First all grain brew!

Gotta say, second batch ever and im addicted.

Im sippin on my noble trappist (extract) about a week early and it tastes, looks and works spectacularly.

I just started the boil on an all grain hanks hefe from midwest using my diy mash tun. It was a lot of work, but fun... Seriously, had a blast doing this. I am hooked.

I just want to say thanks to everyone on here. I have learned and continue to learn a crap load just by searching and reading on this forum.

I hope to post something way more educational and informative after i pitch the yeast and clean up.

Congratulations Teddy, looks like you have joined the ranks of all us beer brewing fools!

Good luck!

Nice job on the copper manifold.

Enjoy the brew!

Thanks guys.

the yeast has been pitched and everything is finally cleaned up.

I had a snafu with my wort chiller. The incoming line popped off and a little tap water made its way into the wort. Not too bad. I ended up with an og of 1.052. Im pretty pumped because i fall on the higher side of the range for the recipe.

Im guessing my efficiency was pretty good. I mashed for 60 min at damn near 152. Strike water was pushing 170. Did a 60 minute batch sparge at 170 ish... Temp dropped after i added the sparge water.

Im happy with the way the manifold worked. So all in all i think this was a success. If anybody is familiar with the recipe kit and wishes to comment, i would love to here some opinions.

Thanks for the pic of your mash tun- have the AG itch but not quite ready to go all-out equipment-wise (yet!), good to see simpler solutions.

60 min batch sparge?

Congratulations and enjoy your brew!

*hear some opinions.

Was the 60 minute sparge an issue? The :: has me wondering.

I plan on doing an all grain saison soon. Any tips between now and then is appreciated.

teddyk said:

*hear some opinions.

Was the 60 minute sparge an issue? The :: has me wondering.

I plan on doing an all grain saison soon. Any tips between now and then is appreciated.

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As far as I know, a longer sparge isn't really beneficial. The goal is to rinse sugars off the grains. If you're going to spend extra time sparging, you may as well do a double batch sparge.

teddyk said:

Thanks guys.



Im guessing my efficiency was pretty good. I mashed for 60 min at damn near 152. Strike water was pushing 170. Did a 60 minute batch sparge at 170 ish... Temp dropped after i added the sparge water.

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I know everyone does things their own way- but to me that seems to defeat the purpose of a batch sparge. I use it to shave a little time. I can see doing a mash out for like 10 minuets, 60 is way to long.[]

Congrats, Teddy!

Isn't it a great thing?!?

dkennedy said:

Thanks for the pic of your mash tun- have the AG itch but not quite ready to go all-out equipment-wise (yet!), good to see simpler solutions.

Click to expand...

I find storing my AG equipment as much of a challenge as acquiring it. I use old coolers from Goodwill for my hot liquor tank and my Mash Tun...about $5 each. The manifold for the tun is made from CPVC in 3/4" size with slits cut from a hacksaw. Add a nice stainless bulkhead ball valve. So far I am only in about $50. Watch craigslist for a nice used keg, add a nice ball valve bulkhead on this... Another $70. Lastly get yourself an immersion chiller or a counterflow chiller...Depending on design, maybe $50-$125. All in all about $250 for my to get well setup. You should recoup this after maybe 20-30 brew sessions because the grain is cheaper than DME or Malt Extract syrup. Good luck, and have fun.

HopLife said:

I find storing my AG equipment as much of a challenge as acquiring it. I use old coolers from Goodwill for my hot liquor tank and my Mash Tun...about $5 each. The manifold for the tun is made from CPVC in 3/4" size with slits cut from a hacksaw. Add a nice stainless bulkhead ball valve. So far I am only in about $50. Watch craigslist for a nice used keg, add a nice ball valve bulkhead on this... Another $70. Lastly get yourself an immersion chiller or a counterflow chiller...Depending on design, maybe $50-$125. All in all about $250 for my to get well setup. You should recoup this after maybe 20-30 brew sessions because the grain is cheaper than DME or Malt Extract syrup. Good luck, and have fun.

Click to expand...

Space is indeed the big issue- moving cross-country later this year, so trying to look at options with the gear that I have (or do it cheaply enough to just sell it on craigslist pre-move and then upgrade in WI...). Good call on Goodwill, thanks!

I have done 2 all grain brews now and taught someone else how on the second and have plans to have 3 new people watching me do my 3 rd lol this is addictive and contageous it seems lol