Cascade Creek Pale Ale - 09/05/09

[adm]

This afternoon I managed to get a quick brew on. Another quickly made up recipe that used up some crystal malt I had kicking around. Another New World hops and American yeast pale ale....I seem to make these a lot. I think that must mean I like them....

Cascade Creek Pale Ale

Grain:
4.6Kg Maris Otter
294g Medium Crystal Malt
150g Torrefied Wheat

Hops:
20g NZ Cascade First Wort
40g NZ Cascade 15 mins
30g NZ Cascade 80C steep

Yeast:
US-05

Water reduced to 20mg/l TA, 1 tsp of gypsum in the mash and another in the boil.

Here's the piccies:


Today's grist


I hit the mash temp and ph right on.


Here's the first runnings.


The hops are New Zealand Cascades from CraftBrewer in Australia. Lovely.


A slight mod to the boiler. I put the thermometer that used to be in the HLT into it. There was already a 1/2" threaded port there, so I just screwed it in.


I also used my IC today instead of the plate chiller. I modded that too - cut off the old 15mm connections and adapted it to the same quick disconnects I have on the plate chiller so I can use the same hoses easily.


A nice cold break forming


And finally, 21L at 1050

All went well on this brew, but my IC takes much longer than with the plate chiller (40mins vs 5mins). It's easier to set up and clean up though.

Fermenting now at 18.5C.

[simple one]

Looks delicous. And a great name too.

Your cellar must be bulging with beer!

[Invalid Stout]

Why have a thermometer in the boiler, if you don't mind me asking? Surely it's either boiling or it isn't?

Unless you find it handy for all your 80ºC hop additions in the APAs!

[adm]

Good question! And to be honest, the only real reason is "because it was lying around unused".

Although - it WAS useful yesterday for the 80C addition and to watch the (slow) progress of the IC without using a separate thermo.

[adm]

Looks delicous. And a great name too.

Your cellar must be bulging with beer!

Sadly, it's not bulging yet.......the stuff all seems to evaporate. Especially over weekends for some reason.

[Parp]

Although - it WAS useful yesterday for the 80C addition and to watch the (slow) progress of the IC without using a separate thermo.

Was the transferred wort a lot clearer with the IC?

That Hydro sample looks even clearer than usual!

[adm]

Parp,

The wort is definitely clearer with the IC than with the plate chiller, because most of the cold break stays in the boiler as opposed to settling out in the FV. I don't think it makes a bit of difference to the final beer though....

[Parp]

So, IC cool/runoff is about 40 mins and CF cool/runoff is 5+30 mins ?

30 mins standing time that you mentioned in another post

So, IC is simpler and overall takes roughly the same time ?

Cheers,

Parp!

[adm]

Well.....

MY IC takes 40 mins to cool - other people's don't!

But - the comparison is for the IC: 40 mins to cool, then another 30 mins to stand, vs 5+30 for the plate chiller.

The IC route is cheaper, and easier and if you make/buy a decent one, it should cool quicker than 40 mins.

But - the plate chiller is faster if you want to shorten a brew day. It does take longer to set up, tear down and clean - but most of that time is while I am doing something else anyway.

It's horses for courses really, although I'd recommend the IC route unless you are a gear slut (like me).

[Parp]

It's horses for courses really, although I'd recommend the IC route unless you are a gear slut (like me).

I've been using an IC since I started.

As it looks like its a 6/2x3 situation, It doesn't look like the CF chiller is an upgrade for me then.

I normally just let it chill/stand for however long whilst I'm tootling about tidying up and whatever so it suits me

[yashicamat]

I am actually very tempted by a plate chiller, simply because at this time of year, I worry for insect life dropping into the wort as it's being cooled. With a chiller going, the wort is likely to be hot enough to sanitise any bugs that drop into the boiler as the wort is pulled through the chiller.

[arturobandini]

Do you brew in a swamp Yashicamat? Never seen a man so plagued by beasties trying to give his brew an unwanted protein haze. Are these plate chillers your run of the mill combi boiler heat exchangers?

[yashicamat]

Do you brew in a swamp Yashicamat? Never seen a man so plagued by beasties trying to give his brew an unwanted protein haze. Are these plate chillers your run of the mill combi boiler heat exchangers?

Not far off. Our house borders onto a wild area consisting of loads of trees/shrubs etc., but also marshes and a pond further down the hill. Great for wildlife (we get shedloads of birds etc.), but also the insects rather like it too! Looking out the window now, I can see literally hundreds of insects swarming about. Just been a dry overcast day, nothing unusual - we just have a lot here!

I am also slightly paranoid about an insect dropping into the wort as I cool it, subsequently causing an infection.

[Robdog]

I did a similar brew that i kegged earlier this week. After a sneaky sample i think im going to really get the taste for it.

[adm]

Are these plate chillers your run of the mill combi boiler heat exchangers?

The one I have appears to be identical to this:
linky

It works well. The downside is the possibility of bits of trub getting stuck inside it, so you need a good cleaning regime. I heat mine in the oven at 200C for an hour before and after use, and also give it a good flush through in both directions after use, plus I give it a good soak filled with iodophor solution.