Can't believe I didn't go AG ages ago!

[yeasty]

I have now done 5 AG brews and have just had the first tastings way too early! I bottled an old speckled hen 8 days ago and think it is better now than any kit I have ever made. A bit on the sweet side but it wouldn't go lower than 1.020 but never the less very tasty.

I made a TTL on Saturday using Golden promise and wyeast 1469. I couldn't resist tasting the sample I took to check gravity. Again I couldn't believe it. 3 days in the FV and I could drink it as it is. Already down to 1.013. Very fruity and fairly clear. Not sure weather to bottle it or keg it as I have an old bottom tap pressure barrel I was given. Didn't think I would stand a chance of having this ready for Christmas but I think it will be fine.

I now have to put them well out of reach as I need the brews to show off at a Christmas party. I was going to put them in the Garage but its a bit too cold at the moment.

All this success is down to this site as I have not read anything other than this forum. Thanks again!

[Dennis King]

well done that man

[yashicamat]

Going AG was the best thing I did for my beers! It does require more work and also seems to be a magnet for equipment / brewery clobber (I think I've got about 5x as much stuff as when I was doing extract beers), but it's well worth it!

[fivetide]

Everyone says that yet so many people still spend ages dithering before they get started. Take heed folks

It's true! You need a bit more space, time, money and confidence to go all grain, but as soon as you put your first mash on it all makes absolute sense.

[Andy]

The guys speak the truth

[awalker]

Well done, keep up the good work.

AG is great

Last night I 'found' a belgian style wheat beer I brewed and bottled last year.
It tasted awful after it had matured a month or so I forgot abou it, as the bottles were 'found' last night in the garage I decided to be brave and try again.
They are now fantastic and to think if they had been in a keg I would not have kept it that long.

Even when you do thinks 'wrong' in all grain, time can heal a few problems over hop it and leave it long to mature at it will come right.

[softlad]

It's true! You need a bit more space, time, money and confidence to go all grain, but as soon as you put your first mash on it all makes absolute sense.

I'd agree. Its like passing your bike test on a 125cc (before the new rules came in) and then getting on your first proper bike. A bit daunting but then you realise that it does the same as the 125, only better.

I tried to over complicate things and got pretty confused before stripping AG down to its basics and getting my hands dirty with my first beer.

[yeasty]

I've got to admit I was thinking far too much about it and over complicating everything before I started. The 1st brew was very daunting and took nearly 7 hours but highly enjoyable and far more rewarding than adding water to a syrup. My last brew took just over 5 hours and went very smoothly. Already planning another for this weekend!

[ColinKeb]

welcoem to the dark side , theres no going back now

[Damfoose]

My crystal ball is showing me shiny things lots of shiny things for Yeasty are on the horizon ...... It is all down hill from this point the shiny will take over your life..

[prodigal2]

Great stuff Yeasty

I like you learned to brew only from the info I gleened from Jims, and as you know it is all here to get you doughing in.

And yes why did we all not start sooner?

[ChrisG]

Thing I dont understand is why is there the idea that All Grain is difficult? Where did that come from.

I'v only done 6 brews and all have been really nice and yes I have a lot too learn but its fun.

Started kit brewing in Feb 2008 and moved to All Grain Sep 2008.

Come down to money at the end of the day....setting up I mean, unless you have a lot of stuff already,

I love it and wont be buying cans again as I can now drink the beer I enjoy and not just coz they are on Supermarket offers. Suppose in a way I like going against the big companies....grow a lot of my own veg and making my own beer is even better.



Problem I have now is that I'm addicted to making beer the drinking is just a bonus but I love mashing and the smells of grains and brewing is part of the fun. Now have 2 and a half full barrels if beer and probably 60 bottles to get through.

Wont need to make any more beer for a while.......which is a shame.

[Mauri]

I kegged my 1st AG today! Had a little taster, and now I know what the fuss is about!
A little extra cash to spend for the extra equipment, compared to kits, but definitely worth every penny!
Can't wait to get the next one going! Thanks again to all you here for the knowledge that you shared!

[delboy]

its a good feeling isn't it

[wetdog]

I've just done AG#4 and I can see the improvement in technique already. hit the volume I wanted, gravity was bang on, wort was the clearest yet and the whole job from setting up to cleaning and packing everything away was 6.5 hours.
only thing to get right now is making sure consumption doesn't exceed supply