My first AG batch

[Gridlocked]

Hey everyone,

I brewed my first all grain batch today with the help of Paulasarus. It was quite a bit easier than I thought it would be, most likely because of Paul's experience and help, but it went really well. The first mash temp was a bit low, so we added some boiling water that I had heated to pre-heat the mash tun. Unfortunately that brought it up a bit to high, but with some stirring and some room temperature water, we got it down around 156 which is a bit high, but oh well. Target was 154. The only other glitch was a tiny stuck sparge but I introduced some air into the hose and it cleared out easily.

I REALLY enjoyed the process, and it was the most fun I've had brewing in a long time. I have nothing at all against extract, but this is what I'll be doing from now on. I was a bit anxious, like most considering going to AG, but it really wasn't as complicated as I thought it would be. The simple software that I have on my phone helped, but it was really quite simple.

Here are the ingredients - 14lbs of grain and 13oz of Hops.

I made this late on Friday night with wood that was laying around my garage and the casters from my creeper. Total time spent, about 5 beers:

And here I am making the magic happen:

 

[IndyRob]

Congrats on the conversion! You are in the drivers seat from now on when it comes to making your brew. Good stuff!

 

[Brew-boy]

Nice job and welcome to the dark side.

 

[kegtoe]

13 ouces of hops?!?!?!?!?!

 

[dmob29]

13 ouces of hops?!?!?!?!?!

Indeeed!
Is this the Hop Bomb kit from AHS? I saw a similar recipe using leaf hops instead of pellets, I think it was called Hop Sludge, cause that is what is left after your boil!!

Congrats on your 1st AG!!

 

[Gridlocked]

Yes sir, 13oz. It's a recipe that Paul has brewed a couple times and REALLY enjoyed. There sure was a THICK hop sludge after the boil. It's bubbling away as of this morning. 90% of the hops are added within the last 20 minutes, so bursting really helps in this case.

Thanks everyone! I REALLY enjoyed it!!! I'm really a "throw some stuff into a pot and see what happens" kind of brewer, so this should really broaden my horizons and yield some interesting brews. Other than going from bottling to kegging, this was the best move i've made in a long time. And, my dogs appreciate the abundance of grain.

 

[Paulasaurus]

Updates Ted! Any pictures of the hefty dry hop? Can't wait to brew it again myself as i've had lots of request for a re-brew. And yup not an AHS recipe its one I wrote up.

I'll get you to use a hydrometer yet Ted!

 

[Gridlocked]

I moved this brew (which has since been named White Lightning ****1e Juice) to the keg last night and MAN, did it smell awesome. I don't have enough room in my fridge for it now, but I hope to take care of that
"problem" in the next day or two :cross:. I can't wait to get it cold and try some.

I brewed my second A.G. batch over the weekend and it would have went great if I hadn't run out of propane twice. I fried my brew tank while heating up the strike water and then ran out of the tank I stole from the grill with about 15 minutes left in the boil. I also realized my CO2 tank was empty, so needless to say, I didn't have gas.

I used the Brewzor app on my phone and was 1 degree high on my mash temp and spot on for my sparge temp and volume. MAN, technology makes it easy.

 

[manoaction]

That's awesome, and I like your pictures. I just switched to all grain last weekend. I spent part of the day converting my cooler into a mash tun and the rest finding out that I should have made the switch sooner.

Mine is still the primary, fingers crossed that it comes out as good as it smells.