OceanBob5
Member
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2018
- Messages
- 8
- Reaction score
- 1
I just bottled my third batch over last weekend so I'm just getting started, but I'd like to share my approach and open for any feedback in making even better beer. I went straight to All-grain and use stainless as much as possible- Mash&Boil, Anvil SS Fermenter, Keggco 6Gal boiler and bottle bucket. Since I'm starting I went with all grain recipe kits and cut them in half for 2.5 gal batches so I didn't end up with too much un-drinkable beer - so far I have enjoyed every bottle. My first was a robust porter and then a Scotch Ale. I messed up on the first by mixing the sanitizer way too strong - about 5x stronger than it should have been. I didn't catch until it was long in the fermenter - No problems with germs I figured. It was a crazy brew day, trying to follow all the times and making sure I had temps and amounts correct. I joined Brewer's friend and ran with their Brew day sheet along side the M&B instructions, but was exhausted by the time I cleaned up. The smaller batch size also allowed me plenty of yeast, made moving the fermenter around much easier as I was trying to use room temps to control the label thermometer on the outside of the ss fermenter. I'm an old guy with a not so great back so the small batch also let me cold crash by taking the fermenter outside when the north GA day was close to inside basement temp and let it drop to mid 30s over night - getting some nice clear beer also with the help of some Irish Moss. As a beginner I'm trying to keep it simple, let the beer sit for two weeks in the ss fermenter (I can't see what's going on but have learned to watch the expansion valve. The water level changes as fermention stops and the pressure inside lowers- two weeks is plently).
It also gave me a second chance with the recipe which I kind of did, my latest batch,- I already started playing with adding additional grains and went to 3 gals. The beer went too fast.
My pre and post boil gravities seem to be about the same even with the loss of about a gal boil off. I thought it was a mistake on the first batch but they've all been very close, so not sure what's up with that. There should be a difference on just the volume change alone. I'm also not making the target numbers but I think it may be the grain mill and will be testing that out with later batches. The Scotch Ale was suppose to be strong 8-9% but the numbers didn't support it - was way low on the OG even with stirring and longer Mash time. The good thing is the taste is just great and it's a very drinkable beer that doesn't knock your socks off.
So all in all it's been fun, learning lots, getting better and may just keep brewing looking for that perfect brew where I don't forget something inspite of all the notes, books and software helping.
It also gave me a second chance with the recipe which I kind of did, my latest batch,- I already started playing with adding additional grains and went to 3 gals. The beer went too fast.
My pre and post boil gravities seem to be about the same even with the loss of about a gal boil off. I thought it was a mistake on the first batch but they've all been very close, so not sure what's up with that. There should be a difference on just the volume change alone. I'm also not making the target numbers but I think it may be the grain mill and will be testing that out with later batches. The Scotch Ale was suppose to be strong 8-9% but the numbers didn't support it - was way low on the OG even with stirring and longer Mash time. The good thing is the taste is just great and it's a very drinkable beer that doesn't knock your socks off.
So all in all it's been fun, learning lots, getting better and may just keep brewing looking for that perfect brew where I don't forget something inspite of all the notes, books and software helping.