Recent content by BlueShack

Thank you again Agent for your clarification, it’s appreciated. I agree with your working theory about higher flow rates. This is something I shall experiment with. I recall hearing about initial grain absorption and perhaps a short delay in the process may allow the grain to hydrate a tad. A...

Thanks, Foxy. Some sound advice and worthy of note, particularly the grist to liquor ratio. I will be following the advice in my next brew; a milk stout. Cheers.

Thanks for your reply. You may have hit the nail on the head and perhaps it's time to invest in a grain mill. What mill setting do you use to get the correct grain crush? Having never used one I take it there are variable settings. Cheers.

Thanks for your reply. Your reference to gurgling noises is exactly what I have experienced recently and thought the same as you as the wort is sucked down the pipe. To me, that only suggests the grain bed has collapsed and not allowing wort through. As solutions go, there are a number of...

I’ve had a look at the water profile in Grainfather but already had water analysis by Murphy & Son and worked it out from there. Usually my pH levels hit between 5.1 and 5.3 but sometimes over.

Thanks Mabbott, it’s nice to know rice hulls work and this will be a welcomed quick fix. I was just curious about the success of steeping in a Grainfather. Hopefully someone will have experimented. Cheers.

I have used a Grainfather S30 for several years with moderate success but have always been disappointed with the mash process. It often sticks or fails to produce the gravity expected, leading to sparging problems. Grainfather blames the grain crush. My question is whether anyone has had success...

Thanks Pete, your right, just down the road.

What you suggest is spot on and a plan for my current brew, a TT Landlord clone, if it turns out ok. I have a 15L plastic ‘keg’ with a an inlet value only and proposing priming sugar of around 20gms, maybe less. I recognise the dangers of not have a relief value but hopefully at conditioning...

Hi An Ankoù, I have also adopted smaller batch brewing of 15 litres solely because it does not prove so costly as larger batches if all goes horribly wrong. The Grainfather is ideal for this and can easily deal with small grain bills of say 3-4 kgs. When I have perfected a beer that I consider...

Thanks to all words of welcome, much appreciated. I'm sure over the next few weeks, months and perhaps years we can all learn and share something from each other about the world of brewing beer. Cheers all.

Hi all, from the hub of the civilised world. Have been all grain brewing for many years using the traditional home set up but recently moved to Grainfather kit to improve consistency and quality. Getting there but as you all know its a long slow problem...theres only so much beer you can drink...

Not at all sure if this is helpful but my last 3-4 brews all stopped fermenting early having never achieved the FG. It’s worth stating that I make all grain traditional British bitters, porters and stouts. The result of course was sweeter and weaker brews than expected. I suspected yeast...