Ideas for first AG

[quiff]

Thanks for that Booldawg,
I'm guessing by your post that you are using an immersion cooler. How do I do late steeping if I'm counterflow chilling?
I'm attempting to build one at the mo

[Parva]

Is irish moss used in all recipes?

I would imagine so. Some use that, others use Whirlfloc or Protofloc to help clear the wort. I chuck one Whirlfloc tablet into the boiling wort 15 minutes from the end.

Is this before you transfer from the boiler to the FV?

Yes.

[farmhousekeg]

So far I am only on AG number 2 and I didn't try any dry hopping yet,.

What are the relative merits of the three techniques described in this thread? If I understand correctly you can either
1....dry hop in the Boiler once the wort has cooled to 80C before transferring to the FV or
2....dry hop in the FV oncethe wort has been drained through the hop bed or - finally -
3....dry hop in the keg after fermentation and during conditioning.

Whats the difference?

[Parva]

So far I am only on AG number 2 and I didn't try any dry hopping yet,.

What are the relative merits of the three techniques described in this thread? If I understand correctly you can either
1....dry hop in the Boiler once the wort has cooled to 80C before transferring to the FV or
2....dry hop in the FV oncethe wort has been drained through the hop bed or - finally -
3....dry hop in the keg after fermentation and during conditioning.

Whats the difference?

This thread just gets more complicated. Now, I've never done steeping or dry hopping so what I say may not be correct but it's my understanding that steeping the hops (added at 80c during cooling) adds more 'hopiness' than adding them during the final 15 minute boil.

People do use step 2 or step 3 also for increased hop aroma / taste. There is a percieved danger in introducing infections to the wort at lower temperatures and whilst 80c doesn't guarentee an infection free brew it's probably safer than introducing hops at fermentation temperature.

The later the hops are added, the higher the hop taste (probably to the point of being over-powering at some stage). All of what I've said above is just my view of the overall process and I stand to be shot down in flames.