Maxing out Growling Dog Brewery

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GrowlingDogBeer
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Maxing out Growling Dog Brewery

Post by GrowlingDogBeer » Sun May 29, 2011 11:53 am

So I thought I'd see just how much I could squueze out of the 70 Litre boiler this weekend.

Stocks are diminishing, 2 more cornys are on there way so it was time for a big brew. I need some quaffing beer.

Recipe is very similar to GW's Caledonian 80/- as I made it as one of my first All Grains it turned out excellent.

Total Grain bill 11Kg, Maris Otter, Wheat, Crystal, and Chocolate
Total Hops 220g, Fuggles and East Kent Goldings.

I mashed in last night at 9pm with the intention of a very early start this morning.

A total of 27 Litres of liquor and 11Kg of Grain went into the preheated Tun, Temperature settled at 68.1C

I didn't get the early start I planned so returned to the Mash Tun at 9.30 this morning, temp measured at 63.5C, so a 4.6C drop in 12.5 hours. Thats impressive. :)

A quick run off into the boiler and get the sparge underway, burner on full pelt to see how quick I can get to the boil. At 10.15 the Sparging was finished and we were boiling. Not a lot of space in the top of the boiler with 66 Litres bubbling away, so I took a picture for you all to see, got splashed with boiling wort and dropped the camera into the boiler :( I'm not sure it liked it, and nor will the misses, it was her camera, (I have a big SLR which is too cumbersome to have around on BrewDay)

I fished out the camera and carried on.

The boil went well, hops added as required.

Chiller in to cool, and I begin to observe the lack of Cold Break forming.

I FORGOT TO ADD ANY FININGS IN THE BOIL :(

Will it matter? should I add some prior to kegging? and if so what, I have only used finings, either Irish Moss or protofloc in the boil before so don't really no what to use later on, or if I need to.

Anyway, the beer is cooling, there is 63 Litres in the boiler, so that should give me enough to fill 3 cornies, we'll see how it turns out, the camera has had a good wash and is now drip drying, (I don't hold out much hope for it).

Sorry no pics this time #-o

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Dennis King
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Re: Maxing out Growling Dog Brewery

Post by Dennis King » Sun May 29, 2011 4:11 pm

Shame about the camera Steve, could have been worse could have been your SLR :) .Would not worry to much about the finnings will just take longer to clear or use gelatine.

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Re: Maxing out Growling Dog Brewery

Post by GrowlingDogBeer » Sun May 29, 2011 4:48 pm

good news aboout the finnings, thanks Dennis, I don't mind if it takes a bit longer to clear, I can always just drink it a bit cloudy.

I have just transferred the brew into my 2 new Mango Chutney Bins to ferment, 30 Litres in each, and popped them into my fermenting fridges.

My missus thinks my garage is resembling Comet, apart from the upright freezer we have for food, we also have

1 Fridge Freezer, Hop storage and a little bit of food in the freezer, various drinks and bottled lager in the fridge section.
2 Undercounter fridges temp controlled for fermenting.
1 Undercounter fridge temp controlled for conditioning beer in cornies.
1 Chest Freezer temp controlled and converted to a kegerator, (it only holds 2 kegs though).

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Andy
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Re: Maxing out Growling Dog Brewery

Post by Andy » Sun May 29, 2011 4:54 pm

Less than 5 degC temp drop is indeed impressive! However that's where the impressive stuff ends judging by your antics today ;)
Dan!

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Dennis King
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Re: Maxing out Growling Dog Brewery

Post by Dennis King » Sun May 29, 2011 5:34 pm

Sounds a very understanding wife, have you told her about the camera yet or does she like surprises

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Re: Maxing out Growling Dog Brewery

Post by WishboneBrewery » Mon May 30, 2011 11:36 am

Poor camera, how long of a Steep did it get, and did you make a note of the ISO setting for calculating the beer fermenting speed? :)

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Re: Maxing out Growling Dog Brewery

Post by GrowlingDogBeer » Mon May 30, 2011 1:16 pm

ISO 1600 for a 60 second steep.

Given that ISO x steepage time x number of times I swore = fermentation time we have.

1600 x 60 x 12 = 1152000 fermenting seconds.

Converted into Days we have 13.3 days

If my maths serves me correctly that should mean it will ferment out fully and be ready for kegging in about 2 weeks time. :)

My understanding wife wasn't too upset about the camera, infact I think she was quietly pleased as I can now buy her a new model.

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Re: Maxing out Growling Dog Brewery

Post by Dennis King » Mon May 30, 2011 1:22 pm

Runwell-Steve wrote:
My understanding wife wasn't too upset about the camera, infact I think she was quietly pleased as I can now buy her a new model.
Try claiming on your household insurance.

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