First all grain batch this weekend - any advice?

[fiveohmike]

So I got most of my equipment now...still missing my last burner but that will be in a couple of weeks.

So I am using a 15Gallon Boil Kettle/HLT and a 15 Gallon Mash Tun (both thick stainless, triclad bottom).

I will be using the HLT to heat sparge and mash water. I will mash for 60 minutes (stiring every 20 minutes).

I will drain into a 6.5 gallon bucket (batch sparge x2). I will then drain back into HLT now servering as boil kettle and ferment as normal.

Mash volume - 4.5G @ 159 degree - Target 148 degrees
Sparge volume - 4.0Gallons (168 degree water)

Batch volume 6.5 gallons
5.5 Gallons in the fermentor

Recipe - Pliny the Elder clone with a few things to take down some of the Ibu's:

13 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM
1 lbs Cara-Pils/Dextrine (2.0 SRM
6.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 40L (40.0 SRM)

2.00 oz Cascade [5.50 %] - Mash 60.0 min Hop 4 5.3 IBUs

1 lbs Corn Sugar (Dextrose) (0.0 SRM) Sugar 5 6.5 %

2.00 oz Magnum [14.00 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 6 86.2 IBUs

1.00 oz Simcoe [13.00 %] - Boil 30.0 min Hop 8 26.5 IBUs
1.00oz Columbus (Tomahawk) - Boil 15.0 min 13.2IBUs
2.00 oz Centennial [10.00 %] - Boil 0.0 min Hop 9 0.0 IBUs
1.00 oz Simcoe [13.00 %] - Boil 0.0 min Hop 10 0.0 IBUs

3.00 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.00 %] - Dry Hop 5.0 Days
1.00 oz Centennial [10.00 %] - Dry Hop 5.0 Days Hop 13
1.00 oz Simcoe [13.00 %] - Dry Hop 1.0 Days Hop 14

Yeast WLP001

Est Original Gravity: 1.076 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.010 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 8.5 %
Bitterness: 144.7 IBUs
Est Color: 5.9 SRM



Any tips and what do you think? Am I on the right track for my first all grain?

 

[Bucky_Brewer]

The best advice I can give you is to rope-in a helper.

You're going to learn a lot of things on your first run, some things about the process and some things about your system.

Where the helper really comes in handy is when you're hot-and-heavy in the process, and, say, you start sparging, and you suddenly realize that the hose that you thought fit well doesn't fit as well as you thought, and it keeps sliding off its nipple -- or whatever, you know.

Well, if you have a helper, they can hold the hose in place while you're holding the bucket steady because it keeps trying to slide off its perch -- or whatever, you know.

Or maybe you just need somebody to stir the mash while you're doing some other thing.

Anyway, ideally you will learn where your process or your equipment needs a few tweaks, you make those changes later, when you have all the time in the world to make changes, and the second run will go a whole lot better.

But, yeah, on that first run, you're really gonna be glad you have an extra set of hands around.

 

[catdaddy66]

A helper is very valuable the first time or two you brew all grain, just to be available for last second surprises. Also, use a bit more water than the calculations say. Even if the math is right, a quart or two of extra wort can be saved for another starter, some for priming at bottling time, etc. my calculations are made at 1.4 qt/lb of grain instead of the normal 1-1.25 qt/lb.

I'm doing my 10th all grain batch and have the process down to a smooth operation. The ingredients may change but the process will be the same for each brewer, so commit to refining the how more than anything else.

Good luck!


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[Allergic2hops]

I am on my third AG batch and the thing that helped me the most was this, what ever happened that was different I didn't change my method. By this I mean, we all have found what works with our equipment by the time you go to AG. Stick with that. AG isn't all that different from extract when you just look at your brewing method. You do all the same stuff except times are longer and temps are more critical. My first AG was spectacular, second ... well the jurys still out on that one and my third is in the fermentor. Just my opinion, hope it helps.

 

[fiveohmike]

Thanks guys, I am headed to the brew store to pick up some new tubing, new gaskets for all equipment, ect. Gonna clean today, then sanitize in the morning and prep.

Nervous but excited!

 

[Kirkwooder]

One more piece of advise, get ready to be amazed, and broke. AG is way better than extract. So much so, that your going to want to be brewing every weekend.

Oh yeah, and expect to make a day of it. I was amazed at how much longer it takes to brew a batch of AG.

 

[catdaddy66]

One more piece of advise, get ready to be amazed, and broke. AG is way better than extract. So much so, that your going to want to be brewing every weekend.

Oh yeah, and expect to make a day of it. I was amazed at how much longer it takes to brew a batch of AG.

My first AG brew took almost 7 hours! Now I've got that dialed in to about 5, and it's a leisurely 5 hours at that. I do a number of other things during the mash and boil... Sanitize all equipment, make breakfast for SWMBO and myself, make wort for starters, etc. I get a lot done.

Good times...!


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[jekeane]

Take notes especially on your volumes and times so you can figure out your equipment.

 

[fiveohmike]

Hey Guys,

Updated my recipe numbers (decided to not change the clone recipe too much, minus the boil time).

However I have a question about Dead Space in the mash tun. I just measured it and its 1.0654 gallons. I added the deadspace to the "lauter tun" deadspace box in the equipment profile for my equipment, however the mash water calculations did not change.

Anyone know how to get this to work right?

 

[fiveohmike]

Also according to Beersmith, i had put my trub/chiller loss at 0.5G. This has bumped my preboil to almost 7.2 gallons...does that sound right? This is for 5G bottling volume (.5G loss to fermentor)

 

[fiveohmike]

Thirdly, here is my mash profile for a Pliny Clone (including the 1 Gallon Mash Tun deadspace).

So I will be using almost 9.83 Gallons of water to get to 5G bottling. Seems high


Mash Profile

Mash Name: Single Infusion, Light Body, Batch Sparge MINE
Sparge Water: 3.83 gal
Sparge Temperature: 168.0 F
Adjust Temp for Equipment: TRUE


Total Grain Weight: 15 lbs 6.0 oz
Grain Temperature: 72.0 F
Tun Temperature: 72.0 F
Mash PH: 5.20

Mash Steps


Name

Description

Step Temperature

Step Time

Mash In Add 6gal of water at 157.3 F 148.0 F 60 min (Grain/Water ration 1.4qt per lb. )

Sparge: Batch sparge with 2 steps (Drain mash tun , 3.83gal) of 168.0 F water
Mash Notes: Simple single infusion mash for use with most modern well modified grains (about 95% of the time).

 

[kh54s10]

You need to figure your boil off rate. Wider, shallower pots or hotter burners will boil off more. I need 7.2 to get just over 5 gallons into the fermenter.

I use a gauge stick marked off in gallons. I measure after the mash to determine how much sparge water I need.

Then you can fine tune the numbers in the equipment setup.




Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[Cyclman]

Calibrate your thermometer!

 

[Gnomebrewer]

My advice is to stop now. AG beer tastes bad and it is long and boring to make.

I'd be happy to help out by storing those 15gal stainless pots at my place!


Seriously, enjoy the day. There will be things that don't go how you expect (on my first batch I missed the temp by 4C and the sparge stuck so I had to blow on it then realised the ball valve was broken) but the beer will still be good. Probably really good.

 

[fiveohmike]

You need to figure your boil off rate. Wider, shallower pots or hotter burners will boil off more. I need 7.2 to get just over 5 gallons into the fermenter.

I use a gauge stick marked off in gallons. I measure after the mash to determine how much sparge water I need.

Then you can fine tune the numbers in the equipment setup.




Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

Just got done doing that, calibrated all thermo's!

 

[fiveohmike]

You need to figure your boil off rate. Wider, shallower pots or hotter burners will boil off more. I need 7.2 to get just over 5 gallons into the fermenter.

I use a gauge stick marked off in gallons. I measure after the mash to determine how much sparge water I need.

Then you can fine tune the numbers in the equipment setup.




Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

My boil off rate, on a low rolling boil, is ~1.1G in an hour.

 

[fiveohmike]

My advice is to stop now. AG beer tastes bad and it is long and boring to make.

I'd be happy to help out by storing those 15gal stainless pots at my place!


Seriously, enjoy the day. There will be things that don't go how you expect (on my first batch I missed the temp by 4C and the sparge stuck so I had to blow on it then realised the ball valve was broken) but the beer will still be good. Probably really good.

These 15G's from more beer (http://morebeer.com/products/15-gallon-stainless-mash-tun.html) are like works of art! I need one more, but I need to get my sculputre stand soon.

Its a money pit....but man...drinking your own beer is one of the most satisfying things ever. I am not in this to save money lol, its the sense of accomplishment