first all grain.... a 20gal Heather Ale

got together with some friends to do a big batch, my first all grain

the supplies


adding the grain


the mash


hot break


hops and heather addition

everything's added


after the counter flow


the final product..... 20gal

Nice...was the grain crushed?

I am impressed! 20 gal. first time all grain...nice job.

1. what is the large stainless vessel in the background?
2. do i see a tennis raquet mash paddle?


Inline thermo, chest ferminator, new XL propane tank, all good!

I think you maxed out that kettle, hot break above the rim like a tightrope act. That cooler mash tun is huuuge, probably could mash a couple sacks w/ that thing.

Damn, that kettle was nearly overflowing... I assume you used Fermcap?

ha ha no the raquet is actually a bug zapper, and that large stainless steel vessel is a industrial sized soup pot. it's large enough to house a 60 gallon boil, but the eletrical system on it needs to be replaced.

The gain was coarsely ground and as a result the mash effency was a bit less. We ended up about .06 under our estimated gravity next time i'll run the grain though the mill second time and the brew shop. We didn't use fermcap or anything other than the hops, water, yeast, malt, and heather. Fermented 5 gal of wort in each 6.5gal carboy. All in all i am very excited about this beer.

yeah the mash tun is insane, we can't fully make use of it b/c the boil kettle limits us to 20

jeezuz, that's the biggest cooler i've ever seen. thanks for sharing!

Thats awesome....where did you find that soup pot???

My buddy picked it up from a resturant that went out of business, it was cheap since it still needs some work

Nice rig!

Nice pictures. There is only one thing to say to that....


GO NAVY!! BEAT ARMY!!

wilserbrewer said:

I am impressed! 20 gal. first time all grain...nice job.

Click to expand...

Yeah, as wilserbrewer said. That's an impressive feat for your first all grain. I've been brewing all grain for about 4 years and the largest I've ever made was a 10 gallon, but that's also due to my equipment.