First AG brew 14.06.08 - Briar's Best (with pics)

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Grahame

First AG brew 14.06.08 - Briar's Best (with pics)

Post by Grahame » Sat Jun 14, 2008 11:11 am

Hi guys,

Just started my first ever AG brew this morning, it is currently mashing (managed to hit 66C on my first try, very happy!)

I adjusted the recipe for my equipment and hops and it is:

Brewlength: 23L

4.12Kg Marris Otter
480g Crystal Malt

90 Min mash @ 66C

90 Min boil
35g Challenger (6.5% AA) for 90 mins
20g Challenger (6.5% AA) for last 15 mins

Beersmith is telling me it will have an IBU of 30 which seems spot on.

I have added a few pics below, more to follow as the day progresses.


Three tier system:
Image

Grain bill:
Image

Mash @ 66C:
Image

G.
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spearmint-wino
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Post by spearmint-wino » Sat Jun 14, 2008 12:05 pm

Good luck with the brewday. Good choice of recipe too 8)

drinking: ~ | conditioning: ~ | primary: ~ | Looks like I need to get brewing then...
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roger the dog

Post by roger the dog » Sat Jun 14, 2008 1:31 pm

Looks like it's going well, have a good one 8)
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Bionicmunky

Post by Bionicmunky » Sat Jun 14, 2008 1:50 pm

Good luck mate - enjoy it, I know I do!
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SiHoltye

Post by SiHoltye » Sat Jun 14, 2008 2:18 pm

:wall
Hope you like it! Have a great brew.

The comp entry was 5 weeks matured. It got even more rounded and smooth 2 weeks later, then it was gone :( .
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Vossy1

Post by Vossy1 » Sat Jun 14, 2008 2:49 pm

Have a gooden q :wink:
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Grahame

Post by Grahame » Sat Jun 14, 2008 3:02 pm

Cheers guys!

That's it boiling away now. Only had one problem so far - I got a stuck mash on my 2nd batch sparge run off. I had to re-stir, re-circulate until clear then continue collecting. I had to do this twice, but it got there in the end. Not sure what was happening, I think I ran it off faster on the 2nd batch, could that be it? It wont affect the brew will it?

Anyway, here are some pics of the current progress...

First batch sparge liquor in:
Image

Collecting first runnings:
Image

Re-circulating:
Image

Collecting clear wort:
Image

Spent grain:
Image

First hops added:
Image

Boiling away nicely:
Image

Really loving this, taking me a lot longer than I had thought but I have managed to stay calm and keep everything running smooth. Just off to clean the mess the boil-over made all over the kitchen floor!!

Grahame
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Aleman
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Post by Aleman » Sat Jun 14, 2008 3:09 pm

queenaudio wrote:First hops added:
Image
Careful thats about to boil over :lol: :=P
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Grahame

Post by Grahame » Sat Jun 14, 2008 3:17 pm

Aleman wrote:
queenaudio wrote:First hops added:
Image
Careful thats about to boil over :lol: :=P

Yup, it did!!

Had a bit of a brown trousers moment as I thought it would explode the elements (they are only protected by a small tube over them - I need to think of something better. The smell is amazing though, so much better than kits

G.
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spearmint-wino
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Post by spearmint-wino » Sat Jun 14, 2008 3:45 pm

Just wait till you taste the results 8)

Well done, certainly looks a lot better than my first AG!

drinking: ~ | conditioning: ~ | primary: ~ | Looks like I need to get brewing then...
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edit1now
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Post by edit1now » Sat Jun 14, 2008 5:11 pm

The front of my washing machine has never been quite the same since I got a boil-over, and hot brown wort went behind the transparent panels. I brew outside, or in the garage now.
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Grahame

Post by Grahame » Sat Jun 14, 2008 6:02 pm

Right guys, just finished. Collected 23L at 1.042 giving me an efficiency of around 67% which I guess is not bad for my first attempt. However, I fear it may have all gone t**s up all at the end. I don't think my hop strainer worked very well. As a result, there is a lot of very small particulate matter in the wort. (I assume it is the break material).

Is there anything I can do so salvage it, or will it be OK? I think I read somwhere that you can skim it off the top but I am not sure... It is a bit heart wrenching when you spend 7.5 hrs working away and its all wasted...

Anyway, some pics to complete the day...

2nd hops, IC and Irish moss in:
Image

IC in action:
Image

Cool wort collecting in Fermenter:
Image

Nicely aerated ready for pitching:
Image


Really enjoyed my first AG experience, but I really hope I have not ruined the product...

Grahame
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PGSteamer

Post by PGSteamer » Sat Jun 14, 2008 7:12 pm

I always get lots of break material in the FV and have never noticed adverse effects from it. It will settle out with the yeast once fermentation has finished.

I do like the look of your recipe. Looking forward to hearing how this one tastes :D
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mixbrewery
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Post by mixbrewery » Sat Jun 14, 2008 9:13 pm

Good job there on your first AG - and pics as well =D>
Don't worry, it will taste fab.
Check out the beers we have for sale @ Mix Brewery
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prolix

Post by prolix » Sat Jun 14, 2008 9:19 pm

glad you had I good day Q was a great day for brewing :lol:
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