Day Zero, Returning to Basics

[simple one]

Rattle on fellas! I was throwing up thoughts to start conversation. I don't care were it goes to.
I'm sure I'll pick a few other new methods which I may experiment with.

[WishboneBrewery]

Here's my record Sheet, it needs a few tweaks and its Batch-sparge related rather than Fly-sparge. I use this in combo with a BeerEngine recipe sheet. So I write stuff down and log and also do the blog so the mix of the blog and the filled in sheet gives me a fairly good reference point. http://pdtnc.files.wordpress.com/2012/0 ... -sheet.pdf

Things I should do are; I should limit my experimental brews to 15L; use the Plate chiller more; always aim to brew so I have to liquor back at the end.

[orlando]

Here's my record Sheet, it needs a few tweaks and its Batch-sparge related rather than Fly-sparge. I use this in combo with a BeerEngine recipe sheet. So I write stuff down and log and also do the blog so the mix of the blog and the filled in sheet gives me a fairly good reference point. http://pdtnc.files.wordpress.com/2012/0 ... -sheet.pdf

Things I should do are; I should limit my experimental brews to 15L; use the Plate chiller more; always aim to brew so I have to liquor back at the end.

That is really good, contains just about everything you need. I was intrigued by your comment on brewing "so I have to liquour back", why is that?

[WishboneBrewery]

That is really good, contains just about everything you need. I was intrigued by your comment on brewing "so I have to liquour back", why is that?

Purely from a good practice point of view, it ensures you always hit your gravity so long as you don't over-liquor to start with, I know its 'only homebrew' and the gravity doesn't really matter but I'm used to making things right at work and I can see the benefits.

If / when I upgrade my boiler I shall buy a 50L Keg and ideally make it electrically heated with a Bottom outlet, wort cooled via Plate chiller, a bottom outlet would let me replicate the process at work. We do a 'Hop Sparge', after the initial wort transfer to FV, using the Liquoring back volume it is then recirculated thru the hops before being run-off, this lets us recover Sugars / Flavour from the hops and the volume of Hop-sparge is added to the volume in the fermenter, combined gravity calculated and a final liquor-back.

Hope that explains some of the thinking and logic behind it, its a very frugal way of brewing beer and gives you extra volume from what you would normally discard.

[barneey]

Cheers for the spreadsheet, Im going to have a play around with them both + a few other items for my set up.

I`ll post it when finished.

[orlando]

PDTNC- Does this not also go through all the trub, Im usually keen not to disturb this once it is all settled out in case it comes over into the chiller and then the FV?

Barneey - I updated mine this afternoon as I was so ashamed of all the errors in it. Still could use some more fields though. I rely on BS2 for some of this information so it will have to be a careful examination of what goes where and trying not to duplicate. Coincidentally I was contacted by Brad Smith himself (you probably received the same thing) asking for ideas for future upgrades and I rather cheekily sent him this along with a few thoughts I had had for improvement. He was kind enouh to reply so watch out for updates courtesy of Jim's!

[barneey]

Thats good to here about BS2.

I`ve always thought the "Brew Steps" in BS2 would be a good place to add a few more "user defined" options ie being able to pick from some / all of the items mentioned in this thread.

Cheers

[WishboneBrewery]

You only recirculate gently, not the literal sense of the word 'sparge', the recirculation is directed at the side of the copper so as no to disturb the hop-bed too much.

[simple one]

You only recirculate gently, not the literal sense of the word 'sparge', the recirculation is directed at the side of the copper so as no to disturb the hop-bed too much.

I sometimes do this, and I think it was common practice back in the days of flares and big side burns (old brewing books). A childs watering can is good for this....
don't ask me how I know.

[WishboneBrewery]

You own a Child's watering can? Bet you look lovely watering the garden

[simple one]

When I was self taught by a CJJ Berry book (don't even ask)... Pre JBK and before even having the internet.... It was what was suggested. The childs watering was easily stored and was easier to sanitize.

Plus I did look lovely.

[WishboneBrewery]

[simple one]

I have decided to go further, and I am now building my full shiny 18L (max volume) electric brewery. So that should be 10-15L batches.

Watch this space!

[WishboneBrewery]

Lots of brewing and lots of different beers... sounds idea... apart from the inevitable bottling!

[simple one]

But then that'll be in smaller batches too.... It is too painfully anyway once you have a system. Starsan helps!