attempting my 1st AG

[yeasty]

I have had mixed results using various kits but I would say on the whole I have been disappointed as I can't get rid of that homebrew taste. So after months of contemplation I have decided to go for it and invest in an AG set up. I have completed my set up this week end after requesting various hops and grains for my birthday.

I will be attempting my first brew this weekend and have decided to go for the Speckled hen recipe. I still seem to have lots of doubts about weather I am doing things correctly and have tried to plan the brew as best I can but am still after some help.

My first query is the quantity of water needed for the Mash. I know the ratio is 2-3 ltrs per Kg of grain so do I multiply by 2.5? The recipe uses 4890g so 13 ltrs? My worry is that it will effect the PH level which brings me on to my next question. Do I take a PH reading as soon as I start the Mash and add water until the reading reaches the target 5.3 or this too early to take the reading.

My next query is sparging. I will be fly sparging and know I need to stop when I get a hydrometer reading of about 1.008. As the recipe is for 23 ltrs, from what I have read on this site I need to be aiming for approx 30 ltrs of wort pre boil. Do I take the reading when I have reached this or take regular readings from about 20 ltrs on. I also only have a 5 gal boiler so will need to boil the extra on the stove and add it back to the boiler as it reduces.

Am I worrying unnecessarily? as its my 1st brew should I not bother with a PH reading and sparge until I reach my target volume and see what the result is?

Sorry for all the questions but I am determined to make a decent pint. I guess I am going to have a long day on Saturday playing with my new toys!

Thanks again for all the info offered on this site.

[prodigal2]

OK I will try and jump in, although I have no fly sparging experience.

I would not worry about you ph on your first couple of brew days , it is better to worry about the basics of the process. 2.5l per kg would be a good water to grain mix for your mash(its what many of the forum members do). As far as hydrometer readings go bear in mind that temperature effects the reading so you will need to adjust(there is a hydrometer correction chart stickied at the top of this section I think). Or if I was you get your target amount of wort for the boil. You can top up your boiler with the extra wort as space becomes available.

At the end of the day AG is VERY forgiving, and you will be amazed at the quality of the beer you produce. Over the next few beers you make you will be able to refine your process and keep making better beer. Slow and steady and you will be fine and if you have any problems there will be members on the forum to help you through any problems on the day.

P2

[mixbrewery]

Class advice there P2.

The first few AG brews should see you getting comfortable with the process.
You can then start to dabble in the extra details one step at a time.
Only then will you be able to see how each step/change effects the final beer.
If you go playing with too many thing in one go you won't have a clue which tweak made the beer better or worst.

Above all, keep your equipment clean and enjoy!

[Scooby]

Good advice.

FWIW I use 3:1 ratio I find thinner easier you don't even need to use a hydrometer, just
do a finger test, put it under the runnings and taste, you'll know when to stop

[youreds91]

I have had mixed results using various kits but I would say on the whole I have been disappointed as I can't get rid of that homebrew taste. So after months of contemplation I have decided to go for it and invest in an AG set up. I have completed my set up this week end after requesting various hops and grains for my birthday.

I will be attempting my first brew this weekend and have decided to go for the Speckled hen recipe. I still seem to have lots of doubts about weather I am doing things correctly and have tried to plan the brew as best I can but am still after some help.

Hi yeasty, it looks like you're doing the same recipe as I documented in the brewdays board, it was my 2nd AG. Go with the advice from others & don't worry too much, it seems daunting at first but it's not that difficult.
I have supped all the OSH from that batch, so I think I'll join you & do it again at the weekend. One piece of advice from me that I picked up on here is to leave the hops & trub to settle for 30 minutes after cooling. It will mean less crud in the FV & it will clear quicker. I've just kegged the first brew in which I did this & it's crystal clear ater a few days. My problem is I can't wait to sup.

Have fun & don't get stressed.

[cooldad]

I fly sparge and start taking readings at the begining and when i've got between 15 -10 litres left to go just remember as
p2 has said adjust for temp . once you have reashed your sg stop and if your a bit short top up the boiler to get your boiler volume. If you don't stop you can get tannins that effect the taste of the beer , that is how it was explained to me anyway please correct me if i'm wrong .

[yeasty]

Thanks for the advise guys. I will go for it on Saturday and see what happens. I will take a PH reading for the record and continue regardless. If all goes well I might attempt my 2nd brew on Sunday as I doubled up on grain. I might do exactly the same recipe with adjustments depending on how Saturday goes.

The wife already thinks I'm going mad spending all this time planning the brew so I might as well hijack the kitchen for the entire weekend!

[prodigal2]

Hydrometer temp correction thread:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9794

Enjoy your brew day, and keep it simple for the first couple of brewdays.

[dcq1974]

Go for it Yeasty! It sounds like you are doing all the right things to me.

Have a good one

[Northern Brewer]

If you do go with the PH test, do this about 5-10 minutes in to give things chance to settle down. Good advice from Scooby above with regards the finger test because your final runnings will become so thin that you will barely be able to perceive any sweetness. I personally see no advantage in messing around with fly sparging and would use 15 litres for the mash, then batch sparge with approx 24-25 litres.

[ChrisG]

I did the same recipe for my first, just tweeked a bit.

You have made the right move....all grain will suprise you at just how ood a beer you can make.

[softlad]

I started my first AG brew last week and have to be honest that I was a bit daunted by the whole process before I started.
Following advice from here not to look too deeply into what was going on, the brew went surprisingly smoothly even though it didnt feel second nature.
I created myself a recipe list with timings so that I didnt miss any steps or ingredients out.

By following the recipe and paying attention to temperatures and volumes, the rest seemed to work itself out.

I'll be kegging the beer in a few days time. I took a hydro reading last night and if the taste now is anything to go by, I've brewed a damn tasty beer !

Sunday will be a revellation - I've ordered the ingredients for my next two brews and cant see me brewing another kit beer.

[LOAMY]

Is there any reason why you couldn't mash (in a mash/sparge bag) in an insulated fermenting bin ? and then batch sparge directly into the boiler ? or is it best to get and butcher a cooler box ?

[wetdog]

That's pretty much how it always used to be done and still is by some people. its really all about keeping the temp within a certain range so if you can insulate an FV sufficiently then go for it

[yeasty]

Just finished my first AG brew!

All went well. Ended with exactly 23L with an OG of 1058 which I was pleased with. My only concern was the temperature of the sparging water. I started at just under 80' but when I checked the temperature again about 2/3 through it had dropped to about 65'. I quickly topped it up with a kettle but was concerned that the temperature might have been a bit low to sparge with. Could this have an effect on the beer?

Other than this it all went well. might get another one on the go tomorrow. I want to stock up for Christmas!