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Prepping the day before brew day.

Post #1 made 8 years ago
by PistolPatch
This is in the Old Hands forum because, you've done quite a few brews now and I want to hear your thoughts on preparation the night before versus on brewday.

My question is: "Do you find that weighing grain and hops (crushing grain if needs be) and setting up equipment the day before brew day makes a difference?"

I imagine, but I'm by no means sure, that we'll get different answers depending on people's circumstances. For example, is it more important for a person in a small home who has to set up and pack up equipment before and after every brew day compared to someone with a garage or shed who can leave their gear permanently set up?

It's an area that really interests me so would love to hear your thoughts,
PP
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Post #2 made 8 years ago
by thughes
The only thing I do ahead of time is measure out my water and add the campden tab so that it can sit and gas off the chlorine and other nasties (like one would do with water for the fish tank).

---Todd
WWBBD?
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Post #3 made 8 years ago
by Mad_Scientist
I brew in a garage in a bonus area ( not for vehicles), with a window and an exterior door. A permanent setup. I will have everything weighed beforehand. BIABacus report printed and marked up with volume milestones to hit, testing and measuring bits laid out, RO water, etc. I do weigh my brewing salts and crush grain while heating up to strike temp.

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Post #4 made 8 years ago
by Lumpy5oh
I am one of those who has to wait for the wife to leave for work and get the car out of my garage.
I do try and get some things together and weight my grains out the night before.
Some people are like slinkies. Not good for much, but bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs.

Weehoosebrewing.ga
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Post #5 made 8 years ago
by Rick
I generally weigh all of the grain bills, hop additions, brewing salts .. and keep them all in separate containers (since I usually brew 3 recipes on 3 kettles).

I'll also pick up whatever RO water I need before hand, and propane if I need it. That's about it, everything else I will do on brew day.
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Post #6 made 8 years ago
by Scott
I live close enough to my LHBS that provided doing brew on a Saturday (shop has limited hours) I pick up grain there, weigh it, and use their nice big machine to crush the grain.

I make sure I have enough hops but don't actually weigh and divide until middle of the brew day when having a spare moment or two.

Only thing I do ahead of time is run my BIABacus report, hopefully the evening before (along with checking propane level, etc.). Sometimes, perhaps half of the time, first thing in the morning I will set up the brew station (on the back porch) and start the boil while I shower and eat breakfast, turning it off and wrapping pot with blankets and sleeping bag before heading to town for workout / pickup grain. Best if I can do the set up first, and hopefully heat water to approximate proper temperature...feels like it saves me time to get brewing when back with the supplies.
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Post #7 made 8 years ago
by mally
It depends whats on the schedule on brew day I suppose. Once I mashed overnight as I had to be finished by lunch.
Normally everything is done on the day though.
My combi-boiler gives me 60L of 55C water in about 5 minutes, but getting that to mash temps can take 20-30 minutes. Just enough time to weight out grains & hops.
G B
I spent lots of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I squandered
I've stopped drinking, but only when I'm asleep
I ONCE gave up women and alcohol - it was the worst 20 minutes of my life
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Post #8 made 8 years ago
by goulaigan
I really try to weigh out and crush grain the night before, but it only happens maybe 25% of the time. Always weigh hops out while waiting for the kettle to boil. Weighing and crushing grain is pretty much the only thing I prepare the day before. My brew equipment lives in a few different places but brewing happens on the deck, and I don't like to leave it out there overnight in case it rains... Hopefully building a garage this summer though, so hopefully I will have a more permanent place to keep all my gear. (And room for a ferment chamber)
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Post #9 made 8 years ago
by PistolPatch
Many thanks for the replies above :salute:,

I was actually expecting some different answers so the above is great info :peace:.

Maybe it's because I do a lot of experimenting/recording (or, often double batch side by sides) - a side hobby of mine. Or, maybe it's because I don't live in a house with a garage or shed? I live in a small 'attached dwelling' within a 'complex' of 24 other dwellings (can't find the right word/s to suit an international readership sorry).

Maybe it is a blend of the above two things, but, I find it makes a massive difference to me if I get set up the night before. Setting up, weighing and crushing the night before, always seems to lead to a smooth brew day.

Then again, it could be due to the fact that I have so much useless crap/failed experiments still stored in my two bedroom dwelling :).

I must say, I've been really enjoying brewing the last few weeks as I work out what equipment is necessary and what is a total waste of time. All I have to do now is work out what to do with all the useless stuff (several thousands of dollars I reckon, excluding the time spent on them):smoke:.

:dunno:
PP
Last edited by PistolPatch on 13 May 2016, 22:37, edited 1 time in total.
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Post #10 made 8 years ago
by mally
PistolPatch wrote:All I have to do now is work out what to do with all the useless stuff (several thousands of dollars I reckon, excluding the time spent on them)
Not very popular in the UK, but arent "yard/garage sales" popular in the US & OZ?
Last edited by mally on 15 May 2016, 03:53, edited 1 time in total.
G B
I spent lots of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I squandered
I've stopped drinking, but only when I'm asleep
I ONCE gave up women and alcohol - it was the worst 20 minutes of my life
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Post #12 made 8 years ago
by PistolPatch
A lot of what I have here is an accumulation of small parts; o-rings, washers, irrigation bits, fermenter lids/bodies; stuff that is useless to anyone. Yes, there are some bigger items (plate chiller) and various pumps but it is the small stuff that really costs a brewer in money and time.

I'm working on a prototype of something atm and the large bit of it cost $115 AU. I can't count the times I have been to the hardware in the last week but the last receipt I scored yesterday was $130 AU, mainly of things less than $4. Despite all the hours spent pre-thinking the above purchases, a few hours later I found a simpler way of getting my result :roll:.

I find it amazing how much I have spent on prototypes, most of which could have been commercialised with a bit of spin, but that I found actually didn't save the brewer any time (usually cost them) or add any quality. Anyway, I'm determined to "nail" the equipment side of things for the new site. Finally, my latest experiments/prototypes are coming good but I've got to say, it has been a very long road.

Ouch!
PP
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