](./images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall"){kind=small}
Firstly a plug for Elderberry HBS in Whitely Bay, Top Bloke in a top shop! I asked what time he closed at 1530 hrs, he said 1700 hrs but if I've shut just knock on me house door I'll open up again - nuff said!
Obviously armed with the much desired bits of kit ie Bottle tree, Stick, Safale-04, BKE, and more kits than I should have bought!! (Strangely the same thing happens when I walk into a fishing tackle shop!!) Also a second FV which I bought with the tap fitted, instead of the bog standard that came with the starter kit. A 1" drill bit later and a very ragged hole in the original FV I should have stopped there, me and DIY don't mix, I make Frank Spencer look like Tommy Walsh!!
I do know better and a 1" hole is not beyond me, but it was today to much flex in the FV.
Still undaunted I then started to brew my Xmas ale of choice, Edme Irish Stout, but I decided against going down the black treacle route, I ran it past the HBS fella who had never heard of this but will gladly wait to hear how it turns out
. I have gone for 100g chocolate grain gently steeped/boiled for an hour in a muslin bag. Added to 1kg BKE and 200g Demerera. Wasn't too bothered about ABV but was hoping for a bit of a festive cheer, did wonder if adding the full 22L was a bit light weight but after doing a shorter brewlength for me last few brews thought I would go for quantity this time 
. Read the Edme destructions and promptly threw away, (I do love this forum far better than some dodgy probably written by or at least printed by some Chinaman's instructions - Apologies to any Chinaman out there 
!)Brew went well to say it was off the top of me head inbetween SWMBO doing a custard ice cream hence also using a gas ring/bench space. Even managed to time it right so that the yeast cooled boiled water was >30deg and had a full 30 mins before pitching.
How come with a measured 22L including the seriously evaporated (despite lid) 2L of the grain water I have ended up with well over 25L in the FV, nearer 27L to be honest
. I know that the wort will add as will the BKE but the 'approx' measures on the FV can't be that far out surely Thankfully there is a towel under the FV to catch the overspill from the fermentation just to keep SWMBO sweet. Took a hydro reading and was a little disappointed at the 1.038 it came out at, although the vol of water should stop any over bitterness from the chocolate grain which is what the HBS fella was concerned about. If it makes it to 1.010 that'll give me 3.9 ABV which will do me fine, but I was impressed with the taste obviously sugary but there was chocolate there too, hope the two marry well with the long secondary it will get.
. If not there's always the Dogbolter or the Scammonden Brupacks kit I also got today. 
