lady_brewer
Well-Known Member
So I am really really thinking about giving up my pre-hopped Cooper's and the like kits and jumping in feet first. I am hoping to be a bit of a pain, and for my total lack of knowledge thought it was best put out here.
I have looked at Death's Partial mash and Stovetop AG brewing threads (and may I say thanks for again inspiring me. Visa thanks you too.)
A few questions, which I will number, so you can answer one or many Many thanks in advance, you are all great.
The goal is to make 6US/ 5 Imperial gallon brews...
1. I am thinking that I am going to go out and find (no idea where yet) two big pots... I am thinking that my best bet is to find two that are 5 (US?) gallons. I will figure out the whole SS/ Aluminum thing later, ie: when I get whatever I can lay my hands on.
2. I have a bag that I bought to throw my fruit in for making wine. It is a fine nylon straining bag, not sure 100% how big, but it says 25 lt, so I am thinking about 5US gallons. Will this work for a grain bag? Do I need a new one, or can I cross purpose? I don't want to skimp or buy things I don't need.
3. When trying to figure out how much I can boil to x temperature, can I just boil plain water before buying grains? For some reason this seems like a simple thing, so maybe I am missing something?
4. I need a simple but good recipe, then am going to ask for it to be explained in a brewing for dummies way. I can pick up anything that is available at www.clickabrew.com or make an order from www.homebrew-supplies.ca. We have tried about 13 different pre-hopped kits. Hubby liked the IPA (Cooper's Brewmaster series) and I liked the Pilsner (same series, actually had lager yeast). He is also drinking the stout. So something full flavoured, maybe a bit of hop to it. I think the IPAs are supposed to be $$ and complex, but I will take any suggestions. Only thing is I need a description, since I can see flavours from recipes yet.
5. Correct me if I am wrong, but here is my understanding of the step-by-step process...
- Heat mash water (higher than desired temp), add grains, check temp and cover (off the heat) for 30-60 mins. ('til conversion... how do I know thins? I will go look it up )
- While that is in the end stage, heat the sparge water, sparge the drained grains, about 10 mins to get the most out of it.
- Add the mash water to the sparge water (is there a reason to do it this way? Temp related? Pot size? Habit?)
- Heat to temp, add hops as per recipe (timing after the hot break?)
- cool wort to pitching temp by whatever means necessary (my hubby looked at Yuri's wort chiller and said it is something like the cooling system on a marine diesel... methinks I will have one of them before too long...)
- When at temp move to primary (siphon? with the fancy aerating stick on the end that orfy made?) and pitch yeast.
- wait (for the first batch of waiting time).
Thanks for any and all help... I will do my best to keep on top of this with any info needed from my end. I do have to sleep and work tomorrow...
I have looked at Death's Partial mash and Stovetop AG brewing threads (and may I say thanks for again inspiring me. Visa thanks you too.)
A few questions, which I will number, so you can answer one or many Many thanks in advance, you are all great.
The goal is to make 6US/ 5 Imperial gallon brews...
1. I am thinking that I am going to go out and find (no idea where yet) two big pots... I am thinking that my best bet is to find two that are 5 (US?) gallons. I will figure out the whole SS/ Aluminum thing later, ie: when I get whatever I can lay my hands on.
2. I have a bag that I bought to throw my fruit in for making wine. It is a fine nylon straining bag, not sure 100% how big, but it says 25 lt, so I am thinking about 5US gallons. Will this work for a grain bag? Do I need a new one, or can I cross purpose? I don't want to skimp or buy things I don't need.
3. When trying to figure out how much I can boil to x temperature, can I just boil plain water before buying grains? For some reason this seems like a simple thing, so maybe I am missing something?
4. I need a simple but good recipe, then am going to ask for it to be explained in a brewing for dummies way. I can pick up anything that is available at www.clickabrew.com or make an order from www.homebrew-supplies.ca. We have tried about 13 different pre-hopped kits. Hubby liked the IPA (Cooper's Brewmaster series) and I liked the Pilsner (same series, actually had lager yeast). He is also drinking the stout. So something full flavoured, maybe a bit of hop to it. I think the IPAs are supposed to be $$ and complex, but I will take any suggestions. Only thing is I need a description, since I can see flavours from recipes yet.
5. Correct me if I am wrong, but here is my understanding of the step-by-step process...
- Heat mash water (higher than desired temp), add grains, check temp and cover (off the heat) for 30-60 mins. ('til conversion... how do I know thins? I will go look it up )
- While that is in the end stage, heat the sparge water, sparge the drained grains, about 10 mins to get the most out of it.
- Add the mash water to the sparge water (is there a reason to do it this way? Temp related? Pot size? Habit?)
- Heat to temp, add hops as per recipe (timing after the hot break?)
- cool wort to pitching temp by whatever means necessary (my hubby looked at Yuri's wort chiller and said it is something like the cooling system on a marine diesel... methinks I will have one of them before too long...)
- When at temp move to primary (siphon? with the fancy aerating stick on the end that orfy made?) and pitch yeast.
- wait (for the first batch of waiting time).
Thanks for any and all help... I will do my best to keep on top of this with any info needed from my end. I do have to sleep and work tomorrow...