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[Craig_]

Strong alcohol taste is because of the 2kg of Dextrose you added to each brew. Dextrose gives alcohol and just that. No body, no mouthfeel, no flavour.



Not in these beers made with dextrose. A 6% beer without the balanced BU:GU numbers to back up that ABV will always be boozy.

Can you use a hydrometer that tests brix (-5 to 5) to test your beer rather than the one that measures SG(I think)?

 

[Toxxyc]

Can you use a hydrometer that tests brix (-5 to 5) to test your beer rather than the one that measures SG(I think)?

I'm not sure what that has to do with my post, TBH

Brix is just another unit of measurement. So you can measure your beer in liters or gallons, but it's going to be the same volume. Same with hydrometers. One will measure in brix, another in specific gravity, but it's going to be the same numbers in the end.

 

[Craig_]

I'm not sure what that has to do with my post, TBH

Brix is just another unit of measurement. So you can measure your beer in liters or gallons, but it's going to be the same volume. Same with hydrometers. One will measure in brix, another in specific gravity, but it's going to be the same numbers in the end.

Thanks. I'm asking you because I remember you as the beer kit guy for some reason. Sorry if I've got the wrong person. You are quite knowledgably though so I seem to have sort of got the right person.

 

[Toxxyc]

Hehe yeah I'm the beer kit guy. Did you order a kit from me?

 

[Craig_]

Hehe yeah I'm the beer kit guy. Did you order a kit from me?

No, I saw your posts on the 4x4 forum. Then I read a few posts here that made me think that that has to be you. I'm sort of figuring out my way around making beer with dry goods I can get locally. First beer was a bit iffy though. Want to start a new batch this week.

 

[Russell S]

Can anyone here who has experience with the Grainfather G30 give me some advice?

I recently bought one and on my first brew found that the hop pellets clogged the system during the cooling phase. I did screw up in thinking that I needed to recirculate back into the unit until it cooled so I suspect that the continuous re-circulation caused my problems. I now know that I should have just pumped it straight to the fermenter.

That said - it does seem like I need to do something different when using hop pellets. Should I just use a hop bag / spider?

 

[Toxxyc]

No, I saw your posts on the 4x4 forum. Then I read a few posts here that made me think that that has to be you. I'm sort of figuring out my way around making beer with dry goods I can get locally. First beer was a bit iffy though. Want to start a new batch this week.

So, what equipment do you have so far? Do you do BIAB, or do you do traditional all grain? Kits?

 

[SykomantiS]

Can anyone here who has experience with the Grainfather G30 give me some advice?

I recently bought one and on my first brew found that the hop pellets clogged the system during the cooling phase. I did screw up in thinking that I needed to recirculate back into the unit until it cooled so I suspect that the continuous re-circulation caused my problems. I now know that I should have just pumped it straight to the fermenter.

That said - it does seem like I need to do something different when using hop pellets. Should I just use a hop bag / spider?

I have a G30 (although also fairly newish) I would suggest trying a whirlpool, about 10 - 15 minutes or so, before switching on the recirc pump. This should give most of hop matter chance to settle away from the pump.

 

[Toxxyc]

I've also started the planning of my first Irish Red Ale this week. Malts ordered yesterday, and I'm hoping it'll be here early next week. I'm building a recipe very much to my own taste, so let's see how it turns out. So far I have the following:

Grain Bill (double batch, 42l):
4kg Pale Malt
3kg Pilsner Malt
300g Munich Type 1
300g Munich Type 2
250g Roasted Barley

Hop profile:
Now, because the IRA is traditionally VERY low in hop aroma and flavour (usually non-existent). I have found that I can pick up subtle flavours though, even when hops are boiled for 60 minutes, so I'm sticking to style and going with Nugget.

22g Nugget @ 60minutes

Mash guidelines:
Aiming for a sweeter, more malty finish, so I'll be mashing a bit higher than usual. US-05 is pretty neutral and attenuates high, and I don't want a bone dry beer here.

Mash 40min @ 68°C
Mashout 20 min @ 72°C

Fermentation:
S-05, at room temperature. We're entering cooler temperatures so I'm not worried about fermentation temperature too much. Might slip it into a cooler box with ice blocks to keep the temp down (fermentation fridge is busy with a lager), but I'm not going to be too worried here).

Will be clarified and bottled with low carbonation as per style (easier drinking). Hoping to hit around 5% ABV on this one, maybe a tad less.

Malts delivered for this. I'm slightly playing with the recipe, tuning the pale/pils malts to 50/50, upping the Munich malts and reducing the roasted barley. I'm also not going to be fermenting it with a lager yeast, and not an ale yeast in the end.

Finally, I've got a client who's interested in the recipe so he's buying the other half of this double batch from me. Whoohoo!

 

[Russell S]

I have a G30 (although also fairly newish) I would suggest trying a whirlpool, about 10 - 15 minutes or so, before switching on the recirc pump. This should give most of hop matter chance to settle away from the pump.

Thanks. I was also thinking of buying a fine mesh sieve from a kitchen shop to try to remove as much of the hop sludge as possible before chilling. It will be a small miracle if my first batch is not infected as I ended up transferring it all by scooping - lessons learned.

 

[Toxxyc]

Thanks. I was also thinking of buying a fine mesh sieve from a kitchen shop to try to remove as much of the hop sludge as possible before chilling. It will be a small miracle if my first batch is not infected as I ended up transferring it all by scooping - lessons learned.

Get a hop spider or hop bag. It's just not worth it to struggle like that.

 

[Craig_]

So, what equipment do you have so far? Do you do BIAB, or do you do traditional all grain? Kits?

I have nothing. Used a pot to cook the malt, will use grain next time. I think I might have to book some or other course. You don't do online beer making courses?

What's your website url again?

 

[Toxxyc]

I have nothing. Used a pot to cook the malt, will use grain next time. I think I might have to book some or other course. You don't do online beer making courses?

What's your website url again?

Where are you situated? Interested in a "how to" course from myself held at my house? Will answer 99% of your questions, I can almost guarantee it.

 

[SykomantiS]

Thanks. I was also thinking of buying a fine mesh sieve from a kitchen shop to try to remove as much of the hop sludge as possible before chilling. It will be a small miracle if my first batch is not infected as I ended up transferring it all by scooping - lessons learned.

If you have a mash paddle long enough you can gently (gently!!) scrape the pump filter to increase flow. A lot of people have issues with the filter coming off easily so be very carful. I personally have not had issues with the filter coming off though. There is apparently a false bottom that works well for the GF- it's a false bottom from the Brewzilla 35L - David Heath video here. I've been toying with the idea of getting one for myself, but it would mean importing one, I think.

 

[Craig_]

Where are you situated? Interested in a "how to" course from myself held at my house? Will answer 99% of your questions, I can almost guarantee it.

Cape town.

 

[Toxxyc]

Cape town.

Bummer.

It seems I have a few people who are interested, but they're too far away. Would a YouTube stream thing be possible for you? I'm considering it, with no idea how it'll be done.

 

[Craig_]

Bummer.

It seems I have a few people who are interested, but they're too far away. Would a YouTube stream thing be possible for you? I'm considering it, with no idea how it'll be done.

I would be interested sort of. Do you have a website link I can check? Depending on the price I might consider getting one of your kits to make beer at the house. I'm just playing around with the beer at work now, will scale up later as one of my clients are in the process off having equipment built for beer production, then I'll scale up and start selling. But I also want to learn and maybe start making my own at home. I'm still really uneducated when it comes to beer.

 

[Toxxyc]

"Start selling" - you looking at starting a microbrewery?

My website is www.lazyhunter.co.za

 

[Dimpie (COMPUTEK)]

Thanks. I was also thinking of buying a fine mesh sieve from a kitchen shop to try to remove as much of the hop sludge as possible before chilling. It will be a small miracle if my first batch is not infected as I ended up transferring it all by scooping - lessons learned.

How?

Best option = Hop spider ... Boom, Done

 

[Dimpie (COMPUTEK)]

I have nothing. Used a pot to cook the malt, will use grain next time. I think I might have to book some or other course. You don't do online beer making courses?

What's your website url again?

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