Yet Another First All-Grain Batch

[caphector]

Brewing up a batch of Ó Flannagáin Standard's stout. Mash tun is an Igloo Ice Cube cooler, using a turkey fryer burner + pot.

Mash started about 4°F hot (158 rather than 154) but I was able to drop it pretty quickly with some cool water. Temp seems to be holding well.

I think I mashed in with ~3.5 gallons of watter, and I'll be sparging with another 3 gallons or so. If I don't hit my volumes I've got some extra water heated up.

Mash'll be done in ~15 minutes. Then sparging and hoping I hit my gravity.

 

[oldrepublic]

Nice! Keep us update. I can't wait to move to all-grain soon.

 

[caphector]

Just ran off first runnings. My three-year-old nephew is telling me it smells good, and the gravity is ~1.069. Very dark brown, and I'm getting a bit concerned that I'll go over my target gravity.

It occured to me a couple minutes ago that I was far more anxious about nailing my technique on my first batch of extract beer. This has been comparatively relaxing. Might be all the time I've spent reading about technique.

 

[thunder]

Once you go all grain you will love the results!

 

[caphector]

Next update: Second runnings are 1.020; that gave me ~6.5 gallons of wort at 1.037. That's one gallon over my expected pre-boil gravity.

Target OG is 1.043, so I don't think I'll have too many problems boiling off enough to hit that.

P.S. I plan to post some pics later, if they turned out well.

 

[thunder]

Next update: Second runnings are 1.020; that gave me ~6.5 gallons of wort at 1.037. That's one gallon over my expected pre-boil gravity.

Target OG is 1.043, so I don't think I'll have too many problems boiling off enough to hit that.

P.S. I plan to post some pics later, if they turned out well.

6.5 gallons is about right on!:rockin:

 

[caphector]

Er, I meant to say I'm 1 point over my pre-boil gravity. My pre-boil volume (if I estimated right) is roughly where it should be.

 

[caphector]

And last update: Cooling went fine, but boil-off was a bit more than I expected. I was aiming to get 5.5 gallons in carboy, but only got 5 gallons.

Other than that, it went great. Maybe one point off on my pitching gravity, but that's not signifigant. Overall, first all-grain brew-day went well.