First AG Questions

CrownCap · Post by **CrownCap** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 4:27 pm

Well, I'm just back from holiday, got another week off, and its time for my first AG brew - possibly even tomorrow if I can get all the ingredients early

I'm going to do Marc Ollosson's Poole Brewery Bosun Best Bitter (being Dorset born and bred and having been in the Navy it seemed like the ideal choice

)

Heres the recipie...

Code: Select all

23L
OG 1047, FG 1011
90 min mash @ 65Ã‚Â°C

4925g Pale Malt
 400g Crystal Malt

125g Goldings (4.0%) for 120 mins
 25g Goldings        last 15 mins

 25g Goldings        dry hop in cask

However, I've got a few questions if you don't mind:

1. Is the 2 hour boil really necessary or can I get away with 90 mins?

2. The Goldings I have are 5.2% A/A but are 2006 crop. Would using Marc's quantities for the copper hops therefore make sense since their A/A content will have dropped to near to his value by now (foil wrapped, in freezer for past month)?

3. Do you need to adjust quantities for the late hops too?

4. Marc's recipie is based on 75% efficiency. I'll be batch sparging (still got to do the calcs for that mind you). Is 75% a realistic target?

5. Any other hints and tips gladly accepted!

CrownCap · Post by **CrownCap** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 4:42 pm

Thanks for that Daab. With regards to the hops, I'm just a bit concerned that if I recalculate based on 5.2% but where the hops are actually a year old I may end up under hopped due to their age.

Vossy1 · Post by **Vossy1** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 5:12 pm

I'm going to do Marc Ollosson's Poole Brewery Bosun Best Bitter

A fine brew and one I just so happen to be supping as I type

Good luck CC

CrownCap · Post by **CrownCap** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 5:19 pm

DaaB wrote:...you're better off making something that you can drink quickly...

Wise words

To be honest though, I'm not really caught up in the fine details of it all, just don't want to make any school boy errors! Will go with values recalculated based on 5.2%.

Looking forward to it!

prodigal2 · Post by **prodigal2** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 5:33 pm

DaaB wrote: For your first brew all you really want to do is soak some grain in hot water, drain and rinse it then boil it with some hops. I reckon anyone here who has started recently will probably give you the same advice, the best way to go about all grain brewing is to get stuck in...seriously!!!

As a newcomer to AG brewing myself. you really need to get a few brew days done before you can really analys a pattern in your effeciecy. And also by doing is the only way to taste the process. There is only one way and that is to do it!!!!

I notice you could not resist the urge to dry hop as well CC

prodigal2 · Post by **prodigal2** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 5:52 pm

CrownCap wrote:
To be honest though, I'm not really caught up in the fine details of it all, just don't want to make any school boy errors!

You will be fine CC. the only error of any note seems to be leaving a tap open, which happens to the best of them.

How long do you intend to mash for out of interest?

CrownCap · Post by **CrownCap** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 5:57 pm

Thanks for the words of encouragement guys.

prodigal2 wrote:How long do you intend to mash for out of interest?

I've built a Daab's style fermenter with false bottom mash tun. In fact I'm just adding the final layer of camping mat insulation to it at the moment! I'll be going for a batch sparge - I like the simplicity of it.

prodigal2 · Post by **prodigal2** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 6:05 pm

CrownCap wrote: I'll be going for a batch sparge - I like the simplicity of it.

You and I both

Daabs batch sparge calculator is very good, and it is worth remembering that the water left in the boiler with the hops and break material, can be a surprise on the first couple of brew days, and can throw your brew length off

Mrobs · Post by **Mrobs** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 6:09 pm

yeah defnitely agree with the just do it school of thought, i wasted too much time lurking in the background, when i finally took the plunge it was not as daunting as i thought.

Good luck

J_P · Post by **J_P** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 7:03 pm

prodigal2 wrote:
DaaB wrote: For your first brew all you really want to do is soak some grain in hot water, drain and rinse it then boil it with some hops. I reckon anyone here who has started recently will probably give you the same advice, the best way to go about all grain brewing is to get stuck in...seriously!!!
As a newcomer to AG brewing myself. you really need to get a few brew days done before you can really analys a pattern in your effeciecy. And also by doing is the only way to taste the process. There is only one way and that is to do it!!!!

I notice you could not resist the urge to dry hop as well CC

I'd like to second these remarks CC. Once I'd worked out my efficiency once or twice and realised I could make a beer between 4% and 4.5 % with four and a half kilos of grain consistently I gave up with the sums (aside from hop calculations) and just kicked back and enjoyed it

Incidentally I'd like to add to the advice posted above - enjoy yourself that's the main thing, grain brewing is very forgiving so it's pretty hard to balls it up completely! And Please please please think of Wez - post some pictures

CrownCap · Post by **CrownCap** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:20 pm

J_P wrote:And Please please please think of Wez - post some pictures

Will try, honest!

Edit - you can follow all the action here!

Wez · Post by **Wez** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:57 pm

CrownCap wrote:
J_P wrote:And Please please please think of Wez - post some pictures
Will try, honest!

it is appreciated - good luck!!!

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First AG Questions

First AG Questions