Recent content by DrewsBrew

Hi, thought I'd share the recent additions to my setup since my last post: https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/ag-ringwood-fourtyniner-new-kettle.71109/ Firstly, I've welded up a trolley instead of using a picnic table, makes setting up much quicker: I've moved the recirculation pipe...

I'm no expert on recipes I'm afraid, but what I understand it's torrified wheat helps with head retention and possibly body and mouth feel, probably doesn't effect the flavour much. Someone else may be able to advise better?

The recipe is a Graham Wheeler recipe from his book (link below). 23Litres: Pale Malt - 4710g Crystal Malt - 200g Torrified Wheat - 100g Chocolate Malt - 15g Start of Boil: Challenger Hops 29g Last 10mins: Goldings Hops 10g Irish Moss/protofloc Post Boil: Goldings Hops 6g Mash Liquor - 12.6L...

I meant to borrow a proper thermocouple and multimeter from work to check the SSR temperature but I forgot. However I left my temperature probe directly under the box where the SSR is screwed down and it only reached 35*C during the boil so the box seems to be working well as a heatsink. It only...

So the brew went pretty successfully on Saturday. The new kettle was fantastic, no issues to report. I set the temperature to 100.5*C which produced a nice steady rolling boil. To be honest, with the lid removed the controller output was pretty much solid ON to maintain the temperature. But with...

A few more photos which I didn't get round to adding yesterday.... I used an immersion chiller after the boil. Dropped the last load of hop pellets in when it dropped under 70*C, then carried on chilling down to 35*C which took 10 mins. I then did a manual whirlpool by stiring it and let it...

It's some closed cell foam I found at work, not sure what material it is, kinda like neoprene or silicone. I didn't cut it all that neatly so might redo it sometime. I've seen some adhesive backed stuff on eBay which might be good. Or I have thought of using some water proof material and closed...

Here's a couple of videos of the sparge arm running with cold water, the jet's are only 0.5mm so the flow is very low and spray is light and fine. I'm confident if I make the shaft from brass or stainless then it won't bind when hot. The plastic I've used on this one is Delrin acetal which...

Thanks, I made it all myself. The HLT and mash tun are made from 2nd hand tea urns which I have added solar pumps inside the bases. The hop kettle is a 50l stock pot from malt miller which I added kettle elements and made a controller. Build thread here...

Yes I'm using a brown solar pump. Seems to work pretty well but it sounds like it struggles a little for the 1st few minutes after switching it on until all the small particles have gone through. My false bottom has 2mm holes. I haven't done a proper build thread for my mash tun but I will do...

The new boiler was fantastic, loads of headroom to prevent any boil-over. The 2 elements got it upto boiling in no time. I then unplugged the rear element and let the PID controller control the rolling boil. I set the temperature to 100.5*C which seemed to achieve a nice gentle rolling boil. So...

Then tried out my new sparge arm. It worked great to begin with but unfortuntely as it heated up it stopped rotating due to the shaft expanding with the heat. Real shame because it had a great spray pattern and minimal leakage down the shaft. I then switched it for my previous version which is...

Now time for a pint of the previous brew! Exmoor Gold (Graham Wheeler recipe), I think it's my favorite so far. 90mins later, the temperature is pretty consistent throughout the mash. I then did a mash out at about 70*C.

Doughed in without the heating element on and without the pump running. I then left it 10 mins before switching the pump/element on. I found this really helped prevent getting a stuck mash and an airlock. If the pump is running whilst doughing in, the pump seems to suck all the air out of the...

Here's some photos of today's brew, using my new Kettle. I've also made a few tweaks to my recirculating mash tun to prevent air locks in the pump, and I've made a new Sparge arm. Mash Tun heating up to strike temperature 73*C: