Greeny's build-it-and-brew-it-in-a-day-athon

Get advice on making beer from raw ingredients (malt, hops, water and yeast)
Calum

Post by Calum » Fri Aug 17, 2007 6:30 pm

What a great post greeny.

You could start a program called "Brewing SOS". Turn up as someones house, build them a brewery, finish the day by smiling at the camera with the lucky recipient while toasting the whole thing with a pint of something made earlier. Jobs a good'n. :lol:

J_P

Post by J_P » Fri Aug 17, 2007 6:42 pm

=D> =D>

Well done there Greeny, a top shiny set up and excellent brewday, have yourself a beer mate!

greeny

Post by greeny » Fri Aug 17, 2007 6:58 pm

It’s not over until the mother-in-law’s singing.

As the steam cleared I noticed that obviously due to evaporation, I had lost quite a bit of volume. I have transferred to the FV and have collected 17.5 Litres with an SG of 1.060.

Is it OK to dilute with boiling water and then allow to cool prior to pitching the yeast?

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Andy
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Post by Andy » Fri Aug 17, 2007 7:14 pm

greeny wrote:Is it OK to dilute with boiling water and then allow to cool prior to pitching the yeast?
Yup, I sometimes dilute using cold water passed through my water filter.

Greeny - great thread, you're an inspiration into what can be done in a day!
Dan!

greeny

Post by greeny » Fri Aug 17, 2007 7:22 pm

Thanks for the inspiration chaps.

I have added boiled water and the temperature has risen to 45 degC.

Friday night can mean only one thing – that great British tradition known as Chicken Tika Jalfrezi. Good news is – pass a pub on the way selling a mean pint of Abbots. Bad news is the Curry house only serves Carlsberg.

I will check temperature and pitch yeast when I get in.

Frothy

Post by Frothy » Fri Aug 17, 2007 8:14 pm

very sexual greeny, a most shiny setup.
If your not happy with the sparge device getting good coverage of the grain bed, how about a piece of slotted 15mm copper? These are some old pictures I've now added 3 t-pieces to make an H shape with 2 spray bars.
lid connection
spray pattern
slotted 15mm

Frothy
Last edited by Frothy on Fri Aug 17, 2007 8:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.

delboy

Post by delboy » Fri Aug 17, 2007 8:15 pm

Top class job greeny =D> enjoy the indian :D

Vossy1

Post by Vossy1 » Fri Aug 17, 2007 11:23 pm

Well done Greeny 8)

I find that one 2.4kw exserve element can almost keep 60ltrs at a rolling boil almost :wink:

Regards whirlfloc, in subsequent brews try adding at 10 minutes prior to boil finish as if added earlier you may actually start to reverse it's beneficial properties :wink:

I bet you're well chuffed with that day, I know I would be 8)
Last edited by Vossy1 on Fri Aug 17, 2007 11:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.

DRB

Post by DRB » Fri Aug 17, 2007 11:34 pm

Building and brewing the same day i,m impressed 8) .

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spearmint-wino
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Post by spearmint-wino » Sat Aug 18, 2007 1:10 am

Respeck from sarf lundun 8)

drinking: ~ | conditioning: ~ | primary: ~ | Looks like I need to get brewing then...
Visit London Amateur Brewers online

greeny

Post by greeny » Sat Aug 18, 2007 10:22 am

So last night I had 17.5 litres in the FV with an OG of 1.060. I added to the FG boiled water to give me the full 23 litres. I covered the FV and yeast starter whilst the FV temperature dropped. Late last night the temperature was still 35 degC. I placed the FV in a bath of cold water and by 08:00 Hrs this morning the temperature was at 23 degC. I measured the OG at about 1.042 which looks pretty good. I pitched the yeast and now I wait. I guess that this batch has now been exposed to increased levels of infection and so on but time will tell.

I started yesterday with a clear picture of what I needed in terms of equipment. I also knew the recipe and I had all of the ingredients. As for the brewing process – I was 75% sure of what I was doing. That 25% uncertainty worried me.

My biggest mistake was a combination of underestimating the losses due to evaporation and dead space in the boiler etc, and not measuring the volume during the boil. This led to me ending up with only 17.5 litres in the FV. If I had measured volume during the boil, I would have been able to add water to the boil which I am quite sure would have been better than adding boiled water to the FV.

What have I gained from my first AG brew day? My answer would have to be clarity. I understand so much more about the process. Most importantly I understand where I went wrong, and what to do next time. I also took the first step in getting to know my equipment. So if this batch has been infected and I loose it then it will be £10 down the drain – but the experience has been priceless.

So did loosing my AG virginity hurt? Yes it did a little. I know that I wasn’t very good and it has left me feeling a bit dirty and violated but – I LIKE IT :twisted:

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Garth
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Post by Garth » Sat Aug 18, 2007 10:32 am

great thread and piccies greeny, have followed your progress with interest, well done

J_P

Post by J_P » Sat Aug 18, 2007 10:35 am

greeny wrote:My biggest mistake was...
I wouldn't beat yourself up about it Greeny it's not like it's a serious problem :wink:

Once you taste the fruits of your labour you'll understand why we all bang on about grain brewing!

Vossy1

Post by Vossy1 » Sat Aug 18, 2007 10:38 am

So did loosing my AG virginity hurt? Yes it did a little. I know that I wasn’t very good and it has left me feeling a bit dirty and violated but – I LIKE IT
Good man that man :lol:

Ditto what everyone else has said really, just get stuck in there and enjoy it 8)

Jimberbob

Post by Jimberbob » Sat Aug 18, 2007 10:53 am

:D I take my hat off to you sir!
I cool my brew down in the bath prior to pitching yeast, i've never had an infection yet.
I also add cold water to the F.V (filtered) to top up to 23L.
My brews are acceptable, but there is room for improvement.(taste good, but slight haze.)
I'd like to get to grips with mash PH and wort cooling.
For your first bash at AG I think you have done a brilliant job. You put me to shame. :oops: :D

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