Recipe Opinions please

[Belto]

Had a mad day today, been having problems with my HLT temperature so removed Thermostat like many others. Also trying out modified cool box sparge arm (Photo's if wanted)
Made many mistakes in the past but strangely enough, I think it was Daabs who said you have to do a lot wrong to a beer not to be able to drink it. He is absolutley right.
My worst mistake happened when for various reasons I burnt the Grain but carried on with the brew.
Smell appearance was all great, but what a taste.Just like Full ashtray of butts.
I left it for a few weeks and it began to mellow until it was drinkable.
My neighbour said he had lots worse in a pub. So now it's nearly gone.

Anyway the recipe I was going to use was Hob Goblin by Eskimo Bob
but did not have Cara-Pils (What is that?) or chocolate malt so finished with the following. What do you think ? should this be OK

5.135 Kgs Pale Malt MO
200grms Wheat Malt
250grms Crystal Malt
95grms Crushed black malt
50grms Roast Barley
36grms Progress Hops 90mins
10grms Target Hops 90mins
31grms Styrian Golding Hops 15mins
23grms Styrian Goldings 2mins
7grms irish moss 15mins
Safale Yeast

sparged to 1.010 refilled MT stirred and left for 40mins
Sparged another approx 6 ltrs 1.020( should I have sparged to 1.010

Out of HLT through CFC to 20C @ 1.072
added boiling water through HLT again to bring to 1.050 Would this be 5%
Thats about it
My best brew day to date
Are these long messages to be frowned upon [being a newbie]

[Chiltern Brewer]

Belto, not wanting to come across as picky but, for HLT don't you mean Boiler/Copper? Technically a Hot Liquor Tank never touches the wort, are you using your boiler for double duties - heating up your sparge liquor and boiling your wort?

Recipe looks good to me, wheat malt... mmmrh need I say more!

[Belto]

Thanks will organise photo's

Havn't reached that experience level to calculate IBUs yet

[Belto]

Hi CB

thanks for your comments, thats what this forum is about.

Yes I do use the boiler for water heating and also boiling the wort
I thought that was the norm

[Wez]

Thanks will organise photo's

So you should !

[Vossy1]

I thought that was the norm

It is...well with me anyway

You don't need 2, but I suppose if you can, why not

[Belto]

I've been farting around here all night trying to upload these photo's and correct the spelling a hazard for all on a Sat Night
here we go again
this this a photo of my Greenhouse set up
Changes depending upon what is growing in season etc

Asdas Cool box @ £8.00
15mm Copper tube through top Secured by pipe clamp


Inside of Cool box lid
15mm tube again secured by pipe clamp ( gives flexibility and adjustment) that was the idea but not required)

RThis is constructed from stop end 15mm filed to accept small brass tube fromB & Q and drilled with as small a hole as possible depending upon your set up


assemblealed sparge fillter


oh I my fingures are so tired that is it for tonight

[Vossy1]

Gr8 pics belto

Love the home made brass non spinny,,,looks very professionally done

If only I'd bought some of that flexible copper tube

[Belto]

appologies for screwing your head on the web first photo.
Not Good at this time of night

[prodigal2]

Cheers for the pics Belto, the Greenfingers brewhouse setup looks a fine thing

Is that a keg I saw as your HLT/boiler? so would I be right in thinking you are a gas user?

[Belto]

Is that a keg I saw as your HLT/boiler? so would I be right in thinking you are a gas user?

The cask was obtained from a friendly landlord who said he had asked the brewery several times to collect but apparently they were not interested

3kw immersion heater without the thermostat gives a steady rolling boil.
The top was removed and rim spot welded to provide a safty edge

[Belto]

Inspected my brew this morning



removed brown crude



I hope it will continue fermenting, looks very quite Temp 18-20c according to my Fish tank thermometer

[DRB]

Seem that you are in the greenhouse,do you ever get the urge to throw if few toms into the last 5min of the boil .

[ColinKeb]

good idea with the sticky thermometer on the side of the side of the fermentor ! im definitley going to pinch that one

[prodigal2]

Seem that you are in the greenhouse,do you ever get the urge to throw if few toms into the last 5min of the boil .

Great picks there Belto, do you keep your FV in the greenhouse or does it have a special place in the house?

And the Boiler is great, cheers for posting a more detailed picture.