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AG 7 Stedmans Best Bitter (lots of lovely piccies)

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 7:51 pm
by GrowlingDogBeer
I thought it was about time I posted another Brew Day as I haven't done one for a while, well not since AG 1 anyway.

I have mainly been brewing very Pale Ales with solely Maris Otter, or Stouts and Porters so I decided it was time for something in the middle.

I settled upon a standard Best Bitter, and named it after our one of our cats, who happens to be named after a church bell ringing method of the same name.

I aimed for a 25L brew length, so far I have always ended up a little short so upping the liquor quantities a bit more this time.

Stedmans Best Bitter

Grain Bill

3.8Kg Maris Otter Pale Malt
250g Crystal Malt
150g Torrified Wheat
40g Chocolate Malt

Hops
30g Challenger 60 mins
10g East Kent Golings 10 mins

The Obligatory Grain Shot
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The Hops
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I heated 14L Strike Water in the Boiler and then Added 13L to the Tun (1 Litre dead Space in the Boiler)
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In go the grains and a good stir
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Time for a beer I think, this is the result of my first All Grain Brew Day, GW's Exmoor Gold mmm lovely :)
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A quick stock take, make sure we are OK for XMAS
About 22L TTL, 23L Santas Stout, 19L GW's Exe Valley Spring Beer, 10L GW's Exmoor Gold, I should be OK :)
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Make sure the Mash is going OK, quick check of Temp and pH
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That all looks OK, a little on the warm side but never mind.

60 minute Mash complete, time to recirculate some of the wort making use of my custom made foil tray which once contained some Tear n Share Garlic Bread, so as not to disturb the Grain Bed.
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Get the sparging going, 24L of Hot Liquor in the HLT ready to sparge with.
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First runnings going into the boiler with the FWH already in.
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Wondering at this point why I didn't get a slightly larger boiler, it's not even boiling yet.
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Boil complete and no disasters, I forgot to take any piccies of the cooling as was sidetracked by a bacon sarnie.
Wort all cooled and settled and running off into the FV. SO4 yeast sprinkled in as well
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Looks a bit like some dodgy gravy, never mind it will clear eventually, and if it doesn't I shall use a wooden tankard so I can't see it. ;) Hit 1042 OG, which is just above the 1040 I was aiming for.
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All nicely in the FV, I got a full 25 Litres, first time ever, looks to be well aerated.
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All in all a good brew day, no disasters, and it's taking less and less time each attempt. Start to finish 5 hours this time.

Re: AG 7 Stedmans Best Bitter (lots of lovely piccies)

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 7:59 pm
by Kev888
Looks like a good day! I'm impressed you didn't get a boil-over , too - think I'd have had wort everywhere :-)

Cheers
Kev

Re: AG 7 Stedmans Best Bitter (lots of lovely piccies)

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 8:30 pm
by GrowlingDogBeer
Kev888 wrote:I'm impressed you didn't get a boil-over , too - think I'd have had wort everywhere :-)
Lots of stirring :)

A 25 L Brew Length is just the right amount to fill a King Keg, so ideally I could do with a slightly bigger boiler, about 40L maybe.

Re: AG 7 Stedmans Best Bitter (lots of lovely piccies)

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 9:37 pm
by Kevin Worth
Great pics and that Exmoor Gold looks bloomin lovely. Nice one :-)

Re: AG 7 Stedmans Best Bitter (lots of lovely piccies)

Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 12:45 am
by JontyR
Great pictures Steve, I'm glad you had a good day. Also pleased to see someone else with an eclectic selection of kegs!!

Re: AG 7 Stedmans Best Bitter (lots of lovely piccies)

Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 11:11 am
by WishboneBrewery
Good photos, nice to see a good full process :)

Re: AG 7 Stedmans Best Bitter (lots of lovely piccies)

Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 11:38 am
by Spud395
Looking good, very organised.

I think you're ok for the holiday period all right :)

Re: AG 7 Stedmans Best Bitter (lots of lovely piccies)

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 2:39 am
by GrowlingDogBeer
Had a quick check tonight tonight and a lovely krausen has formed. Looks like the yeast is happy.

Re: AG 7 Stedmans Best Bitter (lots of lovely piccies)

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:41 pm
by monkeyboy
just in time - that stock looks low to me :)