Second AG.

[Robdog]

Ive just finished a Summer Lightning which is my second AG brew. Didnt think ive have time before crimbo but my Gail Porter was done in 4 days

I was making good time and didnt start till 12ish and my boil was done before 5. Took about an hour to chill though as the water was mainly spurting out of the hoselock so ive got to get that sorted either with a washing machine tap or try another type of hose lock.

I also found the run off form the boiler to FV took about an hour also so again as with my first brew its been a long day. Does anyone know the reason for the slow run off? I was thin the hops and trub slowed it down?

Im a little concerned about the yeast, which was Nottingham. On the pack it says rehydrate it and leave for 15 mins but by the time the wort had chilled it had been there over an hour, will it still be ok?

[Parva]

Are you using the H&G boiler? If so there's your answer. I had lots of problems with stuck sparges until someone on here mentioned the same problem and the solution. Remove the hop strainer and in-between the slits drill 3mm holes. A tip is to give a nail a tap with a hammer to 'dink' the surface of the copper prior to drilling it, this gives the drill a 'key' to work on, otherwise you'll just slide everywhere!

[Robdog]

Ive already drilled the holes mate. To be honest there was a fair bit of rubbish and lots of hops in the bottom of the boier so i pressume its that as i didnt have a problem with my Gail Porter.

[yashicamat]

Maybe you've opened the tap a bit too quickly and it's compacted the hop/trub bed a bit too much? I drilled my manifold and not had a problem since, although I am due some hop pellets and some point and that will really test the manifold!

[Robdog]

There no life at all yet in this brew. I did find that the last brew i did where i used Notingham Ale Yeast also took an age to get going.

I might make a starter next time. Im not sure if the wort was hot enough either when i pitched as it was only 20 instead of my usual 24.

[Robdog]

I just checked gravity and it has come donw about 3-4 points so maybe im being hasty. Ill give it a rouse now though and see what its like tonight if there is still no joy i will repitch.

Do you think the fact i left the yeast rehydrating for over an hour would be of a concern?

[delboy]

Ive already drilled the holes mate. To be honest there was a fair bit of rubbish and lots of hops in the bottom of the boier so i pressume its that as i didnt have a problem with my Gail Porter.

I messed about with various mods to the standard H&G strainer, sometimes it worked fine but mostly it was rubbish. It seemed to be affected quite badly by the condition of the hops, when the gold blocks were full of nice full flowers it performed ok. But when the hops were a bit ropey ie small fragments compressed together (quite a few blocks were like this) then it was a nightmare.

yashicamat good luck with the pellets in conjunction with H&G manifold strainer, your'e going to need it

[Robdog]

Not really. 30 mins would suffice but timings never work out quite as we plan.

Ok mate still not much goign on i think i just may repitch to be on the safe side. Think ill use a safaleS04.

Do i need to reaireate?