savylemons
Active Member
Hey everyone, I am new to homebrewing and have been searching around on the forum for some time now and first off I just want to say this forum is GREAT anyway... I have brewed 2 batches of specialty grain extract kits so far, both which came out great. Now I figured it is time to try to make an extract version of my favorite beer, Pliny the Elder. I found a great article from Vinnie http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/attachments/0000/6351/doubleIPA.pdf
with his instructions to brew the extract version and I have a few questions about how to brew it.
Vinnie recommends a full boil (8 gal) due to the large hop bill and hop utilization. I use a 10 gallon pot on a gas stove. I tested it today to see if it would get 8 gallons to a rolling boil, and it did, but it took an hour and I had to leave the lid on.
#1 After I steep the grains is a lag time of one hour okay until it gets to a boil or would it cause problems.
#2 Since it seems removing the lid kills the boil, is it okay to just remove the lid during the boil every 10 minutes or so to wipe off condensation to prevent DMS from getting in the wort?
#3 In the extract version Vinnies states when to add the dextrose, but never when to add the LME. I love the light color of Pliny, will the full boil volume give the beer a light color or should I add the LME at flameout?
#4 Ive read that with pliny using so many hops in the boil that extra steps need to be done so you dont wind up with hop particles in the finished product. Should I use a 5 gallon paint strainer bag in the boil as a hop bag? Whirlpool? or use the paint strainer bag at in the fermentor and dump the wort in there.
#5 Dryhopping. I've dryhopped once and it was with only 1 oz of hops, Pliny has 4 oz. Should these be bagged with a marble weight? or tossed in and later filtered with a paint straining bag?
Sorry seems like such a long post but any advice would be great
with his instructions to brew the extract version and I have a few questions about how to brew it.
Vinnie recommends a full boil (8 gal) due to the large hop bill and hop utilization. I use a 10 gallon pot on a gas stove. I tested it today to see if it would get 8 gallons to a rolling boil, and it did, but it took an hour and I had to leave the lid on.
#1 After I steep the grains is a lag time of one hour okay until it gets to a boil or would it cause problems.
#2 Since it seems removing the lid kills the boil, is it okay to just remove the lid during the boil every 10 minutes or so to wipe off condensation to prevent DMS from getting in the wort?
#3 In the extract version Vinnies states when to add the dextrose, but never when to add the LME. I love the light color of Pliny, will the full boil volume give the beer a light color or should I add the LME at flameout?
#4 Ive read that with pliny using so many hops in the boil that extra steps need to be done so you dont wind up with hop particles in the finished product. Should I use a 5 gallon paint strainer bag in the boil as a hop bag? Whirlpool? or use the paint strainer bag at in the fermentor and dump the wort in there.
#5 Dryhopping. I've dryhopped once and it was with only 1 oz of hops, Pliny has 4 oz. Should these be bagged with a marble weight? or tossed in and later filtered with a paint straining bag?
Sorry seems like such a long post but any advice would be great