The Man in Brown showed up today with six boxes of goodies. Now I am ready for my first brew and even before started I have a couple of questions.
I elected to do an IPA (Brewer's Best) to start for alleged simplicity besides I like IPA.
My first question is about the crushed malts. Kit came with two (Crystal and Victory). Recipe says to put crushed grain (singular) into the sack and step it but not squeeze it at the end. I'm curious to know what happens if I were to squeeze?
Second, recipe requires to start with two gallons and three gallons after the boil. I cannot refer to where I read it but I recall it's being better to do the full volume boil for better results(?). I have acquired a 30qts SS kettle to be able to do full boils. I made an immersion chiller (two stages - first on in the ice bath, second in the wort). Do I really start with two gallons and use the other three to help chilling? If I can do full five gallons, how much do I need to start with to take the evaporation into account?
I think I ended up asking more than two but I hope you forgive my enthusiasm.
Thanks in advance....
PS. In celebration fo rthe delivery of my goodies, I shared a Christine Haley Biere D'art bottle with my wife.
I elected to do an IPA (Brewer's Best) to start for alleged simplicity besides I like IPA.
My first question is about the crushed malts. Kit came with two (Crystal and Victory). Recipe says to put crushed grain (singular) into the sack and step it but not squeeze it at the end. I'm curious to know what happens if I were to squeeze?
Second, recipe requires to start with two gallons and three gallons after the boil. I cannot refer to where I read it but I recall it's being better to do the full volume boil for better results(?). I have acquired a 30qts SS kettle to be able to do full boils. I made an immersion chiller (two stages - first on in the ice bath, second in the wort). Do I really start with two gallons and use the other three to help chilling? If I can do full five gallons, how much do I need to start with to take the evaporation into account?
I think I ended up asking more than two but I hope you forgive my enthusiasm.
Thanks in advance....
PS. In celebration fo rthe delivery of my goodies, I shared a Christine Haley Biere D'art bottle with my wife.