UnBrewsual's First Brew Day

[UnBrewsual]

So today was the day I decided to use the stuff I bought.

Made an Irish Red from Northern Brewer with White Labs Irish yeast.

It is now in a 6.5 gal carboy in a chest freezer with my home made STC-1000 controller.

Everything went OK I think but made a few mistakes.

Mistakes:

Start with more water, I started with 6 gallons for a 5 gallon batch, but ended up adding 1 more, next time I will start with 7.

I need to get a clip for the paint strainer nylon bags I used (ordered an SS chip bag clip on eBay). because while steeping it fell over and I lost a small amount of grains into the water.

Read all the directions before starting, I accidentally put the aroma hops in at 10 min instead of 1 min.

I really could have used strainer for my funnel (for the grain spill), I tried throwing a paint strainer bag into the funnel but it really jammed up.

Test the home made STC-1000 controller before trying to use it, I had to take it apart and redo the wiring to find the problem (loose wire in wing nut)

Print C to F conversion chart for STC-1000.

Other notes:

I used the water from my wort chiller to water the lawn. It was strong enough to slowly power a sprinkler.

By miracle when setting the propane for the 60 min rolling boil I happen to set it to the exact spot I needed to maintain a boil without any boil over :rockin:

Anyway, thats my story and I am sticking to it.

 

[jlvgolf]

Sounds like a successful day! For the temp controller I just remember that 20C is 68F and ferment my ales there.

 

[arnobg]

Good idea on the sprinkler. I've only done two brews so far so don't listen to me, but I put the exit tube for my wort chiller in the top of empty 1 gallon jugs that I save and use that water to clean and soak bottles etc... or to fill empty gatorade bottles and freeze to have ice packs. I like to the use those ice packs to give the kettle an ice bath while also using a wort chiller on the next batch.

I learned in my last batch not to use paint strainers to filter the beer (had lots of hop additions) when transferring to fermentation bucket. It just got clogged and I ended up losing some beer due to it.

 

[UnBrewsual]

I learned in my last batch not to use paint strainers to filter the beer (had lots of hop additions) when transferring to fermentation bucket. It just got clogged and I ended up losing some beer due to it.

Exactly, I ordered a fine mesh colander for future use

 

[arnobg]

Exactly, I ordered a fine mesh colander for future use

I'm interested to hear how this turns out if you could come back to this after you try.

 

[ChelisHubby]

your beer will be fine,

 

[AkTom]

Anyway, thats my story and I am sticking to it.[/QUOTE]

That's better than your story sticking to you.
Brew on.
Tom

 

[Resonator]

I really could have used strainer for my funnel (for the grain spill), I tried throwing a paint strainer bag into the funnel but it really jammed up.

Don't bother using a strainer, it will always clog up. It's just not worth it IMHO.

 

[pricelessbrewing]

Sounds like a successful first brew day.

To get your water volumes accurate you should use a ruler to measure the height, and use a good calculator like mine or beersmith. You can find mine in my blog in my sig under calculators.

I used binder clips to hold my bag in place for a long time.

Like others said, don'bother with the strainer it's not worth the effort.

 

[petey_c]

Unbrewsual, Overall it sounds like a good day. Are you making all grain or partial? I do partial/mini mashes. I use some butcher's twine (sanitized with Star San) and tie my grain bag closed and let it float around. Every ten minutes or so, I give the wort/grains a stir. I use the output of my immersion chiller (after the first minute or so) to fill the sink. When the sink looks like it's going to overflow, I drain the sink and start over. After the boil and cool down. I use a paint strainer to filter my wort. Yes it does get clogged, but I roll the bag around to an unclogged spot to drain more wort. I tap or shake (or both) to get the hops to drop off the side of the bag. Then I tilt the bag and drain some more liquid. I also use Whirlfloc to help more "stuff" drop out of suspension. It's only a real PITA if your recipe is hop heavy. I made a Heady Topper clone that had about 10 Oz. of hops (not counting dry hopping). That was tough going for awhile.

 

[UnBrewsual]

I am thinking that a colander would work well as I can shut the ball valve and dump it out when it clogs. We will see next time around.

 

[RobbyComstock]

Sounds like you had a great brew day. Let us know how you beer comes out.

 

[UnBrewsual]

Well, fermenting is done, Carbonation is done. Time for my first pour and....its pretty darn tasty. This was a triumph.

 

[KPBrews]

Congrats!

 

[Resonator]

Congrats

 

[UnBrewsual]

I'm interested to hear how this turns out if you could come back to this after you try.

The fine mesh collander worked out great for my 2nd beer. Because it has shape, it was easy to stop the flow on the kettle then grab it and dump out what it had caught then put it back in the funnel and resume.