First AG: 12/05/07 - Looks like it's a go...

Frothy · Post by **Frothy** » Sun May 13, 2007 11:18 pm

Those yeast can produce a bit of heat. Is there a big water tank you can sit it in? A bath perhaps?

Frothy

SteveD · Post by **SteveD** » Mon May 14, 2007 1:18 am

Put some upturned coffee mugs in the boiler to protect the elements and stand it in there. Fill the boiler with cold tap water. Change about 12L of the water 2-3 times a day and the ferment will stay under 20c.

Run the water out of the tap (with a pipe attached) then use a funnel and the same pipe to add the cold from the top.

Mugs in place, filling up.

FV in place. Full of cooling water

I fitted an extra tap to the top of the boiler so I could circulate cold water if it got really warm.

BarryNL · Post by **BarryNL** » Mon May 14, 2007 8:22 am

Nice idea thanks; unfortunately, my fermenters are bigger than my boil pot.

Never mind, the temperature is back down to 22 in the fermenter now. Hopefully keeping the window open and towels wet will keep it there.

I think a cheap secondhand fridge has to be the way to go though.

SteveD · Post by **SteveD** » Mon May 14, 2007 10:01 am

BarryNL wrote:Nice idea thanks; unfortunately, my fermenters are bigger than my boil pot.

Ahhh, that is the main drawback with this idea.

BarryNL · Post by **BarryNL** » Mon May 14, 2007 5:48 pm

Frothy wrote:Those yeast can produce a bit of heat. Is there a big water tank you can sit it in? A bath perhaps?

Frothy

Taking over the kitchen for a day is one thing but I think taking over the bath for a couple of days is more than the wife will allow

BarryNL · Post by **BarryNL** » Tue May 15, 2007 10:17 pm

Well, that fermented out quickly - the fermentation had slowed to a trickle today so I thought it was time to stick it in the secondary. Here are the latest pictures:

The state of play:

Nice bowl of porridge, anyone?

Hmm, more drinky drinky, less brewy brewy...?

Vossy1 · Post by **Vossy1** » Tue May 15, 2007 10:34 pm

Gr8 pics BNL

BarryNL · Post by **BarryNL** » Tue May 15, 2007 10:38 pm

Vossy1 wrote:Gr8 pics BNL

Thanks. It's a real learning experience too, the main lesson so far is to make more wort. From 22 litres of wort collected at the mash I've just racked a mere 15.5 to the secondary.

Who's stealing my damn beer?

BarryNL · Post by **BarryNL** » Tue May 15, 2007 10:40 pm

DaaB wrote:Have you been using Protofloc by any chance?

No, but I did use Irish moss...

Vossy1 · Post by **Vossy1** » Tue May 15, 2007 10:44 pm

Have you been using Protofloc by any chance?

Why DaaB ?

I ask as the large floccules in the photo's above are what I got with whirlfloc tabs and S04. Last brew I used Irish moss and hardly got any yeasty icebergs in my brew

From 22 litres of wort collected at the mash I've just racked a mere 15.5 to the secondary.

I know that feeling BNL. I lost 7.5ltrs in my second to last brew. I corrected my Beersmith equipment settings to compensate and the last brew was spot on target volume.

Then yesterday I lost my xp operating system and all the beersmith settings along with it

Guess I'll have another short brew tomorrow

Vossy1 · Post by **Vossy1** » Tue May 15, 2007 11:06 pm

A while ago I made reference in another topic to how my S04 was heavily clumped.

I must say that when this happened the yeast bed was also not nicely compacted, more like bunches of grapes. Doesn't make racking off too easy either.

I think I'll stick to Irish Moss in future, and it's cheaper

BarryNL · Post by **BarryNL** » Wed May 16, 2007 8:54 pm

Took a little sample out today - damn, this stuff tastes good!!

I was almost tempted to chuck some campden in there to keep it as it is now, it's got a great nutty, slightly fruity taste. I just hope it keeps the nice flavours, even if they mellow a bit. I've had a few beers which started out tasting nice at this stage and were only fit for the sink after a few weeks in the bottle...

I'm taking a sort of hopeful paranoid attitude to it right now...

prodigal2 · Post by **prodigal2** » Wed May 16, 2007 11:44 pm

It will be fine Barry

BarryNL · Post by **BarryNL** » Thu May 24, 2007 10:45 pm

Well, it got bottled tonight! Definitely tastes good - the bitterness has a slightly harsh edge to it, but I think a few weeks in the bottle will take care of that. Plan now is a couple of weeks conditioning at room temperature followed by a couple of weeks in the fridge - although it's crystal clear now, so doesn't need any time to drop bright.

Just keep my fingers crossed that it tastes good after a little bottle conditioning. It's turned out about 6.8% which is some impressive attenutation; from 1.060 to 1.008 - nearly 87%. Quite surprising considering the use of cara-pils and there's still some sweetness to it.

Vossy1 · Post by **Vossy1** » Thu May 24, 2007 10:53 pm

I've found bottled home brew ales always taste more hoppy and 'fresh' than the casked/cornied equiv

I'm sure you won't be disappointed BNL

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First AG: 12/05/07 - Looks like it's a go...