Trying to progress

[gizmo]

I've just started brewing again, I've always done kits and they have been ok. After doing a Colne valley bitter to DAAB's instructions (thanx DAAB) I would like to progress to extract beers. I am disabled with no energy so i've got to take it steady. Anyway less of the bol**x. Does anybody have a recipe for a light coloured bitter? Simple and easy to understand

[monk]

steeping a bit of light crystal malt would add a nice touch to the pale malt extract and hops. Try 250grams of crushed malt for 30 minutes at 68 degrees c. Then add your malt extract to that. i made one like that and it was very tasty.

monk

[PieOPah]

For a 5 gallon brew I would say that 3kg of extract is going to make quite a strong beer (think it would work out to be about 6-7%).

You shouldn't need to using Irish Moss with an extract brew. AFAIK Irish Moss is used to help knock the protien out of the brew. This is only really neccessary for a Full Grain brew. Some people use it more out of habit!

My standard extract brew tends to go a little like this -

Bring 2.5 Gallon of water to steep temp (can't remember off top of my head - I always check at the time - need to remember stuff like this) About 60 C I think.

Steep any speciality grains for about 30 minutes
Remove grains and allow to drain (I know I should sparge but I don't)
Bring to boil and add all of my extract
Boil until hot break pretty much all gone (takes around 15-30 minutes)
Add Hops for duration (normally 60 minutes)
Add any more hops depending on requirements.

This is my standard schedule which does change slightly depending on what I am brewing.

[PieOPah]

3kg gives an OG of about 1.060
Should be able to get the FG down to about 1.016
ABV would be about 5.9%

That is using promash to get the OG value and my estimate on the FG

[PieOPah]

Just had a look using Reg's Values which would give an OG of about 1.040 for 3kg of extract.

http://www.argentfamily.co.uk/beer/effi ... 20calc.xls

Dumped in 3kg of extract into the 'recipe' on here.

Would need to make another brew with extract to know for sure what the actual grav would be, but this is unlikely to happen for a long time now....

I am sure that the last time I made a brew with 3kg in it had a fairly high gravity. Lost all my notes though after a computer crash

[gizmo]

Thanx again for the replies, i've just bought myself a book, so with your advice aswell I should be brewing. Just finished a Fixby Gold as per DAAB's instructions (thanx again) i'll have to try these brews now, it's the third brew in a row without trying one yet. Problem is, once I start I don't stop :beer

[Immy's Dad]

Come round to my house and brew, I haven't made one for months.

Better yet, send me your beer, I'll sample it for you and give you an honest appraisal. B)