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sdcspeak

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Post by sdcspeak » Sun Jan 11, 2009 6:34 pm

Well what can I say, 'twas brew day in the "brewhaus" and it was the first time out for the new setup. Thought that I had it all sorted, however it all started going wrong fairly early on. :?

Moving from a gravity setup to a one level pumped system (with my new pump, courtesy of Norm). I spent most of yesterday making a manifold to control the flow or liquids from HLT to MT, MT to Boiler and then Boiler to (hopback*) then Chiller and on to FV.

First off today, whilst cleaning and sanitising the system, I discover that the pump is too powerful and I have insufficient in-flow to keep the pump "wet" and therefore lubricated and primed. (Well the new manifold was pretty, even if it is now obselete) :cry:

Well we have to brew (don't we !) so I set about bodging things together so I can get through the day. Aiming to have pumping from HLT to MT first for filling and then sparging. Oh dear - The fairies have absconded with my sparging head !

whilst sparging with the hose pipe garden spray fitting :idea: (no it's not for potable water !) the pipe blows of and hot water is spraying all over the place. Sh1t.

Next, a stuck sparge, so I stir it all up and manage to get the second half out of the MT and into a bucket. (remember the pump is sitting idle at this time !). Next we are lifting the full bucket to shoulder height and tipping it into the boiler, never a good idea, however it went off without a hitch.

After getting the brew up to temperature, I forgot to start the timer for the boil . . . . #-o

That's it for now, the boil has another 38 mins, give or take 10 mins

sorry, just had to vent some steam :evil: Not a good day !

* planned addition

softlad

Re: !

Post by softlad » Sun Jan 11, 2009 6:37 pm

So apart from that youre having a good day :lol:

sdcspeak

Re: !

Post by sdcspeak » Sun Jan 11, 2009 6:41 pm

softlad wrote:So apart from that youre having a good day :lol:
Well with all this crap raining down today, next brewday is gonna be a doddle !

sdcspeak

Re: !

Post by sdcspeak » Sun Jan 11, 2009 6:42 pm

softlad wrote:So apart from that youre having a good day :lol:
I have cracked a draft London Pride (ish) so things dont seem so bad. Gotta go, whirlfloc and aroma hops to add, 15 mins to go !

ritchie

Re: !

Post by ritchie » Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:14 pm

Seeing your brewing sig there....do Palmers do an Extra Stout? Or is it a recreation of a dead beer?

sdcspeak

Re: !

Post by sdcspeak » Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:47 pm

ritchie wrote:Seeing your brewing sig there....do Palmers do an Extra Stout? Or is it a recreation of a dead beer?
It's an ex beer, palmers darkest beer is now "Tally Ho". I got the Extra Stout recipe from Dave Lines Book "Brewing Beers like those you buy" It's one of my favourites. For a 20 ltr brew:

2500 maris Otter
250 Crystal
200 Black

60 Gms Fuggles
500gms Soft dark brown sugar

I upped everything by 20% to get an increased yield, due mainly to the implementation of new system with significant losses in pipe work etc.

It's now in the FV:

OG 1.050 (should be 1.036, but I find it lacks body at this gravity)
FG 1.010 (Target)

sdcspeak

Re: !

Post by sdcspeak » Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:51 pm

sdcspeak wrote:
ritchie wrote:Seeing your brewing sig there....do Palmers do an Extra Stout? Or is it a recreation of a dead beer?
For a 20 ltr brew:

2500 maris Otter
250 Crystal
200 Black

60 Gms Fuggles
500gms Soft dark brown sugar

I upped everything by 20% to get an increased yield, due mainly to the implementation of new system with significant losses in pipe work etc.
Oh yeah, I also added 15 gms Fuggles with 15mins to go and 15 gms EKG at "flame out". My hops have been around for a while and I wanted more aroma from the brew.

I recycled my wort through the chiller and back to the boiler to simulate a hopback, don't know how it will turn out. :)

ritchie

Re: !

Post by ritchie » Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:53 pm

Cheers sdc. Thought i'd never seen it on at The George. Will have to knock up a batch for the pa-in-law.

sdcspeak

Re: !

Post by sdcspeak » Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:04 pm

ritchie wrote:Cheers sdc. Thought i'd never seen it on at The George. Will have to knock up a batch for the pa-in-law.
Ok, so you are living somewhere in the area . . . . . or a visitor ?

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edit1now
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Re: !

Post by edit1now » Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:06 pm

The next brew will be much less hassle. Been there, hosed the wort off the patio... :D You'll fix the problems, then the process will become much easier and you can concentrate on the timings, the water etc., etc....

ritchie

Re: !

Post by ritchie » Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:07 pm

Pa-in-law is from Bridport so im down fairly often. Nice place.

sdcspeak

Re: !

Post by sdcspeak » Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:18 pm

ritchie wrote:Pa-in-law is from Bridport so im down fairly often. Nice place.
Well . . . I'll be a monkey's uncle !

If you want, give me a shout, when you are down, (bring samples of your efforts), we can trade some beers, you can laugh at my "brewhaus".

If I am brewing, you can be the Honorary Assistant Head Brewer !!!

SWMBO knocks out a mean bacon sandwich for early starters.

ritchie

Re: !

Post by ritchie » Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:26 pm

Sweet man, thats v kind of you. I'll look forward to it. :)

sdcspeak

Re: !

Post by sdcspeak » Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:29 pm

edit1now wrote:The next brew will be much less hassle. Been there, hosed the wort off the patio... :D You'll fix the problems, then the process will become much easier and you can concentrate on the timings, the water etc., etc....
Yeah, I am thinking I should put a deck down in the shed, to keep my feet dry :lol:

I had better get back to it, the shed won't hose itself down and pack away all the crap. Four beers down, feeling quite calm now !

farmhousekeg

Re: !

Post by farmhousekeg » Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:39 am

Hats off to you SDC, sounds like you've got a great setup going there once you iron out the gremlins! I am very jealous :mrgreen: I'm still brewing in the kitchen though I am now equipped with an H&G boiler and my DaaBs FB mash tun instead of 3 sets of pots and pans, a mesh bag for grain and a jug for sparging!! I am thinking of a self imposed exile in the workshop. There's plenty of room out there after I clear away all the stuff that's been dumped over the years although its a bit leaky and cold, not all fancy and sealed up like your megashed. However, music and coffee would be no problem and there will be no SWMBO and kids moaning about the smell :=P . It even opens up the real possibility of "brewnights" after work - bed by midnight should still be possible. Mmmmm this is getting more and more appealing. It should be fine in the spring and summer but I'm not too sure about the temperature at this time of year. I guess it'll just take a bit longer to heat the boiler and I might have to throw an old blanket over the mash tun (its insulated with a camping mat). I'll have to give some thought to a gravity setup (going to check how many breeze blocks and crates I've got lying around :lol:). I have a heater for my FV so is it a case of camping mat round FV with heater inside? Sit it on a block of polystyrene? How do you do it in the shed?

I thought my Sunday brewday with my "new" kit was problematic due to my bocked hop strainer :shock:
viewtopic.php?f=24&t=19792
but it looks like I had a dream day compared to you! At least we should both have a nice beer at the end of it all! :lol:

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