My First Full All Grain Stout

[GlentoranMark]

Filter Housing http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00AO76SY6/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

I went for 1/4" as I had some 1/4" hose but I'd consider 1/2" fittings instead. The 1/4" worked fine TBH.

5 Micron filter: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0084D3UXY/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

I bought this as it was the cheapest option. I didn't want to spend more on a smaller filter only to find things didn't work out but I'm very pleased with the results.

Bulk 1 micron filters http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0049GY5CK/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Regarding sterilisation. I sterilised the housing and hoses but didn't bother with the actual filter. From what I watched on Youtube it's not necessary and filtering woul probably filter out the steriliser anyway. There is a washable 1 Micron filter but I'd worry about sterilisation problems more.

Similar products are on Ebay but I have security issues with Paypal and I won't agree to their T/C. I'd check there to see if you can find these cheaper.

 

[GlentoranMark]

Put the wrong link to the 1 micron bulk pack. Link I gave was for 5 micron but there are 1 Micron for the same price.

 

[stevej]

Thanks Mark:hat:

 

[GlentoranMark]

Bottled my Munich Beer. FG was 1016 which again was a bit high but this makes my Munich Stout 5.9%. I only got 10L of the stuff but I taste it and it's delicious even for a botched job.

I'm currently doing my session brew. It's going onto the trub of the Munich Stout which was brewe with Safale US 05.

 

[GlentoranMark]

Just brewed my House Stout but the numbers again didn't add up. I planned a 25L brew but it ended up 17L. OG was 1.055 while the software said it should be 1.033 - way off the mark. I made a mashtun which probably lost 1L, maybe the boil off is wrong but the numbers shouldn't be that far off?

Good thing is the wort smells and looks fantastic. My Mashtun also done great and I think my clarity issues are cured.

For my next brew I'll just up the numbers for volume and guestimate.

 

[clibit]

Sounds like an extra 8 litres of water was needed? You could dilute a bit if you wanted. Maybe after fermentation when you can taste check the flavour abd bitterness.

 

[GlentoranMark]

Sounds like an extra 8 litres of water was needed? You could dilute a bit if you wanted. Maybe after fermentation when you can taste check the flavour abd bitterness.

I'm just thinking this is a few times this has happened. I've a feeling my guides on my boiler are wrong. I've no big containers with accurate readings and I don't fancy filling a 500ml Jug 40 times to find out (and probably lose count). I'll up my quantities next time.

Yes I'll dilute a bit, I wanted to fill a 19L keg an also bottle some so I'll dillute to around 21L.

 

[GlentoranMark]

I boiled 5L of water and cooled it overnight. I just added it to my well bubbling wort. I haven't checked but that should bring the Stout down to 1.040. As I wanted a session beer, this will hopefully end up around 4%.

Really pleased with the way this one went.

 

[GlentoranMark]

Now I think I've cured my clarity issues, todays's brew is a Simple Blonde.

3kg Pale Maris Otter
200g Torrified Wheat (using this up as surplus)

9g Chinook 60 mins
5g Cascade 60 mins
3g Cascade 15 Mins
2g Cascade 1 min

Safale US-05

I'm also gonna keep more accurate records. I need to know where my wastage is and why my numbers don't always add up.

If there is clarity issues then I'll pass this through a 1 micron filter.

 

[clibit]

Those hop quantities don't seem to match up with the grain quantity?

 

[GlentoranMark]

Those hop quantities don't seem to match up with the grain quantity?

I'm using the Wort App on my phone but I've noticed strange numbers appearing and coul well be the reason why my last brew ended up short.

OG 1.039
IBU 27.9 (I have tweaked my recipe slightly)
ABV 3.9%
Color 3

Change hop quantities are now

5g Cascade 60 mins
10G Chinook 49 mins
3g Cascade 15 min
2g Cascade 1 min.

My quantities are just to use up a 10g packet of each. I've no idea what it will taste like. I've other hops:

Columbus
Haller H
Northown
Challenger
Magnum
Williamette
Nelson S.
EKG.

Any suitable choices for a hoppy blonde? (This recipe is at the top of a Blonde's suggeste IBU)

 

[GlentoranMark]

Chinook is 12.7 alpha an Cascade is 6.0 and batch size is 18L

 

[clibit]

The late hops won't have much if any effect. You could add some from your list. Any would be ok, depends what you're after.

 

[GlentoranMark]

Do the numbers add up/ sound about right?

Cascade is a bittering/aroma hop, I'm adding it late for aroma.

 

[clibit]

You only have about 1g of hops per litre. That is abnormally low. 5g in the last 15 mins is nothing.

 

[GlentoranMark]

You only have about 1g of hops per litre. That is abnormally low. 5g in the last 15 mins is nothing.

When I plug in the numbers into the wort app, the IBU's turn out at 27.9. Chinook is a highly bittering hop and maybe why it's OK? For a blonde this is the top of the range for this type of beer.

 

[clibit]

The IBUs are fine, it's the late flavour hops that are missing.

 

[GlentoranMark]

The IBUs are fine, it's the late flavour hops that are missing.

Any suggestions? I'm only starting this now so still have time to change the recipe.

I'm still unsure how hops affect a recipe, that's why I'm not overloading it.

 

[clibit]

Either leave it as it is to see what it's like with minimal aroma hops. Or add maybe Willamette, used in blonde ales across the pond a lot, at flame out. Around 15g.

 

[GlentoranMark]

I'll leave it as it is as I don't want to over complicate the flavour.

Thanks mate, you got me into all this so have much to thank you for. You've been the inspiration.