Hi folks.
I've decided to take the plunge and order up my AG gear on tuesday. I got a little bonus, and i'm doing it instead of upgrading my PC basically.
I'm looking at buying H&G's full mash kit, adding an immersion chiller.
My question was, what sort of stuff shall i add on top of that? I already have cleaners and sanitizers, some S-04, and other bits and pieces...
What grain should i buy? What do you suggest as a good first AG brew?
Thanks!
Max
Taking the Plunge (Douging in?)
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BigEd
Congrats, maxashton! Enjoy the ride because you won't look back after making the switch to AG. You want to be sure to have a big enough kettle to do a full boil and a heat source to do it comfortably. At least one easy-reading and accurate thermometer is a necessity, two would be better.
As to grain and recipes I would base it on what you like to brew and drink now. Most homebrewers make ales so a quality pale ale malt is a natural. If you are into lagers, pils and Munich malt are great to have on hand. Specialty malts such as crystals, roasted, black, etc are also good to have stocked for some style flexibility. For your first AG brew why not make one of your favorites from your extract portfolio? That will give you both a favorite beer and a good comparison between the two styles of brewing. Cheers!
As to grain and recipes I would base it on what you like to brew and drink now. Most homebrewers make ales so a quality pale ale malt is a natural. If you are into lagers, pils and Munich malt are great to have on hand. Specialty malts such as crystals, roasted, black, etc are also good to have stocked for some style flexibility. For your first AG brew why not make one of your favorites from your extract portfolio? That will give you both a favorite beer and a good comparison between the two styles of brewing. Cheers!
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mysterio
Are you going to dive in the deep end and do a 10 gallon batch with your H&G kit? 
You could go for a sack of maris otter seeing as you're paying a flat rate of postage. This is an excellent malt for all ales. Then as BigEd said you might want to do one of your extract recipes and convert it to all grain.
My first all grain was a hefeweizen (50/50 wheat & pils malt, Hersbruker hops 12 IBU & WLP300). Turned out great. I think a good first AG is a low gravity ordinary bitter, something that you can turnover fast but is still packed with flavour.
You could go for a sack of maris otter seeing as you're paying a flat rate of postage. This is an excellent malt for all ales. Then as BigEd said you might want to do one of your extract recipes and convert it to all grain.
My first all grain was a hefeweizen (50/50 wheat & pils malt, Hersbruker hops 12 IBU & WLP300). Turned out great. I think a good first AG is a low gravity ordinary bitter, something that you can turnover fast but is still packed with flavour.
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prolix
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Matt
I second Mysterio and so how about Plummers Principal, the recipe in the forum newsletter.
http://www.jimsbeerkit.co.uk/news/newsl ... b_2007.htm
Cheers,
Matt
http://www.jimsbeerkit.co.uk/news/newsl ... b_2007.htm
Cheers,
Matt
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SteveD
Nice one Max. No way back now. You can't beat AG (apart from speed but as there's already quite enough haste in the world, that's no bad thing. AG makes you take your time and allows a bit of relaxed contemplation - providing it's not all going wrong 
As to recipe, don't go too strong to start with. Might be an idea to do something with some dark malt in - dark brews are a bit easier, as well as being very tasty. Have fun
Off the top of my head,
4.5 KG Pale
500G Medium Crystal
100g Roast Barley
Fuggles to about 25-30 IBU
Up to 30G as a late addition, 10 mintes before switch off - then let them steep
Any yeast you like. Saf-04, Gervin English Ale, etc.
That should give you a medium strength dark winter warmery type of ale.
but as there's already quite enough haste in the world, that's no bad thing. AG makes you take your time and allows a bit of relaxed contemplation - providing it's not all going wrong As to recipe, don't go too strong to start with. Might be an idea to do something with some dark malt in - dark brews are a bit easier, as well as being very tasty. Have fun
Off the top of my head,
4.5 KG Pale
500G Medium Crystal
100g Roast Barley
Fuggles to about 25-30 IBU
Up to 30G as a late addition, 10 mintes before switch off - then let them steep
Any yeast you like. Saf-04, Gervin English Ale, etc.
That should give you a medium strength dark winter warmery type of ale.
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maxashton
I'm a professional hacker, the pc would have made my life a lot easier. However, i believe people don't like *making* things anymore, and i like to make beer.
It combines some of my favorite disciplines.. biology, chemistry, cooking, and being drunk.
Thanks for all the help guys. Much appreciated.
I will have to get one of these brew softwares.
It combines some of my favorite disciplines.. biology, chemistry, cooking, and being drunk.
Thanks for all the help guys. Much appreciated.
I will have to get one of these brew softwares.
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PieOPah
Good luck in your first AG brew max 
It is going to be a long and fun day.
How will you be sparging? Batch or Fly?
One thing that I think is extremely useful is a refractometer. This way you can take a sample reading (need 1 drop - I use 3) to find out your gravity (multiply brix by 4) and don't need to wait for samples to cool first.
It is going to be a long and fun day.How will you be sparging? Batch or Fly?
One thing that I think is extremely useful is a refractometer. This way you can take a sample reading (need 1 drop - I use 3) to find out your gravity (multiply brix by 4) and don't need to wait for samples to cool first.
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maxashton