First all grain-any last minute advice?

[ecushey]

Wife got me an awesome Top Tier setup (via a huge assist from my brewing buddy) and we are brewing our first stout tomorrow. Any tips from you old pros out there? Really looking forward to our session

 

[BigB]

Yes... Hold off on drinking until you at least have all of the hops in the boil!

 

[sanch]

Hit your mash temps
Be prepared
Sparge as slowly as you can stand!!
recirculate your mash prior to sparge (via pump or pitcher) go slow don't compact your grain bed
Have a written plan and a timer
Take thorough notes
Sanitation, Sanitation, Sanitation.
I like to have every thing clean and sanitized prior to starting so I can focus only on the task at hand.
Don't drink to much.
Have fun
and last but not least RDWHAHB.

BTW I don't claim to be an old pro by any means. I have brewed me some all grain beer, just finished one off MmMMMmmM wit biere

 

[jsled]

Have an extra gallon of hot (boiling, really) and cold water, in case you under or over shoot your mash temp. It's very frustrating to wait for water to get hot while your mash is sitting at the wrong temp, even if it's not really a big deal.

 

[Wig]

Specific all-grain stuff?

Plan for a long day
I grind my grain the day prior. How is your crush?
Before I go to bed I get my water needed measured out, in a couple pots.
Verify your strike temps
Have any software/calculations/reference material ready to go
make sure your thermometers are 'calibrated'

Understand know the process you are about to do... strike temps, how to dough in, how long to mash? what temps? how will you sparge, how do you vorlauf, how fast to drain? etc...

That's what I got off top of my head. Good luck, it is more complicated, but not that difficult. If that makes sense.

 

[Wig]

Hit your mash temps
Be prepared
Sparge as slowly as you can stand!!
recirculate your mash prior to sparge (via pump or pitcher) go slow don't compact your grain bed
Have a written plan and a timer
Take thorough notes
Sanitation, Sanitation, Sanitation.
I like to have every thing clean and sanitized prior to starting so I can focus only on the task at hand.
Don't drink to much.
Have fun
and last but not least RDWHAHB.

BTW I don't claim to be an old pro by any means. I have brewed me some all grain beer, just finished one off MmMMMmmM wit biere

Note is a good one. I write everything down I do. How much, temps, volumes... When I dough in that is 00:00. Then all my notes are time stamped

 

[Piratwolf]

Did my first last Saturday and loved it. I'd suggest you measure, grind & label all your dry ingredients the night before. Let me focus on the new process & stress less. Also first brew session where I didn't drink a hb til after.

"All your home brew are belong to us!"

 

[ecushey]

Thanks for all of the comments-yeast starter is ready and we are starting at 6 tonight

 

[cheezycow]

Dude plan on a LONG night prolly take you around 5-6 hrs.
Make sure you got plenty of ice if use an immersion chiller/water bath....good luck

Thanks for all of the comments-yeast starter is ready and we are starting at 6 tonight

 

[sanch]

good luck !!!