Tekforums
Chat => General Discussion => Topic started by: matt5cott on October 17, 2017, 20:38:16 PM
-
Come on Egg, show us what you've got :)
-
what do you need to know?
Grainfather & Boiler
(https://scontent.flhr3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19396977_10155282105316259_7219604484814551063_n.jpg?oh=b4e4ccaab1bfd9db6a693eabff1de512&oe=5A6E678A)
Mashing
(https://scontent.flhr3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19396615_10155282384441259_1521936833285450132_n.jpg?oh=849f108a0a729489c4928f924d142342&oe=5A8071CE)
Cooling the wort
(https://scontent.flhr3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19260755_10155282774291259_1043615234234942801_n.jpg?oh=f0f7e70b866e56f926883d95c39719ca&oe=5A8850A4)
fermenting in temperature controlled chamber (ie a Fridge with a greenhouse heater installed & an Inkbird that switches between chilling (fridge) & heating to regulate the temp.
(https://scontent.flhr3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21617563_10155567822866259_7501095132528735557_n.jpg?oh=f8e1bdde592d773023f38ef28b8c8c4c&oe=5A87ABBA)
My old Beer fridge - have since swapped to a small chest freezer as the fridge would not go bellow 5c - so could not make lagers.
(https://scontent.flhr3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19665691_10155314278246259_3708637186412571003_n.jpg?oh=9ad96aa641949dd46bf4ff67ee66c9b5&oe=5A718104)
& after about 4-6 weeks
Beer
(https://scontent.flhr3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22308870_10155614793066259_8407560488472871461_n.jpg?oh=69128ef1b2ac687d26cf407230274559&oe=5A7F0491)
-
Thanks for the pics, that looks wicked 8)
Your pictures have answered one of my questions, does it take up a lot of space, it appears so with all the associated gubbins.
My mates have done cheap kit beers or modded kit beers before, I'm curious with this as it appears to be full mash is it "easy" enough to get a pub quality brew out if it?
edit - I've spotted you have mini kegged some, is this easy/expensive? One of my concerns about full mash brewing at home is you end up with a shed load of beer, and not too much time to drink it before it goes off!
-
Thanks for the pics, that looks wicked 8)
Your pictures have answered one of my questions, does it take up a lot of space, it appears so with all the associated gubbins.
There is also a Klarstein (and sold under numerous other names - ie a chinese cheaper copy)
It does not take up a lot of room if you are neat & tidy. all the extras can take up room. You dont need a fermenting chamber.
Just I keep everything in the shed & was throwing out a fridge!
Lots of pics of peoples setup here
https://www.flickr.com/photos/grainfatherstandsmods/with/33559804776/
I personally like this one
https://flic.kr/p/T8yLKJ
which is actually The Malt Miller who do brew days for £100 & you get to take home 23 litres of Punk IPA clone. based in Wiltshire.
My mates have done cheap kit beers or modded kit beers before, I'm curious with this as it appears to be full mash is it "easy" enough to get a pub quality brew out if it?
Yes very much easy to get a proper ale.
I have heard of breweries using them to make small sample batches for experimenting. As well as lots of home brewers winning awards in competitions, etc.
edit - I've spotted you have mini kegged some, is this easy/expensive? One of my concerns about full mash brewing at home is you end up with a shed load of beer, and not too much time to drink it before it goes off!
Minikegs empty are around £5-6 each. Considering grocery stores usually sell them full of beer for £10, it may be better get a £10 one. drink the contents & re-use it!
Filling is easy enough. But I didnt like the process & have switched to Cornelius Kegs (the tall silver things in the cooling pic) - this holds 19litres & is on tap.
I do plan on getting a smaller keg to take with me to any parties, etc.
-
This is my keg (My shed is a mess atm as I had to store a lot of stuff & not had chance to clear it out!)
(https://scontent.flhr3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22491643_10155634229796259_2707726990649260570_n.jpg?oh=06c67a2de1208bca9b936fc309c5769c&oe=5A7B1987)
(https://scontent.flhr3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22489869_10155634229801259_8543022580874527976_n.jpg?oh=d0c4c1175d646be6d5e6646dffba3f2a&oe=5A722A77)
-
oh & it can also be used for ......
https://www.grainfather.com/blog/Week128-Making-Whiskey-with-the-Grainfather/
-
But don't get caught with a still by the police...
Alternative is to freeze out the alcohol, which seems to work well enough.
Most lager is brewed at 10C then stored to condition at a lower temperature, none of them aim for below zero. My fridge, although not as large can freeze milk if set to too low a temperature....
Edit: and if you really want to be swanky about it research molecular sieves :)
-
But don't get caught with a still by the police...
Alternative is to freeze out the alcohol, which seems to work well enough.
Most lager is brewed at 10C then stored to condition at a lower temperature, none of them aim for below zero. My fridge, although not as large can freeze milk if set to too low a temperature....
Edit: and if you really want to be swanky about it research molecular sieves :)
Current batch is set to 11c (Pilsner lager)
my kegs are set at 3c in the freezer. 5c was not cold enough to cold crash - so I could not do everything in the one unit.. As for Sieving, not really needed as I use gelatin to clear.
Plus as I ferment under pressure, I would not want to loose all my natural carbonation of co2.
Its quite easy to regulate temperature with an inkbird.
Plug in something to heat (i use a greenhouse heater - others use a lightbulb with a large tin!) & plug in something to cool (Fridge or Freezer).
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/8143NHG9kPL._SL1500_.jpg)
-
I used to have an immersion heater, same sort of thing as used to heat water in boilers, bit like a large kettle element. If it wasn't controlled it would easily boil 5 gallons of water doing a mash.
Only did it in winter in a highly insulated but small shed. Unfortunately don't have any of it now. Last time I made beer was in the 1980s.
Problem was you often had to use stuff that wasn't intended for making beer. Soda siphon did come in useful for the occasional 'emergency conditioning' but you had to clean it carefully afterwards.