Stewart's 1st Brewday! - 100% Satisfaction

anomalous_result · Post by **anomalous_result** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 6:27 pm

BrewStew wrote:The first runnings after recycling being fed through a pipe so as not to splash/airate

Why does it matter if you splash it now? I thought aerating the wort was a good thing?

Vossy1 · Post by **Vossy1** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 6:35 pm

Why does it matter if you splash it now? I thought aerating the wort was a good thing?

Because of hot side aeration, if you believe in such a thing.
Basically it is recommended that you don't splash/aerate the runnings pre boil.

BrewStew · Post by **BrewStew** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 6:49 pm

thanks for pitching in on that question vossy, was eating my dinnner

all has gone swimmingly. my botch job of an IC has chilled the wort to 38 degrees so far in 40 mins, so it seems to be working, though i'd hate to think how much water is flooding down my drain right now (i'm on metered water)

aside from the tube popping off, everything went without a hitch

i think that may have something to do with all the luck you folks were wishing me

thanks again.

as i'm clocking on for 7 hours in total since first switching on the boiler, i'll be keen for the wort to get below 25 degrees so i can pitch the yeast starter and bung it in my brew cupboard.

i'll know how much wort i lost to the boil when it goes in the fermenter. i suspect i'll be short, but like i said, with the gravity so high i can probably afford to top it up with water. Is regular (campden treated) tap water ok? or should i go for cooled, boiled water?

i'm knackered and my back is really giving me jip but i'm proud

prodigal2 · Post by **prodigal2** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 7:04 pm

Sounds like you had a good day of it today Brewstew

And 7 hours for AG1 is about the right time.
Water some treat they're tap water with a campden tablet, and other used cooled boiled water. I won't comment beyond that as I use spring water and I have no experience of brewing with british tap water

Well done by the way

Time to have some pints of muscle relaxant

Horden Hillbilly · Post by **Horden Hillbilly** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 7:10 pm

Well done BS, what a great first ag brew you have done, give yourself a well deserved pat on the back!

BrewStew · Post by **BrewStew** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 7:35 pm

wahey! it's down to temperature.

Time to run off into the fermenter

the hop strainer worked a treat!

but i lost LOADS to evaporation and hops soaking it up. 10 litres in total

but check this out for a gravity ...

1.070

methinks this'll need some watering down!

DRB · Post by **DRB** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 7:48 pm

As you said treat the top up water with campden,then top up to your required volume.

BrewStew · Post by **BrewStew** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 8:11 pm

yep that's exactly what i went for in the end.

i brought it to volume and still 1.053 on the hydrometer.

looks like it might be a head cracker!

...........annnnnnd rest!

Thanks yet again for all your help and support that's led me to this day, and to all you guys for the tips and support to guide me through it. see you all tomorrow, i'm knackered!

roger the dog · Post by **roger the dog** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 8:58 pm

Great work BrewStew, first AG & posting some great pics along the way

Have a well earned drink

PGSteamer · Post by **PGSteamer** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 9:29 pm

Very nice going, very nice setup

Great work!

BrewStew · Post by **BrewStew** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 11:25 am

thanks guys

i think it was an excellent brewday, however i finished the night with a nasty migraine and went to bed early

when i get home tonight i'll post all my notes in a summary report for all to see

(and for me to refer back to at a later date as i'm terrible with keeping my notes in an orderly fashion)

anomalous_result · Post by **anomalous_result** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 11:25 am

Vossy1 wrote:
Why does it matter if you splash it now? I thought aerating the wort was a good thing?
Because of hot side aeration, if you believe in such a thing.
Basically it is recommended that you don't splash/aerate the runnings pre boil.

Right.

Good pics BrewStew, enjoy

oblivious · Post by **oblivious** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 11:31 am

Thats some nice work

BarrowBoy · Post by **BarrowBoy** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 1:02 pm

Well done BrewStew - that looked like a pretty efficient day's brewing. 1055? You'll forget all about that migraine once you get stuck into that

BrewStew · Post by **BrewStew** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 6:59 pm

reflecting back on my post in the tap room about "homebrew - hobby or obsession?" i definitely think i'm in the obsession section as i got the mrs to check on the fermentor while i was at work hehe.

as soon as i got home i opened the brew cupboard and was greeted with this:

C'mon you nottingham BEAUTIES!... a nice 2 inch thick head!

somethings just cropped up so i'll have to write the summary another time.

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Stewart's 1st Brewday! - 100% Satisfaction