I just started brewing after a 3 year hiatus. New house, children, working on the new house and everything that goes along with it put brewing way far back on the burner.
When I stopped, I was brewing AG in a converted igloo cooler all in my basement, it was getting pretty good, but what a pain in a completely inadequate area.
I'm getting things back in motion, and still have my 15.5 gal keggle with false bottom, and have decided to go back to extract brewing to keep the time involved down since I have lots of other things to do. I have a big enough garage now to eventually dedicate a nice section to a brewing kitchen! - It's so nice doing things in the garage where a mess isn't a big deal if it happens.
My process goes like this:
Add a few gallons to brew pot, steep grains; while doing that, I add the extract to some water in my previous hot liquor kettle, to dissolve and pre-heat the extract. Once the grains are done, I open up the spigot on my liquor tank, and combine the 2. I figured I would have to do it this way with a false bottom, or I would be asking for a huge scorching problem.
I only did 5 gal. on my first batch, but am planning on stepping up to 10 after one more run.
The only thing I might do next time is to whirlpool the grain water and open the spigot on the boiling kettle to maybe suck some of the husk or grit left over from steeping the grains out of my boiling pot. Seems like it might be a good idea, who knows
I also keg everything, and am planning to start washing yeast.
My main goal is to find a couple great recipies, and buy double batches for brewing every 2 months, and live off my own supply. I really missed brewing during my off years, and am very excited to be back in business
Anyway, that's a little about me. Also into my 68 chevy truck, hunting, computers, all kinds of hobbies now that I think about it.
This looks like a great site! I've been reading off and on for hours at a time!
When I stopped, I was brewing AG in a converted igloo cooler all in my basement, it was getting pretty good, but what a pain in a completely inadequate area.
I'm getting things back in motion, and still have my 15.5 gal keggle with false bottom, and have decided to go back to extract brewing to keep the time involved down since I have lots of other things to do. I have a big enough garage now to eventually dedicate a nice section to a brewing kitchen! - It's so nice doing things in the garage where a mess isn't a big deal if it happens.
My process goes like this:
Add a few gallons to brew pot, steep grains; while doing that, I add the extract to some water in my previous hot liquor kettle, to dissolve and pre-heat the extract. Once the grains are done, I open up the spigot on my liquor tank, and combine the 2. I figured I would have to do it this way with a false bottom, or I would be asking for a huge scorching problem.
I only did 5 gal. on my first batch, but am planning on stepping up to 10 after one more run.
The only thing I might do next time is to whirlpool the grain water and open the spigot on the boiling kettle to maybe suck some of the husk or grit left over from steeping the grains out of my boiling pot. Seems like it might be a good idea, who knows
I also keg everything, and am planning to start washing yeast.
My main goal is to find a couple great recipies, and buy double batches for brewing every 2 months, and live off my own supply. I really missed brewing during my off years, and am very excited to be back in business
Anyway, that's a little about me. Also into my 68 chevy truck, hunting, computers, all kinds of hobbies now that I think about it.
This looks like a great site! I've been reading off and on for hours at a time!
