AG4 TTL (or is it?)

[chris_reboot]

OK, so took advantage of an early finish from work 3.30 (cool!) and was home early, so got the HLT on which I had prepped the night before with campden tablet treatment. All looks good for an early finish then....

Got mash tun pre-heating with 80C water, but it took more heating up than I had reckoned on, and dropped temp too quickly, so water recirculated somewhat via the kettle to get the strike temp I was after, no big deal, but set me back a bit.

Note to self: 85C MT warming temp next time!

Doughed in fine, mashed over 90mins as usual.
Went with GW's recipe from latest book, but at the last minute found myself this week in Sunderland, so managed to pop in to H&G for some Golden Promise malt rather than the MO I was going to use.
Added the black malt as per recipe, and think it's overdone it a tad with the colour! GP must have a higher EBC than MO, or the recipe is out from what I can remember TTL should look like, you'll see later.

Anyhoo, sparge went fine (ish) - still getting used to new boiler, and deadspace, but boiled up more than I needed, so no great shakes.
The hops on this one are amazing!
Even SWMBO commented on how nice it smelled during the boil, and that's saying something!
Have to say first use of Styrians and I kind of like them - a lot!
Styrian Stunner already tagged on the TO DO list, but thats for another day.

I'll stop waffling now and show you the pics...

Goldings and Styrians mmmmm...

First try with mash PH reading.


Cooling:


This is the problem I think, too much black malt... It was as per recipe, but perhaps I'm not used to the Golden Promise?


Really good coagulation with protofloc, first time using that, and I won't be going back to Irish Moss (the regular kind). Very impressed!


And OK, it's only been 2 .5 weeks bottled, but I had to try AG#3, my Riggwelter, and wow! RReally happy with it. First time using Nottingham yeast in that one, and it's stuck like a hard b@stard to the bottom of the bottle -yes! Very enjoyable drink!


Off to FV now, and then bed!

[WishboneBrewery]

Golden promise darker than Maris otter... so you could forget about the Black Malt addition then??
Let us know how this turns out

[Deebee]

I have used protofloc on several occasions and prefer it to IM anyday.

Am trying to convert the guys at the club too but they are strict " do it as you were taught" types.

Still i have said i'll take some down next time they do a 100l brew ( 4 tabs) then they can see for themselves.

And as for Styrians, i have never used them, but understand that BOBEk is almost the same.

I like BOBEk LOTS and am planning a bobek blast at some stage. Pure Pale malt with a litte dark crystal to deepen the colour a little and lots of bobek!!

[chris_reboot]

Golden promise darker than Maris otter... so you could forget about the Black Malt addition then??
Let us know how this turns out

well hang fire on that.
maybe I spoke too soon...watch this space as I'll be posting up a trial jar pic shortly that makes it look a lot lighter in fact.

And as for Styrians, i have never used them, but understand that BOBEk is almost the same.

As I understood it, Bobek is a type of Styrian. (that was what I was told anyway, so that's what I've used here).

[chris_reboot]

Update:

more pics.
Colour seems to be OK now its out of the boiler, see for yourself.
OG was spot on at 1042 (phew!), and collected the right amount, so getting better at this!


..and two more. FV action shot.


Not had break material like this before, so put that down to the protofloc.

[adm]

Nice one. Looks good to me. And reminds me to get some more styrian hops....I quite fancy having a go at TTL.

Deebee - on the protafloc issue, someone posted a link here once to an article in Brewer's Contact where they were saying that the amount of protafloc in each tablet is way higher than us homebrewers actually need for 25L and that in reality only a quarter to a half a tab was needed. So for your 100L brew, you might only need 1-2 tablets.

(EDIT: I've found the article: It's here. Have a read of page 14.)

[Deebee]

Nice one. Looks good to me. And reminds me to get some more styrian hops....I quite fancy having a go at TTL.

Deebee - on the protafloc issue, someone posted a link here once to an article in Brewer's Contact where they were saying that the amount of protafloc in each tablet is way higher than us homebrewers actually need for 25L and that in reality only a quarter to a half a tab was needed. So for your 100L brew, you might only need 1-2 tablets.

(EDIT: I've found the article: It's here. Have a read of page 14.)

Thanks.

Non the less. Seeing the massive cold break form in front of your eyes when you are used to seeing very little is kind of a buzz huh?

[adm]

Non the less. Seeing the massive cold break form in front of your eyes when you are used to seeing very little is kind of a buzz huh?

Yep! It's great stuff.

[crookedeyeboy]

Even 1-2 tablets it too much for the protofloc. We sell them to all the microbreweries and the recommended dosage is in the region of 2 tablets per BRL, 2 tablets per 163 litres!

[chris_reboot]

wow! I'll maybe split one in half next time then to try that out (aren't I tight!?)

[crookedeyeboy]

I think on the scale we are doing it, it shoudlnt make too much difference. ALl you will get is larger trub dropping out.
It is more efficient however to have tight small trub that drop quicker and more compact.