So I finally got all my equipment set up and did my first all grain batch sunday, a blonde ale 10 gallon batch.
Right now I have keggles for HLT and MLT, one propane burner, and I have a 5 gallon stock pot I use for boiling additional water for sparging. No pump. I'm using a false bottom in the MLT.
So I heat up the MLT to 160 and dough in figuring I'll hit 154. If I'm lower then that I just heat up the water, but it was a pretty good guess. I then started heating up the stock pot on the stove for sparge water.
Here's where I shot myself in the foot.
After 45 minutes the temperature had dipped below 140 and fired up the propane burner to get the tmep back up. I somehow managed to heat the temp close to 180!! Soon as I realized tihs i kiled the heat and stirred pretty continuously to get the temp down.
When it was time to mash out the valve was literally trickling, so i blew into the hose a bunch of times and finally got some flow going, but a few pieces of grain did make their way into the boil kettle somehow. Not a huge deal, but annoying.
My water quantities were way off as well, i didn't heat up enough sparge water to hit my 12 gallon boil target, so I added some filtered tap water to make up the difference.
LESSONS LEARNED:
1. Brewing software is your friend.
2. Pay more attention to the thermometer
3. Possibly invest in a march pump
I'm working my way towards a brutus stand, but I pretty much promised SWMBO that I wouldnt spend any more money on equipment this year.
I think in spite of all my blunders this beer will turn out. I left the hydro sample out overnight and in the morning it was that nice clear golden colour you expect from a blonde ale.
Right now I have keggles for HLT and MLT, one propane burner, and I have a 5 gallon stock pot I use for boiling additional water for sparging. No pump. I'm using a false bottom in the MLT.
So I heat up the MLT to 160 and dough in figuring I'll hit 154. If I'm lower then that I just heat up the water, but it was a pretty good guess. I then started heating up the stock pot on the stove for sparge water.
Here's where I shot myself in the foot.
After 45 minutes the temperature had dipped below 140 and fired up the propane burner to get the tmep back up. I somehow managed to heat the temp close to 180!! Soon as I realized tihs i kiled the heat and stirred pretty continuously to get the temp down.
When it was time to mash out the valve was literally trickling, so i blew into the hose a bunch of times and finally got some flow going, but a few pieces of grain did make their way into the boil kettle somehow. Not a huge deal, but annoying.
My water quantities were way off as well, i didn't heat up enough sparge water to hit my 12 gallon boil target, so I added some filtered tap water to make up the difference.
LESSONS LEARNED:
1. Brewing software is your friend.
2. Pay more attention to the thermometer
3. Possibly invest in a march pump
I'm working my way towards a brutus stand, but I pretty much promised SWMBO that I wouldnt spend any more money on equipment this year.
I think in spite of all my blunders this beer will turn out. I left the hydro sample out overnight and in the morning it was that nice clear golden colour you expect from a blonde ale.