I'm ordering my all grain kit tomorrow and want to order some ingredients for a first AG brew. Can anyone give me a very straightforward recipe for the first attempt, so that i can order all my supplies in one go.
I'm planning on batch sparging and using bottled water for brew to keep things simple. Do i need to worry about things like PH and efficiency at this stage? Or should i just focus on getting the process right? I've done a lot of reading and am fairly sure of the process - can someone tell me the key points for the first brew?
Thanks in advance
Kev
Ideas for first AG
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Parva
Re: Ideas for first AG
I'd second the recommendations that Chris has given. Unfortunately you don't give a location because I'd suggest that you watch someone brew an AG before you attempt it for yourself. The mechanics of it seem so complex, I'm so damned sloppy in mine now and this Geordie kit that my dad's brewed alongside my 10g Summer Lightening is going to taste like what his brew is, homebrew kit!
Note to mods, a request forum for watching someone do an AG would be worthwhile here.
Note to mods, a request forum for watching someone do an AG would be worthwhile here.
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Carpking
Re: Ideas for first AG
I have made that recipe (very close anyway) and i can vouch for it. Its one of my three xmas kegs!
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BritishBelgianTwst
- Piss Artist
- Posts: 247
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- Location: Amay, Belgium
Re: Ideas for first AG
How quick is pretty quick???? I'm gonna do my first brew at the end of the month, I've got 25kg of Pale Malt and 1kg of Crystal in the basement along with Fuggles, Challenger, Styrian and S04 waiting in the fridge.(Within reason) Whatever happens you'll end up with a tasty balanced beer that you'll be able to sample pretty quickly. If it were too hoppy or high gravity you'd have to wait ages for it to mature and that's no fun when it's your first AG.
Oh and if you could give me a nice recipe with Challenger & Styrian (Styrian Stunner if I've got the right ingredients) I'd appreciate it.
Cheers,
Paul
Drinking: Corny 1 - some beer
Corny 2 - some more beer
Bottled - a few different beers
Planning: TC
Elderberry wine
Corny 2 - some more beer
Bottled - a few different beers
Planning: TC
Elderberry wine
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Shoit
Re: Ideas for first AG
I'd love to watch someone go through the process of AG - I'm in Sheffield S.Yorks.Parva wrote:I'd second the recommendations that Chris has given. Unfortunately you don't give a location because I'd suggest that you watch someone brew an AG before you attempt it for yourself. The mechanics of it seem so complex, I'm so damned sloppy in mine now and this Geordie kit that my dad's brewed alongside my 10g Summer Lightening is going to taste like what his brew is, homebrew kit!
Note to mods, a request forum for watching someone do an AG would be worthwhile here.
I realise that the mechanics seem complex - i guess all the guides on this forum etc are no substitute for going through it in person.
In relation to the recipe - is that for a 23l brew? Would it be ok if I used 2.5l of water to 1kg of grain for the initial mash? Then mash for 90mins at 67 (or there abouts) deg? Then obviously work out the amount added for the batch sparging?
Kev
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Parva
Re: Ideas for first AG
Yes Kev, that's exactly how you do it. 
The recipe is for 23l but you'll be starting with about 27l on a 60 minute boil and more still if you decide to do a 90 minute boil but the calc will work your quantities out. Just bear in mind that boil-off is calculated at 15% for a 90 minute boil, if you are only doing a 60 minute boil then you should reduce this to 10% for your calculations.
The recipe is for 23l but you'll be starting with about 27l on a 60 minute boil and more still if you decide to do a 90 minute boil but the calc will work your quantities out. Just bear in mind that boil-off is calculated at 15% for a 90 minute boil, if you are only doing a 60 minute boil then you should reduce this to 10% for your calculations.-
Shoit
Re: Ideas for first AG
Sounds like all my reading may have paid off! Still would be good to watch someone go through the process before taking the plunge. I'm looking forward to tasting my first all grain brew - i'm drinking a fixby gold at the moment which tastes good but everyone seems to suggest that AG will be better.
Should the sparge water be at about 80 deg? Also am i right in thinking that I don't have to sterilse anything that comes into contact with the wort until after the boil? I'm planning on filling the boiler half full and then using a jug to collect the remainder of the run off and transfer to the boiler to save my back?!
Kev
Should the sparge water be at about 80 deg? Also am i right in thinking that I don't have to sterilse anything that comes into contact with the wort until after the boil? I'm planning on filling the boiler half full and then using a jug to collect the remainder of the run off and transfer to the boiler to save my back?!
Kev
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Parva
Re: Ideas for first AG
Yep, once again you're spot-on, no need to sanitise anything pre-boil. I tend to fill my cold mash tun with 80c water before adding the grain and seem to hit 67c everytime. Other people have different methods (pre-heating the MT for example) but it's a case of try different things and see what works best for you. I aim to mash in at 67c, stir it after 60 minutes and check the temperature. Provided it's not dropped below 65c I'll just put the lid back on for the remaining 30 minutes.
Mash temp wants to be 62c - 68c, anymore either side and you may run into problems. Sparging wants to be about 75c - 82c. Again I add my water at around the 80c mark. It's just what works for me and makes my life easy. Others will have their own methods, probably 101 ways of doing it and I'm not saying mine is the best, it's just what works for me so I tend to stick to it.
Oh and your plan to half-fill the boiler before lifting it onto the work surface and jugging the remainder is exactly what I do with mine. I must invest in a pump one day, jugging my last 10 gallon brew wasn't a whole heap of fun.
Mash temp wants to be 62c - 68c, anymore either side and you may run into problems. Sparging wants to be about 75c - 82c. Again I add my water at around the 80c mark. It's just what works for me and makes my life easy. Others will have their own methods, probably 101 ways of doing it and I'm not saying mine is the best, it's just what works for me so I tend to stick to it.
Oh and your plan to half-fill the boiler before lifting it onto the work surface and jugging the remainder is exactly what I do with mine. I must invest in a pump one day, jugging my last 10 gallon brew wasn't a whole heap of fun.
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quiff
Re: Ideas for first AG
dim question I know but....in that recipe what exactly shouldm I do with the 20g of hops that have "steep" next to them???
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Parva
Re: Ideas for first AG
Once the boil has finished, cool (or allow) the wort down to 80c then drop the hops in. Leave them to 'steep' for 30 minutes before cooling the wort to fermentation temperature.
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quiff
Re: Ideas for first AG
Oh right, simple enough. Thanks Parva.
I was under the impression that after the boil, the wort should be cooled to fermentation temp as quickly as possible (to assist the cold break???). Is it not the case that this has to be done immediately then?
I was under the impression that after the boil, the wort should be cooled to fermentation temp as quickly as possible (to assist the cold break???). Is it not the case that this has to be done immediately then?
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booldawg
Re: Ideas for first AG
Yes, you're correct in stating the wort has to be cooled as quickly as possible to assist with the cold break.
As Parva suggests, put your hops for steeping in when the temp is less than 80C. If your chiller is like mine you still have another 30 minutes until your wort reaches pitching temp
The best tip I've picked up for a while is to leave your wort for 30 minutes once you've reached pitching temp (20C or what ever you prefer pitching at). This will give the break material time to settle down onto the hop bed.
This time period will give sufficient time for your hops to have released aroma into the brew. I'm not sure how this compares to late hopping in the FV/keg as I've not tried that technique yet.
Sounds like you have alot of the theory tied off in your head. Thats an excellent start into AG. I bet most of us brewed our first AG with a blow by blow account written down on a sheet of A4 paper!
As Parva suggests, put your hops for steeping in when the temp is less than 80C. If your chiller is like mine you still have another 30 minutes until your wort reaches pitching temp
The best tip I've picked up for a while is to leave your wort for 30 minutes once you've reached pitching temp (20C or what ever you prefer pitching at). This will give the break material time to settle down onto the hop bed.
This time period will give sufficient time for your hops to have released aroma into the brew. I'm not sure how this compares to late hopping in the FV/keg as I've not tried that technique yet.
Sounds like you have alot of the theory tied off in your head. Thats an excellent start into AG. I bet most of us brewed our first AG with a blow by blow account written down on a sheet of A4 paper!
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pantsmachine
Re: Ideas for first AG
That's exactly how i did my first few AG brews and i still print out my recipe sheets and do notes on them for revisiting down the line.booldawg wrote: I bet most of us brewed our first AG with a blow by blow account written down on a sheet of A4 paper!
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Shoit
Re: Ideas for first AG
Is this before you transfer from the boiler to the FV?booldawg wrote:
The best tip I've picked up for a while is to leave your wort for 30 minutes once you've reached pitching temp (20C or what ever you prefer pitching at). This will give the break material time to settle down onto the hop bed.
Kev