Just finished clearing up.
Willow (Best) Bitter (based on Fuller's London Pride)
Mini-BIAB 10L Brew
The grain bill was:
Pale Ale (MO): 2250g (90%)
Crystal : 250g (10%)
Total : 2500g
Mash Temp 65c
Mash Length 90mins
Mash Out at 77c
Boil Length 60mins
Target AA 12.53% 5.5g (60min)
Northdown 8.7% 5.5g (60min)
Challenger 7.6% 6.0g (60min)
Northdown 5.0g (10min)
1/4 tablet protofloc
Yeast safale S04.
Will dry hop this after primary with about 7 - 8g of target.
Mash all went well, was very pleased that my thermometers were reading the same within about 0.5c of each other. Strike temp was 68c and after doughing in quickly stabilised at 65c. Ensured there were no wildly different temperatures throughout the mixture. A sleeping bag on top and the thermostat did a good job of maintaining the temperature for the 90mins. The boiler is heated by a 2.4kw element with a brupaks(?) thermostat. All this went so much better than BIAB no.1 and I felt much more relaxed at this stage. Raised temperature to approaching 78c after 90 mins and lifted bag. Drained and gently squeezed into a spare FV, runnings returned to boiler at start of boil.
Boiled for 60 mins, only problem is I brew in the kitchen, the extractor fan above the boiler gets rid of most the steam, but condensation is an issue...does anyone have the same problem? My solution was to give the filter and grill and good wash, before starting the boil give them a spray with no rinse peracetic acid, and every so often wipe the fan after temporarily putting a lid on the boiler to stop any drips going in. I think a few drops of condensation did get in but with the precautions I took I hope this won't cause any problems.
Chilled down to about 25c, 15 min wait for hops to settle and then dropped into FV. Ended up with about 11.5L of wort at this stage with an OG of 1039 at 20c. I was really aiming for 1042 and if I boiled for 90mins I'd probably get closer with the extra losses to evaporation.
Generally speaking would you expect to get a 1040-ish OG from a 2.5kg grain bill, or should I looking to improve efficiency here?
Waiting now for the yeast to get working, sitting currently at about 19c
Post #2 made 15 years ago
I had the same issue for my first few batches. I found that using a fan like this completely eliminates condensation above the kettle. I just point it above the kettle to blow the steam away from the stove hood, works great.oz11 wrote:Boiled for 60 mins, only problem is I brew in the kitchen, the extractor fan above the boiler gets rid of most the steam, but condensation is an issue...does anyone have the same problem? My solution was to give the filter and grill and good wash, before starting the boil give them a spray with no rinse peracetic acid, and every so often wipe the fan after temporarily putting a lid on the boiler to stop any drips going in. I think a few drops of condensation did get in but with the precautions I took I hope this won't cause any problems.
Last edited by BrickBrewHaus on 14 Jan 2011, 00:08, edited 5 times in total.
Post #3 made 15 years ago
I thought of that but SWMBO suggested blowing the steam around the kitchen/diner wouldn't go very well with trying to keep the wallpaper on the walls? 
Where does your steam tend to end up going?
Where does your steam tend to end up going?
Post #4 made 15 years ago
We don't have wallpaper in our apartment so I can't speak to what would happen there.
I try to open up the windows to get most of the steam out, seems to work OK. To be honest though, I've never felt the walls to see if they were wet or not.
This past weekend I tried to keep the windows closed because it was ~20 F outside. But by the end of the boil I couldn't stand it anymore, I felt like I was in a sauna. I had to open all of the windows to get the moisture out. So keep the windows open and I think you should be fine; maybe put another fan in the window blowing out?
I try to open up the windows to get most of the steam out, seems to work OK. To be honest though, I've never felt the walls to see if they were wet or not.
This past weekend I tried to keep the windows closed because it was ~20 F outside. But by the end of the boil I couldn't stand it anymore, I felt like I was in a sauna. I had to open all of the windows to get the moisture out. So keep the windows open and I think you should be fine; maybe put another fan in the window blowing out?
Post #5 made 15 years ago
I think that's what I will try for the next one and hope I don't incur the wrath of the woman. If you don't hear from me after BIAB no.3 you will know she wasn't pleased. Can I blame you??
Thanks for the help
Thanks for the help
Post #6 made 15 years ago
I saw this mentioned in another post somewhere so before my first brew I removed the pull out "door" that starts the fan and hides the filter. I then removed the filter itself. Once done I secured a clean tea-towel across the openning with bulldog clips/cloths line pegs.(I used magnets on the second brew which was better.)I then had to "frig" the fan switch with a folded piece of paper to make it work.but condensation is an issue...does anyone have the same problem
I found this soaks up any drip and catchs anything dropping down from around the fan. Its not easy to explain and I wish I'd have taken a picture,If you cant imagine it let me know and I'll set it up and take a photo.
The principle should be applicable to most extract fans, a towel would work if you need something bigger.
Y
edit: I tried oppenning the window but the cold air made the condensation on the wall/ceiling worse
Last edited by Yeasty on 14 Jan 2011, 00:48, edited 5 times in total.
Why is everyone talking about "Cheese"
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- SVA Brewer With Over 50 Brews From Great Britain
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Post #7 made 15 years ago
I think I understand you (or maybe not!), but the first thing the good lady asked is doesn't the towel drip back down?
Post #8 made 15 years ago
Sure, why notoz11 wrote:Can I blame you??
Last edited by BrickBrewHaus on 14 Jan 2011, 00:53, edited 5 times in total.
Post #9 made 15 years ago
By that do you mean does the towel get soaked and start dripping?doesn't the towel drip back down
If so it didn't for me. I think its because your stopping the steam hitting the cold surface of the fan body and the towel is a "warm" surface so nothing condenss on it, All I got was a slight staining in one corner.
I have a 45.5cm pot over 3 rings going full pelt and 30+L on a rolling boil and the towel only got wet in one corner.
Wall papers on the floor mind you
but the beers great 
Last edited by Yeasty on 14 Jan 2011, 01:01, edited 5 times in total.
Why is everyone talking about "Cheese"
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- SVA Brewer With Over 50 Brews From Great Britain
-
Post #10 made 15 years ago
I did mean that about the towel, thinking at some point it would get saturated.
I think I'll try that next time with a fan on standby.
Thanks for the help chaps
I think I'll try that next time with a fan on standby.
Thanks for the help chaps
Post #11 made 15 years ago
Beer is fermenting nicely at the moment, it's about 19c ambient and there's all sorts of activity in the FV. Smelling good too 
Post #12 made 15 years ago
Dry-hopped this last night with about 8g Target into the FV in sanitised muslin bag. SG was down to 1010 so it's pretty much done, but hope there's enough life still to consume any oxygen the dry-hopping will have introduced. Will leave it until the end of the week then get it bottled up.
Tasted good!
Tasted good!
Post #13 made 15 years ago
So today was bottling day for this brew. Batch primed a bottling bucket and syphoned from the FV into this. All good. Filled the first half dozen bottles, still good.
The next 5L was destined for a 5L "easy keg", and that's where I cocked up...I was using a bottling stick with a spring loaded valve on the end. As I lowered the keg to see if it was full the edge of the opening in the keg caught the valve and yanked it off so it ended up in the keg. Managed to fish it out but the assembly had split into its component parts and the spring disappeared to the bottom of the keg. Have decided to leave it in there and sealed the keg. The whole bottler assembly had been given a good soak in VWP so I hope the beer will survive (metallic?!).
Reminder to self to be more careful next time!
The next 5L was destined for a 5L "easy keg", and that's where I cocked up...I was using a bottling stick with a spring loaded valve on the end. As I lowered the keg to see if it was full the edge of the opening in the keg caught the valve and yanked it off so it ended up in the keg. Managed to fish it out but the assembly had split into its component parts and the spring disappeared to the bottom of the keg. Have decided to leave it in there and sealed the keg. The whole bottler assembly had been given a good soak in VWP so I hope the beer will survive (metallic?!).
Reminder to self to be more careful next time!
Post #14 made 15 years ago
You're not the first and certainly wont be the last oz, I've done similar things myself.
I think just leaving it there is the best bet, after all it (the spring) should be stainless and therefor not give anything metallic to the beer.
I think just leaving it there is the best bet, after all it (the spring) should be stainless and therefor not give anything metallic to the beer.
"It's beer Jim, but not as we know it."
Post #15 made 15 years ago
Thanks, puts my mind at ease. I was soooo annoyed with myself...bottling again next weekend, no mini kegs involved but I'll take my time and make sure I do my best not to have any mistakes.hashie wrote:You're not the first and certainly wont be the last oz, I've done similar things myself.
I think just leaving it there is the best bet, after all it (the spring) should be stainless and therefor not give anything metallic to the beer.
Last edited by oz11 on 24 Jan 2011, 18:50, edited 5 times in total.
Post #16 made 15 years ago
Started drinking my "spring" beer (see above - bottling problem) from the easy keg and happy to say it's all ok. I'll get through me 5 litres and fish the spring out and make a mental note to be careful next time!
Post #17 made 15 years ago
Hey Oz
I did the same thing last week, except with a bottle. What to do? Tip 650ml and fish out the bottling rig valve? Nope. Put the bottle aside and drink it first!
BD
I did the same thing last week, except with a bottle. What to do? Tip 650ml and fish out the bottling rig valve? Nope. Put the bottle aside and drink it first!
BD
Drinking: last K&B & extract brews, BIAB #1- Golden Ale, #2- Pale Ale, #3- Galaxy Single-hop Ale
In the Pipeline: ESB, Landlord
In the Pipeline: ESB, Landlord
