My first AG brewday... at long last!

[stevetk189]

Well done on a smooth looking step over to AG.

[banjokat]

Cracking job! Your kit is broadly similar to mine too, which has served me well for close on 30 AG's.

[Tibbsey]

Funny, I brewed that same recipe (My AG3) that same week (the 8th). It's now been two weeks and has finally hit my expected final gravity, seems to be tasting pretty good too - will be kegging this weekend - hopefully should be a good one!

[Jim Blockley]

Funny, I brewed that same recipe (My AG3) that same week (the 8th). It's now been two weeks and has finally hit my expected final gravity, seems to be tasting pretty good too - will be kegging this weekend - hopefully should be a good one!

That's pretty weird! Mine went into the keg last week, it's all I can do to resist drinking it now 'cos it's tasting damn fine already. Did you dry hop yours? I stuck a small handful of fuggles in the keg - not sure if it will block the pipe yet though...

[Tibbsey]

Its been a bit cold in the house and so my fermentation has gone very slow (I've now finished my fermentation fridge, but didnt want to disturb the brew too much by moving it to the garage), so I will be kegging it today as soon as I get around to it...

I was very much considering dry hopping as per the recipe, but I was using up hops from my first attempt at all grain and magically the quantities required about matched what I had left (hence why I chose the recipe) so I'm left with a choice of Cascade, Centennial, Herbruscker, Perle or Styrian Goldings (yes I have some brews planned!) and don't know which way to go - I do keep meaning to look into that.

I had too wondered about the hops blocking the tap, I will be using one of my bottom tap king kegs.

[Jim Blockley]

Sound good. Do you have any links to brew fridge ideas? Also, saw you did a Uley beer - one of my local breweries, do you still have the recipe?

[Tibbsey]

There are loads of brew fridge ideas and discussions on here and beyond, most of my inspiration came from this one as mine is a tall larder fridge. I have also gone with the 60W tube heater and the ATC800+ but found that I had to use a fan to circulate the air - mostly to stop the heater thermostat from clicking on and off when it gets to about 12 degrees! I've successfully tested it between -3 and +24 degrees but not used it yet. Today I am attempting to brew a lager so I will get to try it in anger!!

Yeah don't be fooled by the Kent thing, I may live down here 99% of the time, but Uley is a local one for me too! I brewed it because its one that the wife and I very much enjoy after discovering it at the Frocester beer festival a couple of years ago - I consider home to be Epney even though I've been working down here about 4 years now. I used the recipe found on this page but substituted maris otter. It wasn't a particularly great clone, but it was a passable beer and I didn't think too bad for my first all grain!

P.S just had my first home brew scolding - that will teach me to leave the lid on the boiler while it gets to temperature and then get distracted by the interwebs!

[WishboneBrewery]

Looks like you did good