First AG brew day over

[landy813]

I am now converted to the Darkside.

I started at 09:30 with a hangover and then made a start on the following.

5.5 kg Pale malt
100 g Crystal malt
100 g Goldings 90 mins
25 g Goldings 15 mins
Gervin English Ale yeast
1 whirlfloc tablet

Mash 90 mins
Boil 90 mins

I finally ended up after the boil with 24 ltrs at OG 1042 so I only managed an efficiency of approx 61% . I think i sparged to fast as it only took 40 min, or i need to mash longer don't really know. Either way i got 40 pints of something reasonable. I also need to remember more ventilation (see pic) as all the kitchen walls needed wiping down they were very sticky.

Sparging to quickly.


Collecting the wort.


The boil and CFC setup to go.


2 hours later its working already.

[landy813]

Thanks, so what chemicals or additives do i need to adjust the ph and when do i adjust the ph?

[iowalad]

Congratulations!
Let us know how it turns out.

[AT]

Well done on your first brew i haven't bothered yet to control the ph of my brews but my efficiency is fine. I have read about people using ph 5.2 stabilizer available from hop and grape but i've never used it so i can't from experience tell you what it's like. Hope your first brew turns out as good as it looks

[Garth]

nice one Landy, it's a slippery slope from now on....

[landy813]

Thanks Daab

Just checked the water ph from the tap and it 7.8, can i use any acid to lower the ph? I use malic acid and citric acid for dare i say it making wine, are they compatible for mixing into the mash?

[BarryNL]

Thanks Daab

Just checked the water ph from the tap and it 7.8, can i use any acid to lower the ph? I use malic acid and citric acid for dare i say it making wine, are they compatible for mixing into the mash?

Water treatment is a horribly complex subject and it's not the same for every brew either. Dark beers are naturally more acidic in the mash and so require a different treatment to pale beers. There's a nice intro to the subject on this website. The print version of John Palmer's book also has a useful nomograph in the back for calculating water treatments.

[landy813]

i've heard some one mention their beer tasted a little like Fanta after using citric.

SWMBO would love that

CRS it is then.

Also got G wheelers book must be something in there about it.

Thanks again Daab.

Phil.

[Vossy1]

Well done Landy...welcome to the dark side

[Horden Hillbilly]

Nice one landy, keep us informed with it's progress. I bet you can't wait to try the finished beer, I'm sure that you will be delighted with it!

[mixbrewery]

Didn't know there was a turkish steam bath in Henlow!
welcome to the darkside.

[prodigal2]

Welcome to the dark side.

Now the hard bit........ the wait, but I will say many of us have done a similar brew to yours our first, and all I can say is you will be impressed

[Mashman]

No going back now........

BTW what landy have you got? I've had a couple of series 1's and would probably sell my soul for another

[landy813]

I got a Series III, but i have ripped it to bits and now its in the middle of a refurb also fitted a Prima Perkins engine.

My brew is going nuts i have had to leave it on the sink as it just keeps foaming over, i take it that it will settle down soon?

[delboy]

I got a Series III, but i have ripped it to bits and now its in the middle of a refurb also fitted a Prima Perkins engine.

My brew is going nuts i have had to leave it on the sink as it just keeps foaming over, i take it that it will settle down soon?

Welcome to the dark side landy hope the brew turns out ok (im sure it will).

SWMBO loves landys and has made it know that our next car purchase is going to be one, it'll proably mean a trip over to england for one since they are a bit thin on the ground over here. Trying to buy one in NI you wouldnt have much choice and the prices are pretty damn high.

I might be on here in a few months picking your brains about galvanished chassis and the like