Born Again Brewer

[Calum]

Here I am, drinking a bottle of my last brew which was a Fuggles IPA (very nice although it has a slight haze and the yeast isn't as hard packed as other beer I have bottled). The date on the lable is 15/09/04 so I think it is high time my next AG brew is started.

My box of goodies have arrived from Edina Homebrew (except the spray malt - this posses problems for the yeast starter) and I have dug out my notepad of previous brews to make sure I follow the lessons learnt and don't repeat old mistakes. Infact how about this one - back in July 2004 I was transferring the wort from the boiler to the FV and popped into the house. When I can out I found the majority of the wort on the garage floor as I had left the tap open on the FV. I managed to retrieve about 10 litres of a 20 litre batch. How we laughed!

Anyway, I digress, I plan to make a decent light session beer just to get me started again. This one will end up in bottles and will be perfect for the festive period (I like to start with a positive attitude).

Sneaks Bounty *
=============
4kg Pale Malt
250g Crystal Malt

50g Challenger - Start of Boil
10g Gairdin - Last 15mins **
10g Irish Moss - Last 15mins

Yeast: Safale s-04

Timetable is as follows:
Thursday: Prepare yeast. Does anyone have suggestions on what I should do with this as I do not have any malt? Would a sugar solution do?
Friday: Brew day.
Saturday morning: Pitch the yeast


* So called because I'll have to sneak out to the garage to drink some when her indoors is watching TV
** Don't know what they are but I found them growing in "ma back gairdin"

[Vossy1]

When I can out I found the majority of the wort on the garage floor as I had left the tap open on the FV. I managed to retrieve about 10 litres of a 20 litre batch. How we laughed!

[Calum]

Thanks for that DaaB.

That looks just the job - I knew there would be a way around it.

Tomorrow I'll get the boiler and mash tun sterilised.

[BlightyBrewer]

Why sterilise your boiler and mash tun Calum? They only need to be clean as they are pre-boil / boil equipment. You only need to sterilise / sanitise all equipment used post boil.

[Andy]

Tomorrow I'll get the boiler and mash tun sterilised.

No need to, just make sure they're clean.

The boil will kill any nasties which may have been present in the mash.

Everything which comes into contact with the wort AFTER boiling needs to be sanitised though!

[BlightyBrewer]

That's what I said andy! Avert your gaze 4-5 inches higher.

[Andy]

I was mid-type when you posted!

[BlightyBrewer]

Ah, the old thread reply crossover...

[Calum]

Here I am as keen as mustard and all the jobs I had are being taken away from me.

Looks like I'll be watching the football on the telly.

[Calum]

I'll be getting as much as I can done tomorrow night.

I've only had one batch that was infected and it was actually an extract brew before I bought the AG equipment. Its such a let down that I'll go to extra lengths to avoid it again.

[Frothy]

This guy uses steam from the boil to sanitize his fermentor, you'd need a good boil. I tend to wash/ sanitize at the same time using a 5ml/L bleach soln'.


@ http://www.wibblers.co.uk/

Wilkommen back, has the Calum brewery a name?

Matt

[Calum]

I had a bit of a false start this morning. The tap on my mash tun came loose and I ended up with hot water all over the floor.

I had to start again. Problem was that I was only able to tighten the tap by hand and after the initial failure I new this was doomed aswell. So, I filled up the boiler and nipped off to B&Q for a new adjustable wrench (I lent my last one to the local Scouts at gala day and never saw it again).

Back on track now only an hour behind schedule. The mash has been on for 30 minutes and temperature is a constant 66C.

I had an interesting conversation with my 7 year old son who is on October break. He doesn't understand why I am making beer when I can buy it in Asda. I tried to explain it was like making homemade meatballs, where you know that all the ingredients are fresh, compared to the ones you get out of a can. I asked him to tell me which one was better.

Anyway, his answer isn't important at this point but I think he got the point (I also have him down as a Tennent Lager drinker in the future).

I'm off to get the water into the boiler and ready for the sparging.

[PieOPah]

Did I read that correctly? You are getting your 7 year old son to blind test you beer against a store bought one?

Get 'em into the hobby young

[Calum]

No, the wee fella hates beer.

Now, my 2 year old daughter, thats a different story - she loves the stuff

[mysterio]

Good stuff Calum, I'll be interested to know what your back gairden hops taste like! Did you just pluck them straight from the vine and into the boiler?