Home Brew Forum

Ok, today was my first brewday. It was all in all semi-successful; I somehow ended up with too much beer and consequently its likely to be a little weak (around 3%). Despite that it was a massive learning experience and I am confident my next brew will be much better. Anyway:


Mashing. 90 mins. Start 67 deg. Finish 63 deg.

Uh oh. Mash tun full. Collected 14L. Did a small 3rd mash to take it up to 31L collected.

Boilage.

Cooling. Counter flow cooler worked a treat.

Controlled to 22 deg. Hop strainer blocked early on, but freed it up with a stir and it was fine afterward.

Somehow I collected about 29L in my FV (target 23L) so its gravity was only 1.034. In hindsight I didnt need the 3rd mini-mash. Hopefully it will be drinkable. All in all I'm reasonably happy. Any suggestions to increase its alcohol content would be appreciated. Next brew: Brakspear special.

I'd ferment it as it is and accept that you've done a pretty good job of making beer for your first go.

Low gravity beer is better than no beer

/Phil.

So looks like pre boil your wanting to collect about 26lt?

Totem wrote:So looks like pre boil your wanting to collect about 26lt?

Yeah that's probably more like it. I used DaaB's calculation for a 23L fermentation which suggested collecting 30.5L pre-boil. I think this amount was right, but the recipe I used had a low hop content (and so absorbed much less) and the humid weather made evaporation much less. Whether these things acounted for the excessive liquid in my FV i'm not sure. Next time I will again scale the recipe down to 23L, but do just 2 batch sparges and so collect 28L pre boil.

Glad to see you had a great 1st brewday EJ
even managing a few pics...good man

Turned out better than my first attempt so I wouldn't be too hard on yourself. Should be a nice session beer at that sort of gravity.

Right chaps, tested the gravity and more importantly tasted it and its goooooood! Well chuffed. My original gravity was 1.034 and now it is 1.008. Do i need to keg this now or can I wait? I think its still fermenting and its rather cloudy. Looking at King Kegging it,
Jake.

I would wait until you have 2 consistent hydrometer readings 24 hours apart before you keg your brew. It probably won't drop much further though, if at all.

I'm sure that you will still enjoy beer despite your problems, at least you know what went wrong & how to correct it on your next brew, well done!