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Here are a couple things I really took note of on my first AG (single decoction) last night that may be helpful (this are questions I figured experience would answer).
1. Schedule PLENTY of time. Start to finish (w/o cleaning equipment afterwards) you're looking at ~ 4 hours.
2. Immerssion chiller a must. I've cooled partial boils in my sink before and it took an hour. Imagine a 5 gallon boil you have to bring to pitching temperatures. There are plenty of tips online to make one yourself. DO SO AT ALL COSTS. With 50' copper tubing and garden hose water I was at 80° in less than 20 minutes.
3. DWHAHB. I did it sober. GIANT mistake. You need plenty of things to do to keep yourself from constantly checking temps, etc.
4. Boiling ~7gallons in a 7.5 gallon brew pot can be tricky. What I did was put around 6 into the brew pot and 1 in another pot. Once I got a rolling boil I would add some (it was ambient so you'll need to add heat too). You'll have it all in the brewpot w/in 20 minutes anyways, so it's not a big deal (I don't think).
5. I got a 72° efficiency on my first one. I credit alot of that to the 8qt decoction honestly.
6. If you plan on using a cooler as a mash tun, get one that isn't hinged. That was fun watching it flop down everytime I tried adding sparge water or anything else.
7. If you have one that is hinged, utilize bungee cords to keep it from falling closed on you.
AND ABOVE ALL ELSE!!!! DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES BREW STONE COLD SOBER!!!!!!
1. Schedule PLENTY of time. Start to finish (w/o cleaning equipment afterwards) you're looking at ~ 4 hours.
2. Immerssion chiller a must. I've cooled partial boils in my sink before and it took an hour. Imagine a 5 gallon boil you have to bring to pitching temperatures. There are plenty of tips online to make one yourself. DO SO AT ALL COSTS. With 50' copper tubing and garden hose water I was at 80° in less than 20 minutes.
3. DWHAHB. I did it sober. GIANT mistake. You need plenty of things to do to keep yourself from constantly checking temps, etc.
4. Boiling ~7gallons in a 7.5 gallon brew pot can be tricky. What I did was put around 6 into the brew pot and 1 in another pot. Once I got a rolling boil I would add some (it was ambient so you'll need to add heat too). You'll have it all in the brewpot w/in 20 minutes anyways, so it's not a big deal (I don't think).
5. I got a 72° efficiency on my first one. I credit alot of that to the 8qt decoction honestly.
6. If you plan on using a cooler as a mash tun, get one that isn't hinged. That was fun watching it flop down everytime I tried adding sparge water or anything else.
7. If you have one that is hinged, utilize bungee cords to keep it from falling closed on you.
AND ABOVE ALL ELSE!!!! DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES BREW STONE COLD SOBER!!!!!!