Did you do a "test run" ?

[Braumeise]

Not recommending but when I went to all grain I assembled my MT while the strike water was heating. It did not leak during the mash but when I filled it with water to clean it leaked. I lakes to this day with water but not during a mash. I guess a few bits of grain will seal up a small leak. Also I consider my time and propane more valuable than if I can turn water to wort on a test run. Depending on the beer the hops could b half the cost and depending on how the wort turns out u can decide to continue with the boil or dump the wort, or test your chiller.

haha! sounds like I used to do stuff
I am actually very impatient and over enthusiastic. It needs something I really care for deeply to slow me down.
I did a couple of things in my life with thorough preparation because I did value them highly and because I wanted to give it my very best shot instead of "winging" most of it.

I will definitely do a test run for leaks.
And maybe I will figure out that that is testing enough.
And you do have a good point there regarding the waste of energy put in with no usable outcome.

Merci!

 

[Braumeise]

The thing is -- it wont. Heat up water and move it around your various pots/chiller and what not if you want, but there's nothing to gain from mashing hay. Just have to jump in and do it. If youre scared of experimenting with new things brewing is going to be a tough hobby for you.

Unless youre a horse, then I'm all for 5gals of haywater.

Lol!

You had me thinking here! I am actually not scared of doing anything yet I thought you have a point there, what is my god damn problem, why am I not just doing it?

This question needs to be answered before proceeding further

 

[Braumeise]

just remember that your grist will clump if poured in too quickly and you don't stir well enough while pouring. but that's not the end of the world. the dough balls are easily broken up with the mash paddle. it sounds like you're using a kettle to mash, so preheating your tun won't be an issue and controlling your mash temp will probably be easier than using a cooler set up. after the mash will be all about proper pitch rates and temp control. are you using any brewing software?

in the vast universe of information I have gathered so far someone (I think in a German homebrew community) mentioned that it is a bit like pancake batter / home made pudding and you have to be able to do it like "real grandmas" are able to make a batter with no clumps....

I am using the Kettle to heat up my water for the mash. I will be mashing in a tun.

I am going to use beersmith. Comparing what I have looked at so far it seems the most useful unless you guys have other suggestions I have not come across yet.

 

[joshesmusica]

Miss (or Mrs.?) Meise,

I agree, you just have to go for it. Test for leaks, maybe time how long it takes to heat things up (although, as stated, that's a waste of energy), and then just jump right in. You're ready for it, I'm confident of that after all of the discussions I've had with you on here. At this point, the thing that you need to do is take that knowledge that you have and put it into practice. I know others have said that a wit is a difficult one to start with, but I truly don't find it a hard beer to brew, especially not since you're starting off with temp control. Go for it! And if you have a friend around, document it! It will make it that much more fun.

The best thing to do to ensure that you do everything correctly and at the right times is to print out some sort of brew day checklist. I doubt that coming up with a detailed checklist will come very difficult to you.

 

[chickypad]

Soooo.... a Meise is a tiny Bird and in German it is die Meise (female personal article)

Blaumeise is a blue Bird but it also refers to drinking a bit to much in certain regions ... blau meaning tipsy or rather wasted.

I exchanged the l for an r and brau means "brew"...

very clever, I like it

Though I guess I'm glad I'm not German, as my pup is a total mama's girl and I wouldn't have it any other way

 

[Braumeise]

very clever, I like it

Though I guess I'm glad I'm not German, as my pup is a total mama's girl and I wouldn't have it any other way

Awe! <3

 

[Braumeise]

Miss (or Mrs.?) Meise,

I agree, you just have to go for it. Test for leaks, maybe time how long it takes to heat things up (although, as stated, that's a waste of energy), and then just jump right in. You're ready for it, I'm confident of that after all of the discussions I've had with you on here. At this point, the thing that you need to do is take that knowledge that you have and put it into practice. I know others have said that a wit is a difficult one to start with, but I truly don't find it a hard beer to brew, especially not since you're starting off with temp control. Go for it! And if you have a friend around, document it! It will make it that much more fun.

The best thing to do to ensure that you do everything correctly and at the right times is to print out some sort of brew day checklist. I doubt that coming up with a detailed checklist will come very difficult to you.

No Mr. Meise here... yet politically correct it is Ms, right?

Sounds like a ship to me whenever someone says or writes it

HMS (her Majesties Ship) so MS would be Majesties Ship, no?

My brewing date has to work this Sunday but she is off next Sunday so I might just delay one more week or find myself some one else who cares to do a lot of "winging" for hopefully a bottle or two of drinkable beer in the future.


Will post pictures of my beautiful dirt cheap mash tun set up later

 

[chickypad]

Definitely work with a helper the first time, it's nice to have an extra set of hands for emergencies while you're figuring out your equipment (emergencies as in - oh sh**, quick shut that valve!).

 

[mkirkland]

Every time i need to test new equipment i just brew a SMaSH beer and keg it up. Works every time and is cheap.

 

[Braumeise]

okay. I will be brewing something will do a "dry run" just for leaks though.
Worst I will get out of it - if no drinkable beer - is lots of horse treats.

Horse will approve so all good.

updates to follow.

 

[joshesmusica]

okay. I will be brewing something will do a "dry run" just for leaks though.
Worst I will get out of it - if no drinkable beer - is lots of horse treats.

Horse will approve so all good.

updates to follow.

Your horse drinks beer? Badass!

 

[Braumeise]

Your horse drinks beer? Badass!

bahwah! Lol! Not yet but he drinks coffee... (no joke he loves coffee) and
he loved the treats I made from the spent grains I had left over practicing a "mini mash" (yup. I confess... I did mash some breakfast grains and oat flakes in a pot to determine how hard it is to keep a temperature steady and how they mix and all that stuff)

 

[FatCat11cz]

I am about to do a test run today on my new rig. I bought a Center of Gravity brew stand and a Edelmetall Bru Kettle. Should be fun.

 

[stella_tigre]

I have just created a BIAB setup for 5 gal batches (10 gal pot, homemade bag, homemade hop spider and bag) and will practice on a partial mash this weekend. Then on to an AG lager!

I have done three extract brews (two with steeped grains) and I'm anxious to see how much more work it really is. The first two brews are yummy (Fat Tire and Sierra Nev Pale ale clone kits) and the third is bottle conditioning (Bel Tripel.) So I am anxious to see how a partial mash Fat Tire clone compares with the first one.

 

[SFOtoMUC]

Servus!

Really looking forward to your attempt at this great Helles, I am gearing up to try it myself. My local homebrew shop told me the Andechser yeast won't be available til the new year so this will keep me busy til then.

Viele Gluecke!

 

[Braumeise]

Servus!

Really looking forward to your attempt at this great Helles, I am gearing up to try it myself. My local homebrew shop told me the Andechser yeast won't be available til the new year so this will keep me busy til then.

Viele Gluecke!

Thanks!

I'll keep you all posted!
Would be interested in your outcome and recipe and so on...
Let us know how it went?

 

[Braumeise]

Ha! Huge set back in progress.
my electrical stove "collapsed" under the weight of only 3 Gallons of water. I have the strange heating spirals and it did not appreciate the weight.

Guess I'll have to move back to my outdoor plan which means I need a lot of stuff, I have yet to build so I can handle my set up...

 

[joshesmusica]

Ha! Huge set back in progress.
my electrical stove "collapsed" under the weight of only 3 Gallons of water. I have the strange heating spirals and it did not appreciate the weight.

Guess I'll have to move back to my outdoor plan which means I need a lot of stuff, I have yet to build so I can handle my set up...

That sucks, sorry to hear! Sounds like you need to upgrade that thing to induction instead! Then it'll help your cooking go smoother as well.

 

[Braumeise]

I am looking forward to having a gas stove one day. Right now I am renting a townhouse (one of the reasons why I ditched the outdoor plan -> neighbours!) but looks like I'll be the proud owner of a "outdoor chef" (lol!) propane burner in a couple of hours....

now I have to figure out how to make my theoretical out door set up (which I ditched for various handling reasons) workable...


Only a couple of days ago, when I drilled the holes for my mash tun set up and I thought - wow, this is a exercise worthy of buddhist patience - I wished, I had an affection for a different hobby - like knitting

Third day in a row that I have to harass the guys at the homebrew store now, to go and get my burner...

 

[stella_tigre]

I've been using our propane camp stove (basically this)

I did my partial mash on Monday, although it was small enough that the mash went into the oven at 155* in my grannyware canner...worked great! Did the boil on this stove - it barely has enough to horsepower to boil the 7 gallons, but it did the job. I'm considering getting regular brew burner, but until I think it's worth the $$ this will do instead. Did it in the garage with windows opened etc, and it smells yummy!

On a side note, I used my canning rack for holding the mash to drain, since it's in a bag. Also worked great. Wouldn't work for a real big grain bill, but I think it will work for my upcoming all grain (12-13 lbs grain.)

 

[Braumeise]

I've been using our propane camp stove (basically this)

I did my partial mash on Monday, although it was small enough that the mash went into the oven at 155* in my grannyware canner...worked great! Did the boil on this stove - it barely has enough to horsepower to boil the 7 gallons, but it did the job. I'm considering getting regular brew burner, but until I think it's worth the $$ this will do instead. Did it in the garage with windows opened etc, and it smells yummy!

On a side note, I used my canning rack for holding the mash to drain, since it's in a bag. Also worked great. Wouldn't work for a real big grain bill, but I think it will work for my upcoming all grain (12-13 lbs grain.)

Thanks Stella,

I guess I am off to my homebrew shop yet again to see what they suggest
Weather wise it will be cold but dry so I should be fine outside this sunday

 

[Braumeise]

Proud owner of a Blichmann 72000 BTU floor burner now.

Bad Ass piece of equipment. Very impressed! The little "fire devil" inside of me is very happy!

 

[SFOtoMUC]

The Mercedes of burners, fire it up!

 

[Braumeise]

The Mercedes of burners, fire it up!

haha! yeah... I thought I'd be very disappointed if I did invest in anything less sophisticated ...

still have to do my test run ...

 

[stella_tigre]

Most excellent - I hope you have a successful "test run"! You'd blow away here if you tried it outside....not like out west but still blustery and cold. Hope your weather holds until you get done.