Playing with it for the first time!!!!!!

[JDXX1971]

I blame YOU!!!!! All of you!!!

Especially Jaybird and Bobby M. The rest of you are just as guilty though, being influences and all.

 

[R_Horn]

I like it

 

[JDXX1971]

I would also like to blame the guys at More Beer, Wilserbrewer, and YOU, yes you, all of you guys again. I could have never done it without your input here on the forums.

I am getting ready to brew my first batch ever!!!! I have run leak test, boil off rates and even checked to see how well the Duda Diesel B3-23A chiller works. So far everything seems all good. Now I am going to run a mild batch of PBW through it all, give it a good rinse and get ready to brew.

Thank you everybody, I am sure to be looking for lot's of help as I get this thing dialed in. More pics to come..,.......

 

[passedpawn]

Oooh shiney. Looks like fun.

 

[Transamguy77]

Nice rig! Enjoy your first brew day! Remember don't stress and have fun, you'll end up with beer.

 

[JDXX1971]

First brew day is scheduled for tomorrow morning. Brewing equipment has been tested and cleaned. Grains are crushed and ready to brew thanks to NorCal Brewing Solutions. I will be making a Maris Otter/Willamette SMASH for my first brew.

I have read way to much for my own good and playing with the system today I realized I am pretty much lost. Gotta use the KISS method for this one for sure. I know enough to be dangerous but I think I can pull this off. I am actually about to make beer!!!!!!!

Nothing to it but to do it ...............Right???????

 

[JDXX1971]

Yesterday was a wash, ended up helping SWMBO with her plans instead. Today is the day, going to make some BEER!!!!! Now wifey will have time to get involved and help me too. I am excited, have been working towards this day for months!!!!

 

[Rockn_M]

Yesterday was a wash, ended up helping SWMBO with her plans instead. Today is the day, going to make some BEER!!!!! Now wifey will have time to get involved and help me too. I am excited, have been working towards this day for months!!!!

Good Luck!

 

[JDXX1971]

Good Luck!

Thank you!!! I am hoping it all goes smoothly.

 

[Inkleg]

I have no problem being your accomplice or your alibi, which ever you need.
Good luck with your brew day.

 

[JDXX1971]

Strike water is heating NOW!!!!!!

 

[JDXX1971]

Ok, quick poll. Start re-circulation right away or wait 15 min?

 

[wilserbrewer]

Looks like gas fired w/out temp control? So you want to recirculate and manually fire the burner?

Slippery slope....

I was going to suggest you heat strike to 160, put your thermometer away, dough in and walk away for an hour...
lol

 

[JDXX1971]

Yep, That sounds easier. I was just talking with my wife about that. I figure I want to try it, gonna go real easy with the heat. Next time I am gonna trow our jackets over it and see what happens.

Gonna go give it one more stir now.

Oh and I decided to just go ahead and start the re circulation.

Gonna be BEER!!! no matter what.

 

[Kent88]

I didn't know what to expect with a subject line like that. I was a little worried.

 

[JDXX1971]

Wort is boiling, hop spider is in. looking good. SWMBO re hydrated the s-04 for me and it is taking off. Next hop addition in 25 min. Sanitizing the fermenter now.

 

[JDXX1971]

Boil is done, 0 min hops are in whirlpool. Gonna give it 20 min and turn the chiller water on and put it in the fermenter.

 

[JDXX1971]

Then I think I am gonna start round 2, a Red Hook ESB clone. Quick rinse and get er done.

 

[JDXX1971]

I think I hit my numbers pretty good. I forgot to look at my volumes end of mash and boil but it looks like my fermenter has about 6.5 gallons in it which is my target and O.G. was 1.054 .003 off the 1.057 goal. pretty good I think.

Round 2 strike water is heating now.

 

[JDXX1971]

Looks like we ended up with between 6.5/6.75 gallons in the fermenter at 1.054 which is about perfect.



I am having a lot of fun with this, cant wait to try our beer!!!

 

[JDXX1971]

40 minutes left to the boil on this second batch. I am getting tired now........But still having fun!!!!

 

[jcav]

Wow looks like a great first day with your new system! Nice Job!

John

 

[JDXX1971]

Last batch had 0 minutes hops so I whirlpooled them for 20 min. Not sure that was the right thing to do, it was still pretty hot. This batch has a 2 min addition I am thinking I will just flame out and run it through the cooler into the fermenter at the end of the boil. W
What do you all think?

 

[JDXX1971]

Wow looks like a great first day with your new system! Nice Job!

John

Thank you, I am trying really hard. :rockin::rockin:

There is so much left out though but I figure I can add more to the process later. (water profile, mash ph and ect.)

 

[jcav]

Thank you, I am trying really hard. :rockin::rockin:

There is so much left out though but I figure I can add more to the process later. (water profile, mash ph and ect.)

That's ok, you have to jump in at some point. You will fine tune it as you go and each step you take to make your process even better will make your beer improve even more. Everyone's budget is different. If you can afford it though you should try and get a ph meter so you can nail down your mash ph. That, sanitation and fermentation temp control really made my beers take off when I was learning and improving as I went along. Good Luck!

John

 

[JDXX1971]

T- 20 minutes and this batch will be in the fermenter.

 

[JDXX1971]

That's ok, you have to jump in at some point. You will fine tune it as you go and each step you take to make your process even better will make your beer improve even more. Everyone's budget is different. If you can afford it though you should try and get a ph meter so you can nail down your mash ph. That, sanitation and fermentation temp control really made my beers take off when I was learning and improving as I went along. Good Luck!

John

Yep, ph meter is next on my list for sure. That and a water test so I at least know where I am starting from.

 

[jcav]

Yep, ph meter is next on my list for sure. That and a water test so I at least know where I am starting from.

That's awesome, your already on your way then and are ahead of many here on this site!

John

 

[JDXX1971]

Got exactly 6.5 gallons this batch o.g. is 1.053 goal was 1.058. Not too shabby I would say.

 

[user 125772]

It's beer ! Congrats