1st AG after the summer break - bad brew day....

[inthedark]

I finally managed to find the time to drag all the stuff out of the shed and make my first proper brew of the season. I was wary of having forgotten everything since the spring, so after careful preparation I kicked off the boiler this morning.

It's fair to say this has been my worse brewing experience so far! First, both of my digital thermometers decided to give up the ghost just as I was trying to get strike temperature right. Had to cobble together a working one from the bones of a faulty one and one that had been dropped, so didn't get off to a great start.

Still, managed to get strike temp right and hit 66deg dead on - 90 mins under the sleeping bag later, and only around 1deg lost. Feeling better at this point.

Sparging took forever, but I think I managed to get a reasonable amount into the boiler even though temperature in the grains never seemed to get above 69deg - still not happy with the thermometer.

Anyway - just over 24l in the boiler. Turned my back for 2 minutes and it boiled over. Can't tell you what language I was using at that point.

Estimated 20l left now - it's still going to be beer, and I have another learning experience under my belt... going to have to get another one going soon I guess....

[Vossy1]

Back in the saddle ITD...good man.
Regards mash bed temp don't worry too much. Even though you sparge with 77 deg liquor it's very rare that the mash bed temp ever reaches it in reality

[inthedark]

Well, after all that I managed to come out with 20L at target OG of 1045. Only 3L short - just goes to show, never say die! Extraction must've been OK, temperature notwithstanding. Much happier now!

[prolix]

And even happier when drinking it.... brewing really does just get better!