Well the new taps from Craftbrewer arrived the day after ordering and are a revelation.
Click forward for beer, if gas is breaking out adjust the compensator on the side. Need some extra head? Push back and a fine Guiness head is dispensed.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Friday, October 06, 2006
It's been a While...
Have had a few issues which have precluded brewing for a while including a recently diagnosed coeliac partner. O'Brien's Gluten Free Lager is apparently better than nothing but is fairly bland (sweet and low hop) and expensive -$80 a case. I guess I will be rereading Milletman's posts to make my own for the SO.
The Lager ended up pretty average - the slight autolysis went away with lagering but so did the snappy hop flavour and aroma I was after - back to ales for me!
To this end an ale with amarillo hops should go down this weekend. To save a bit of time I am intent on employing the new instantaneous hot water service for preheating the required mash and sparge water. Adelaide tap water tastes OK at the moment without filtering and the HW can be set to 60C which should save a good 40 minutes on heating mash water and another a bit more on the sparge (although sparge water normally heats in parallel with the actual mashing)
Have had a few issues which have precluded brewing for a while including a recently diagnosed coeliac partner. O'Brien's Gluten Free Lager is apparently better than nothing but is fairly bland (sweet and low hop) and expensive -$80 a case. I guess I will be rereading Milletman's posts to make my own for the SO.
The Lager ended up pretty average - the slight autolysis went away with lagering but so did the snappy hop flavour and aroma I was after - back to ales for me!
To this end an ale with amarillo hops should go down this weekend. To save a bit of time I am intent on employing the new instantaneous hot water service for preheating the required mash and sparge water. Adelaide tap water tastes OK at the moment without filtering and the HW can be set to 60C which should save a good 40 minutes on heating mash water and another a bit more on the sparge (although sparge water normally heats in parallel with the actual mashing)
Monday, July 17, 2006
Moved the Lager to Keg
Finally did it - but had to bottle a couple dozen stubbies as only had a 45 litre keg available.
A hint of autolysis in the yeast sludge which I hope wont make it into the beer flavour - leaving it on yeast cake for three weeks not so bright even if it is cold then lagering.
Kegged beer can lager for another week or so then gas it up.
Bottles are out of the fridge to gas then will return them to lagering after a week or so.
Finally did it - but had to bottle a couple dozen stubbies as only had a 45 litre keg available.
A hint of autolysis in the yeast sludge which I hope wont make it into the beer flavour - leaving it on yeast cake for three weeks not so bright even if it is cold then lagering.
Kegged beer can lager for another week or so then gas it up.
Bottles are out of the fridge to gas then will return them to lagering after a week or so.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
The Lager is lagering
Have finally put the lager in the fridge down stairs for a few weeks of lagering at low temp.
Will rack into a big keg (45 litre) once the yeast drops out. I guess that will be the weekend. I think I have more than 45 litres so may bottle a few - first time in about five years.
On the espresso front have started stripping and cleaning bits of the Bezzera. A couple descale soak and flushes of the big (13 litre) boiler and a few semi blocked pipes off and cleaned. Managed to overtighten and break part of the steam valve - luckily its interchanable with the water valve which to me is superfluous.
Have finally put the lager in the fridge down stairs for a few weeks of lagering at low temp.
Will rack into a big keg (45 litre) once the yeast drops out. I guess that will be the weekend. I think I have more than 45 litres so may bottle a few - first time in about five years.
On the espresso front have started stripping and cleaning bits of the Bezzera. A couple descale soak and flushes of the big (13 litre) boiler and a few semi blocked pipes off and cleaned. Managed to overtighten and break part of the steam valve - luckily its interchanable with the water valve which to me is superfluous.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Diacetyl Rest and a cool Toy
The lager is in adiacetyl rest at ~17c to deal with any precursors to diacetyl (image!). Will hold for a day then let it cool back to 11c and think about racking into a 45 litre keg for lagering in the studio fridge.
Cool toy - check this out at Makezine.
The lager is in adiacetyl rest at ~17c to deal with any precursors to diacetyl (image!). Will hold for a day then let it cool back to 11c and think about racking into a 45 litre keg for lagering in the studio fridge.
Cool toy - check this out at Makezine.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Solstice Brew
Finally did another brew on Wednesday. A Marzen/Oktoberfest lager using pale and Munich Malts which came out a deep golden colour (I guess I should drink more water).
Also have finished the first 19litre of the ale - never fear another 25 litres was sitting in a spare keg and is now in the fridge and under gas - tastes beaut.
The lager is fementing nicely at 11-12c - have a brew belt on it to keep the temp up (on a brizzybrew temp controller) and will be trying to get it up to 18c for a day or so of diacetyl rest.
Another week of ferment and time to rack and lager.
Finally did another brew on Wednesday. A Marzen/Oktoberfest lager using pale and Munich Malts which came out a deep golden colour (I guess I should drink more water).
Also have finished the first 19litre of the ale - never fear another 25 litres was sitting in a spare keg and is now in the fridge and under gas - tastes beaut.
The lager is fementing nicely at 11-12c - have a brew belt on it to keep the temp up (on a brizzybrew temp controller) and will be trying to get it up to 18c for a day or so of diacetyl rest.
Another week of ferment and time to rack and lager.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Chillout
I want one of these ...
Yes I know I have the Counterflow job I made but this could be run in series to get down to lager temps.
Friday, May 26, 2006
Fridge Temperature Control
I have ordered a couple Fridge Mate temperature controllers. One is definitiely for the Keg fridge - the thermostat in the fridge just can't handle the low temps at present.
Other one may run a fermentation fridge or something.
I can't stand my beer being too cold - 3 degrees!
Will put the fridge on a timer in the interim.
I have ordered a couple Fridge Mate temperature controllers. One is definitiely for the Keg fridge - the thermostat in the fridge just can't handle the low temps at present.
Other one may run a fermentation fridge or something.
I can't stand my beer being too cold - 3 degrees!
Will put the fridge on a timer in the interim.
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Kegged the Ale
Finally kegged the ale. Still a bit green but the first sample was malty and hoppy in a very agreeable way. Should be perfect by next weekend.
Used the left over target and challenger from the stout for bittering and a reasonable quantity of Fuggles for flavour and aroma. The Fuggles is definitely coming through.
The Guinish stout is finaly on song too - still trying to get the out door fridge above 4-5C so I can taste the beer without waiting for it to warm up a bit!
Finally kegged the ale. Still a bit green but the first sample was malty and hoppy in a very agreeable way. Should be perfect by next weekend.
Used the left over target and challenger from the stout for bittering and a reasonable quantity of Fuggles for flavour and aroma. The Fuggles is definitely coming through.
The Guinish stout is finaly on song too - still trying to get the out door fridge above 4-5C so I can taste the beer without waiting for it to warm up a bit!
Finally Kegged the Ale!
Had to implement a new closure for my 45 litre kegs which originaly came from Grumpys.
Had been using hard plastic bungs with a screw in plug where the spear would have gone before they were converted to corny style couplings.
Take a 55mm silicone bung and a "U" bolt that with judicious use of some bolt cutters became a sort of double j bolt which just hooks under the rim on either side.
Stood upto a pressure test ok and a hell of a lot easier to deal with than the hard plastic bung.
This is what the old bung was like - made cleaning a pain and needed periodic replacement. Only a few left so had to bite the bullet. 
Had to implement a new closure for my 45 litre kegs which originaly came from Grumpys.Had been using hard plastic bungs with a screw in plug where the spear would have gone before they were converted to corny style couplings.
Take a 55mm silicone bung and a "U" bolt that with judicious use of some bolt cutters became a sort of double j bolt which just hooks under the rim on either side.
Stood upto a pressure test ok and a hell of a lot easier to deal with than the hard plastic bung.
This is what the old bung was like - made cleaning a pain and needed periodic replacement. Only a few left so had to bite the bullet.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Thursday, May 04, 2006
The Very Young Stout
As I'm currently more interested in getting the setup settled in the stout was kegged on Sunday having finished active fermentation on Friday (1055->1010). Fermentation was extremely vigorous despite cool temps( 18C) - 41 litre brew almost made it to the top of the 60 litre fermenter!
Having popped it in the fridge late Saturday night it had dropped clear at kegging on the Sunday arvo.
The still somewhat yeasty stout tastes good. It has only just cracked a week post brew so will take a week or three to really hit its straps.
As I'm currently more interested in getting the setup settled in the stout was kegged on Sunday having finished active fermentation on Friday (1055->1010). Fermentation was extremely vigorous despite cool temps( 18C) - 41 litre brew almost made it to the top of the 60 litre fermenter!
Having popped it in the fridge late Saturday night it had dropped clear at kegging on the Sunday arvo.
The still somewhat yeasty stout tastes good. It has only just cracked a week post brew so will take a week or three to really hit its straps.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Brew Day Sunday 30 May 2006
A fairly simple ale was brewed which went without a hitch.
The good stuff from ANZAC day goes into a 45 litre keg!
The "cone" of residue after a good whirlpool and a decent wait followed by a deliberately slow runoff - clear until the last few litres. I took the braid off per advice....
The grunge on the braid which stuck during the previous runoff. One of the assistant brewers takes a knap.
A fairly simple ale was brewed which went without a hitch.
The good stuff from ANZAC day goes into a 45 litre keg!
The "cone" of residue after a good whirlpool and a decent wait followed by a deliberately slow runoff - clear until the last few litres. I took the braid off per advice....
The grunge on the braid which stuck during the previous runoff. One of the assistant brewers takes a knap.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
ANZAC Day Brew PITA
The new setup worked out fairly flawlessly to a point - more later.
Quite a bit of temp loss in the hoses and the fittings - Water at 80C in the boiler dropped to about 70 in the MLT! A couple of quick kettles of water were required to get the temp up. Next time may run some hot water in to heat it up or just allow for more of a differential.
During the sparge sterilsed the chiller by pumping the 80-90c water up to the HLT via it. Had previously done a poor man's CIP routine with dishwasher powder in hot water followed by a rinse.
Boiled fine - a little too fine towards the end - lost a few litres over the top!
Then the runoff to the fermenter! Whirlpooled, waited a bit a turned the pump on. All went well for a few minutes then it slowed to a trickled. Stop, whirlpool, wait, try again. Ended up turning the pump off and letting gravity do the work. Persisted with "runoff" for a couple of hours then at the recommendation of the assistant brewer gave up o the last 10 litres (still got 40-45).
Subsequent look at the bottom of the boiler confirmed that the braid on the pickup tube which was supposed to filter was solid with pellet residue. Will need to lose the braid and try something more open - suggestions?
The new setup worked out fairly flawlessly to a point - more later.
Quite a bit of temp loss in the hoses and the fittings - Water at 80C in the boiler dropped to about 70 in the MLT! A couple of quick kettles of water were required to get the temp up. Next time may run some hot water in to heat it up or just allow for more of a differential.
Mash settled in at 63c and held within a couple degrees for the 120 min it was there.
Sparge went flawlessly - quick recirc with the pump then slow drain into the boiler with slow top up from HLT above. Added the Roasted Barley about half way through the sparge - had steeped in cold water over night per Tom's suggestion.During the sparge sterilsed the chiller by pumping the 80-90c water up to the HLT via it. Had previously done a poor man's CIP routine with dishwasher powder in hot water followed by a rinse.
Boiled fine - a little too fine towards the end - lost a few litres over the top!
Then the runoff to the fermenter! Whirlpooled, waited a bit a turned the pump on. All went well for a few minutes then it slowed to a trickled. Stop, whirlpool, wait, try again. Ended up turning the pump off and letting gravity do the work. Persisted with "runoff" for a couple of hours then at the recommendation of the assistant brewer gave up o the last 10 litres (still got 40-45).
Subsequent look at the bottom of the boiler confirmed that the braid on the pickup tube which was supposed to filter was solid with pellet residue. Will need to lose the braid and try something more open - suggestions?
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Monday, April 24, 2006
Friday, April 21, 2006
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Virgin Stout
Thinking of a Guiness clone for the first run with the new system.
11kg of Pale, 1.3 of Roast Barley, 1.3 flaked Barley to make about 55 litres. Hops TBA.
Still need to delead the brass fittings in Hydrogen Peroxide and Vinegar.
May subsequently try to lock up the lead with ortho phosphoric acid - they do this in water systems so can't hurt.
Thinking of a Guiness clone for the first run with the new system.
11kg of Pale, 1.3 of Roast Barley, 1.3 flaked Barley to make about 55 litres. Hops TBA.
Still need to delead the brass fittings in Hydrogen Peroxide and Vinegar.
May subsequently try to lock up the lead with ortho phosphoric acid - they do this in water systems so can't hurt.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
The
Counterflow Chiller - Wort through the central 1/2 inch tube and cooling water going the other way through the 18mm hose the contains it.
Heard of Phil's Fittings? - this is a Bill's Fitting.
20mm x 15mm x 15mm T piece. Had to solder a 3/4 stub in the right port and 1/2 in the top to connect the CW hoses.
Initially tried soldering the left hand port to the 1/2 tube that runs from left to right but the heat started melting the hose on the right. Ended up using some 1/2 vinyl in some 3/4 hose and a couple clamps to stop the drips - learning - don't bother soldering this, the two bits of hose and the clamps seem to be good enough (and you can pull it apart!)
Counterflow Chiller - Wort through the central 1/2 inch tube and cooling water going the other way through the 18mm hose the contains it.
Heard of Phil's Fittings? - this is a Bill's Fitting.20mm x 15mm x 15mm T piece. Had to solder a 3/4 stub in the right port and 1/2 in the top to connect the CW hoses.
Initially tried soldering the left hand port to the 1/2 tube that runs from left to right but the heat started melting the hose on the right. Ended up using some 1/2 vinyl in some 3/4 hose and a couple clamps to stop the drips - learning - don't bother soldering this, the two bits of hose and the clamps seem to be good enough (and you can pull it apart!)
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