Have a go at simple AG

[Covrich]

This is totally alien to me but I'd like to try it.

I have a Homebrew shop close to me but are only selling the Maris Otter in 25kg bags. I have an option of getting 1kg Pale Malt Whole, I'm assuming this will do the same job? I also have the option of getting it crushed? Would that be better?

I might have a bash at this next weekend but some of the steps confuse me so expect many more basic questions.

Yes that is fine and you will need it crushed before you mash.

so you need that some hops and some yeast.

Just follow clibits guide

The advantage of doing such a small batch is, well equipment wise you can probably do it with existing kitchen pans and secondly if you do make a few mistakes you dont have about 40 pints worth and you can just practise and work on and get used to the processes.

It does take a while though but trust the satisfaction is far superior and the cook itself is a pleasure with all the smells, nothing like saying you created that beer from absolute scratch.

 

[kev192]

started on the 8th 1840 pm, stopped bubbling now and roughly 1020 ish giving 4%
it does look a milky colour, i hope that clears after time.

should i leave it in F.V for a a week or so ?

 

[Covrich]

You boiled it up on friday and picthed the yeast?

Yes leave it alone for at least a week its only been going for 2 days.. what was the original gravity

When you say milky colour do you mean its white???

What recipe did you use?

 

[kev192]

o.g was 1050

milky green used fuggles and marris otter
its also in a 23 litre f.v as thats all i have
normally do 23l kits

 

[kev192]

i did have a sneaky sample this morning and it tasted ok. cant describe it as i dont really know how. lets just say i'm not disappointed

 

[Tony1951]

It does take a while though but trust the satisfaction is far superior and the cook itself is a pleasure with all the smells, nothing like saying you created that beer from absolute scratch.

100% right there Covrich. The satisfaction of doing the whole process yourself is huge.

I found some brew vids done by a Belgian guy and although he is using some fancy home made / home adapted equipment in this one, he does go through the process in an interesting way. His home made mash tun gets a blockage when his filter falls off inside so he jumps into brew in the bag method to filter his mash, but I really enjoyed this vid.

If the mods think this isn't a good example, feel free to delete the post.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoywhSFg_Dk[/ame]

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Do members here sanitise the yeast packet?

 

[Covrich]

Do members here sanitise the yeast packet?

Cant say I have..

I have seen people sanitise scissors to snip the packet though..

I say that back when I did tinned kits I did steralise the can opener.

Kev192.. the green is probably from the hops.. did you sieve the hop debris out the FV? its only been two days so just leave it and see how it is next weekend.

 

[MyQul]

Do members here sanitise the yeast packet?

Never bothered myself, although I've read your supposed to sanise the scissors to cut the packet open. Having said that the times I've cultured up yeast from bottle dregs I sanised everything (repeatedly)

 

[GHW]

I always forget about opening the yeast packet and haven't had any problems using in sanitised scissors. Scissors are hardly likely to harbour bacteria unless they are your kitchen ones (which I suppose they would be for most people...). Tin openers will be chock full of manky bacteria I'd have thought so wise precaution.

The other one I always forget is when bottling, a spoon and something to hold brewing sugar in for priming.

 

[Slid]

I have sanitised yeast packets (because I have a spray containing Star San!). Also spray scissors and always spray the can opener. The scissors and can opener are mine and exclusively used for HB and stored separately. I also spray a kitchen knife, which is very useful for stirring the residual contents of a can plus boiling water.

Basically, I spray everything - work tops, spoons, FV's inside and around the tops, the outside and the inside of the krausen collar on the Coopers FV. The top of the cans before opening, the ends of any airlocks, etc etc.

I love Star San.

 

[Slid]

Once the brew is done and drunk, it's a bit differnt, though.

I don't drink beer with a noticable yeast content, because of a nasty gout problem I had. This was due to drinking the yeasty bit at the end of bottles.

Now, I pour the fag ends of bottles - 2L and 500ml - into small lemonade bottles via a small funnel. Put them in the fridge and then after a bit, decant them via funnel into other little bottles, filling each one so that there is little chance of further oxidisation, and throw away the yeast at the bottom. In the end you add a tiny bit of sugar, carbonate, and you get a sort of composite "sampler" of what has been brewed and drunk in the recent past.

Not great and not bad, but that's not the actual point.

This is largely OCD type behaviour, but does have some merit in telling me just how hard it is to really mess up an established, fermented beer. There is no Star San on the funnels for transfer and only a splash of Sodium Metabisulphite solution to keep the empty bottles "fresh".

Once the beer is finished, it is quite hard to ruin it.

 

[GHW]

Once the beer is finished, it is quite hard to ruin it.

I agree. Alcohol must create a pretty difficult environment for bacteria and it might explain those who suck start their siphons and report no problem (including me)

 

[MyQul]

I agree. Alcohol must create a pretty difficult environment for bacteria and it might explain those who suck start their siphons and report no problem (including me)

Your right. Bacteria find the low ph of alcohol quite a hostile environment

 

[Badseed1974]

Took a sample of mine last night and it's down to 1.012 from an OG of 1.058 in only 4 days, tasted good as well

I'll check again in a few days and most likely bottle this week.

Really impressed with AG brewing, no more kits for me!

 

[clibit]

You'll soon be in Amarillo AG heaven. :thumb:

 

[Badseed1974]

You'll soon be in Amarillo AG heaven. :thumb:

Can't wait

I was considering dry hopping just to give it a little aroma lift, what do you reckon is a good amount for a 10l batch?

 

[clibit]

I've now added a youtube video to the guide at the start of this thread that shows someone making a batch of AG beer this way.

 

[kev192]

Cant say I have..

I have seen people sanitise scissors to snip the packet though..

I say that back when I did tinned kits I did steralise the can opener.

Kev192.. the green is probably from the hops.. did you sieve the hop debris out the FV? its only been two days so just leave it and see how it is next weekend.

yes i did sieve the hops after as i didnt have any bags , i found out why it had stopped bubbling , temp was at 20 so i put my brew belt on and its starting again.

 

[clibit]

Can't wait

I was considering dry hopping just to give it a little aroma lift, what do you reckon is a good amount for a 10l batch?

10-15g should do it.