Whitelabs Burton Ale WLP023.

Selected for its fruity esters & performance. I was really pleased with the resulting taste however the yeast remained very 'loose' at the bottom of the bottles & I had to leave an inch of beer in each bottle. Will try to find a more suitable bottling yeast.... any suggestions warmly welcomed.??

BarrowBoy

Post by BarrowBoy » Thu Mar 29, 2007 12:28 pm

Biker_Dave wrote:Just a note on the yeast used:- Whitelabs Burton Ale WLP023.

Selected for its fruity esters & performance. I was really pleased with the resulting taste however the yeast remained very 'loose' at the bottom of the bottles & I had to leave an inch of beer in each bottle. Will try to find a more suitable bottling yeast.... any suggestions warmly welcomed.??
I've used Whitelabs English Ale and British Ale yeasts and both have sat firmly on the bottom of the bottle even when poured with little care.

mysterio

Post by mysterio » Thu Mar 29, 2007 12:36 pm

Nice one! Looks like you hit your OG spot on. Were you pleased with the results?

I agree White Labs English & British ale sit well. Safale SO4 is also excellent.

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