Brew#2. Brewers Choice IPA (PHOTOS)

[dallse]

This is my second brew, inspired by CTF, and this topic, plus help from 18000ft.


I started Saturday night by treating 25 litres of water with half a campden tablet. Didn’t go for the full water treatment this time (still working on profiling my water) but at least it’s a start. I slipped a heating belt around my liquor to bring it up to a nice temperature for Sundays brew day.

Sunday morning I drew 6 litres of liquor from the bucket to boil and soak the grains and hops. Also drained 5 litres of liquor to pop in the fridge. This gives me three lots of treated liquor at different temperatures for making up the wort.




I went for option 2, adding 1kg of extra pale spray malt as I wanted that extra body and maltiness.




The first of 3 x 20 minute soakings for the hops and grains. In the rear pan I kept the liquor ticking over on a low gas, ladling out the next batch of boiling liquor on to the grains after draining the steepings in to the brew bucket.




A good swirl and in goes the DME followed by the spray malt.



Another good mix to get everything nicely blended.



Yeast starter at a nice temperature and ready for pitching. (Safale 04)



In goes most of the liquor from the bucket... added from a good height to start building air in the wort in preparation for pitching the yeast. I Started adding the remaining 5 litres of liquor that I had refrigerated, blending the liquors whilst monitoring the temperature of the wort.



Starting SG suggested between 1048 & 1050. I’m claiming 1048 under the foam and well chuffed. My second attempt at making beer and I’m cooking like a pro



A quick check with the thermometer and I’m ready to pitch the yeast. Yeast pitched, lid snapped on and a good aireation follows.



A lovely aireated wart.



After seeing other posts where the fermentation has blown out of the fermenter some form of safety measure was needed. This was born out of self preservation… it may be overkill but I enjoy living.



On with the lid… defiantly no spillage going to happen unless the lid blows off the FV.



Bed time for a few days. The temperature is dropping to around 16 in the evening so a double wrapping with an old quilt should keep things nice and cosy.

[Damfoose]

Nice pics dallse looks like you had a good brew day. Should turn out nice.

[dallse]

Where should I be aiming the FG. No indication given on the instructions.

[yashicamat]

Where should I be aiming the FG. No indication given on the instructions.

I would estimate around the 1010 to 1012 mark. Not sure on what grains you used (or how much), but I would imagine a figure around what I mentioned to be about right.

Try plugging your figures into here: http://www.tastybrew.com/calculators/recipe.html as you know what your weights of extract etc. are, then enter the volume of your wort as the batch volume and boil volume (to keep things simple) and see what it says. Should give you a rough idea.

[pantsmachine]

This guys about to turn the corner into full AG, i can feel it! Go on Go on.

Nice photos and looks like it all went well.

[roger the dog]

Great pictures, should be a good 'un

[dallse]

Try plugging your figures into here: http://www.tastybrew.com/calculators/recipe.html as you know what your weights of extract etc. are,

Thanks yashi... I'll bookmark the site and have a play later. Just read on another posting about adjusting SG based on temperature My wort was 25.1 when i pitched the yeast. Using this tool gives an adjusted SG of 1050. BONUS

[dallse]

This guys about to turn the corner into full AG, i can feel it! Go on Go on.

Plans are afoot Just acquired some kitchen cupboards from a work mate who is having a new kitchen fitted. They got installed on Saturday.

Part of the garage has been ear-marked for a microB, Just need to work on the chief accountant for some spending money for the AG kit.