I'm having my first ever brew day and doing the mash at the moment, but I cocked up my timing a bit by starting too late. I've got to pick the kids up from school and nursery while it should be in the boiler and I don't really want to leave it boiling on its own. Would it be OK to sparge this afternoon and defer the boil for a few hours or should it be started directly after the sparge?
Other than that, it's all going pretty well so far and the mash smells wonderful.
Timings and gaps in the process
-
dave-o
Re: Timings and gaps in the process
You can leave it pre-boil for pretty much as long as you like (within reason), as the boiling process will kill any bacteria.
Re: Timings and gaps in the process
Hooray! I was hoping that was the case. Thanks.dave-o wrote:You can leave it pre-boil for pretty much as long as you like (within reason), as the boiling process will kill any bacteria.
-
coatesg
Re: Timings and gaps in the process
Yup - it only probably becomes an issue if you leave the sparge liquid too long and it starts to go sour (unless you like soured beer of course, but it's a hard process to control and better souring later if you're into that kind of funkiness 
) - a few hours will be absolutely fine though.
) - a few hours will be absolutely fine though.-
grmills
Re: Timings and gaps in the process
And why not leave it boiling by itself? I often do this once it's settled down (ie hops addition / foaming etc is done)
Re: Timings and gaps in the process
I probably will do in the future, but this was the first time my home-made boiler was used in anger and I wanted to make sure it wasn't going to melt or explode or anything. All in all there were no major disasters and it's in the FV now, so I'm pretty happy. I think I might have overdone the hops, but it tastes pretty much like the kit worts I've slurped so I'm going to call it beer. I'll stick some pictures on the Brew Day forum tomorrow.grmills wrote:And why not leave it boiling by itself? I often do this once it's settled down (ie hops addition / foaming etc is done)
-
dave-o
Re: Timings and gaps in the process
Naich wrote: I think I might have overdone the hops.
I always used to think this. Hop bitterness really dies down over the first few weeks.
Re: Timings and gaps in the process
I hope so. It was more the flavouring hops than the bittering ones. But I had a hooterful of the gas coming out of the airlock when it started bubbling this morning and that smelt wonderful - better than any of the kits I've done, so I'm keeping everything crossed that it will mellow over time into a nice pint.
