First AG London Pride 25/8/08

[youreds91]

Greetings fellow brewers
I've not been on here that long & before I did I had no idea about Mash Tuns, sparging etc. having been a kit brewer for years. I did a couple of ESB extract brews with some success so decided to go AG.

So here goes.

1st off, power meter in the socket as I'm curious as to how much it will cost in juice:



Ingredients ready (Barley Bottom)



My 3 tier setup





30 minutes into mash, temp has barely dropped from 66°C, but I have got a sleeping bag around the tun.



Hops weighed & ready.



Clear running after a couple of jugs see herefor my mash tun construction. I went for a batch sparge.



First batch boiling while batch 2 is soaking.



All sparged, hops in.



Boiling nicely



Yeast starter on the go, Safeale S-04



Chiller in 15 mins from the end. You aren't seeing things, I kept the excess wort & topped up as I went long.



Boil over, 83.5p in leccy.



Final batch of hops for 15 mins.



All chilled & running off. I fashioned a hop strainer from some drilled 15mm copper, narrowed at the end with an angle grinder & shoved in the tap. The boil knocked it loose so I had to sanitise my arm, blow out the hops with a tube on the end of the tap & then stick it back in. I've done far more unhygenic things when brewing with no ill effects




A shade over 1040 at 23°C, not bad if I say so myself.



So there you go, problem free - I hope.
One point to note is the mash tun manifold, plastic pipe is OK, but you need to use it from a straight length & not a coil like mine, it just won't stay straight.

EDIT

Here's the view from the FV at 1AM, 6 hours after pitching....





CD

[Oggy' Bar]

Less than a quid of electricity for a 25l batch..that's useful info.

There obviously is a risk of infection when you put anything in the beer that hasn't been sterilised/disinfected but I have dry hopped a few times (hops in a bag straight into cornie) and I've never had a problem (other than overhopping and making a beer too bitter)...Looks good to me enjoy

[DEV]

Dave Lines London Pride is my regular AG brew (draught)
they sell it at my local, so I made it so I had the real thing to compare it with. I must say that DLs recipe is pretty much spot on.
I would'nt want to alter it in any way, the friends and relations who drink mine always swear its better than the Pubs.

[Buzz]

Nice work London Pride was also my first ever AG. Welcome to the darkside ...

[maxashton]

Bloody good brew day thread, imo. 83p in leccy, i have to admit i was wondering what it costs. That makes me feel a lot happier.

[youreds91]

Bloody good brew day thread, imo. 83p in leccy, i have to admit i was wondering what it costs. That makes me feel a lot happier.

That meter cost £8 from Maplin, you program in your cost per KwH. With most tariffs having 2 tiers in the pricing you have to do a guesstimate on the overall cost, but it's near enough.

CD

[Horden Hillbilly]

Excellent stuff youreds91, well done!

[ECR]

Great pictures

[ADDLED]

Nice one!
I look forward to receiveing my sample pint bottle in the post.

[ColinKeb]

welcome to the dark side and migth I say a perfect choice of beer, my favourite