AG#4 14.09.2008: Smouldering Gold (With Pics)

[Grahame]

Hi guys,

Currently mashing my first bash at making my own recipe on beersmith:

90min mash at 65C:

4Kg Maris Otter (~95%)
250g Wheat Malt (~5%)

90 min boil:

25g Pearle for 90mins (6.9% AA)
15g First Gold for 15mins (8.2% AA)
20g Cascade for 15mins (7.1% AA)
20g First Gold at 80C steep (8.2% AA)

OG should be around 1.042 and the total IBU are a shade over 35

I am also having my first crack at water treatment and as per advice gained on the forum, I am adding my salts in a 60:40 split between mash:boiler. Also going to give Nottingham yeast a try for the first time.

Anyway, pics of progress so far:

Three tier setup, with fancy new HLT


Grain bill with first salt additions:


Hops (from L to R, Pearle, First Gold, Cascade (which smell devine!), First Gold)


My new and improved mash manifold, using a tank connector to hold it onto the tap:


Lovely


All snuggled up at 65C


I will post more pics as things progress

G.

[booldawg]

Hope all goes well Grahame. Looking good so far. I love tinkering around with Beersmith too. Not sure if I'll ever catch up with all the pending brews I have though!

[Grahame]

Progress report

All went without a hitch so far, it is currently 20 mins into the boil.

Running first batch of water into the mash tun:



Collecting first runnings...:


...And returning:


Clear run off:


Boil starting and first hops in:


Boiling away nicely:


G.

[Bongo]

Great pics hope the rest goes well for you,similar to my setup although i have no HLT yet,i did a practice run with the boiler yesterday in the kitchen like you have got it on the counter,hmm i've got to brew outside after that test the condensation was way too much dripping and running off the walls and windows and that was just half an hour in,how did you find it,i had all windows and doors open too.

[Grahame]

I need to keep all the windows and doors open but I don't have a problem with condensation build up at all. I have a good breeze all the time blowing through the door and out the window so the steam never stays around long.

G.

[Grahame]

All done and dusted, hit my target of 1.042, giving me an efficiency of 70%.

Aroma hops in:


Chiller doing its thing:


Dropping and aerating into the FV:


Lots of air in there!:


Crud left at the bottom of the boiler:



The wort was the clearest I have managed to produce so far. I think this may be due to me treating with salts and also the longer than normal post-boil sit as the last hops steeped for 30 mins. I have high hopes for this one

G.

[maxashton]

I was wondering why it was so pale, then i realised it was just wheat and MO. Nice brew, and a fantastic trub.

I find letting it sit for a bit before running out of the boiler really helps. More so if there's a big hop schedule.

Three hops, btw! Never done a three hop brew.

[Matt]

Tidy job Grahame

[Grahame]

Thanks guys!

To be honest I am a little worried about how this will turn out, being my first go at making up my own recipe. However one of my fav brews (Ossian by Inveralmond Brewery) uses those hops so I am hoping for something drinkable. I just put the pearle in first as I read they are good copper hops and the first gold as I read they are good aroma hops, and the cascade, well I just guessed when to put them in!

G.

[Bongo]

looks a good day,great stuff

[wetdog]

I'm about to go AG and after pondering various ways to strain the hops I decided to drill a 22mm piece of copper and crimp the end exactly as you've done here
what size holes did you drill and did you get any problems with blockage?

[Grahame]

I'm about to go AG and after pondering various ways to strain the hops I decided to drill a 22mm piece of copper and crimp the end exactly as you've done here
what size holes did you drill and did you get any problems with blockage?

I drilled about 200 3mm holes all over the pipe and I get absolutely no blockage, it works an absolute treat

G.

[Kristoff]

Hi Grahame, good looking brew there
Your boiler, is it a home made one or bought?

[Madbrewer]

Thanks guys!

To be honest I am a little worried about how this will turn out, being my first go at making up my own recipe.
G.

Though I can't personally vouch for First Gold as a variety. If you are not specifically emulating a commercial beer then I would have thought this recipe is going to be fine. The IBU's for that Gravity will be in the range for a generic 'bitter'. I like Cascades too! FWIW (and I'm no expert either) I am predicting a grapefruity hoppiness (which i like) over an almost landlord-like grain bill.

I guess you must be drinking this by now ?

[ChrisG]

Really excellent photos....always like seeing how other people get on.

Am I correct in saying that you had around 27L before boil and managed to get 20L to ferment?

What was your total mash liquid and batch L?

Just wondered as I seem to loose a lot when boiling. I usually need around 35L to get 23L.

Sounds a good recipe....I made a full Maris Otter brew a few weeks ago and its excellent.