Perhaps a stupid question...

[dan_olo]

Just wondered if there is any type of malt extract which doesn't need a boil before fermentation. Am I right in thinking that spraymalt doesn't?

[dan_olo]

So theoretically the LME and spraymalt could be used for the recipes in Marc Ollosson's book which don't need a full mash? I like the sound of some of his recipes but don't have the equipment or time to go AG at the moment...

[subsub]

You don't need a lot of equipment to go AG believe me

[dan_olo]

You need lots of time though...?

By the way, when people talk about an AG brewday taking 8 hours or whatever, are you actively involved in brewing for all of those 8 hours? Or can you set it up, go away and leave it for a while and come back to it when the mash has finished / boil has finished etc...

[prodigal2]

You need lots of time though...?

By the way, when people talk about an AG brewday taking 8 hours or whatever, are you actively involved in brewing for all of those 8 hours? Or can you set it up, go away and leave it for a while and come back to it when the mash has finished / boil has finished etc...

The overall period is 5-8hours, but there are quite a few periods where you can be getting on with other stuff.

HLT on for water for mash you will have upto a hour to do stuff

Once you have doughed in and the mash has started you may have upto 3hours to call your own

Sparging can take upto an hour

Boil needs keeping an eye on but you can be doing other stuff 90mins+

Cooling which can take around an hour but yet again you can be dealing with other stuff around it

Dropping into the FV and aeration 30mins

Santisation will be all told about 30mins

Weighing ingredients 10mins

Cleaning up after yourself 20mins, very dependent on howmany times you leave the taps open :LOL:

When you start brewing AG you hover like a expectant father, but once you have done a few batches you find you will be able to fit plenty of other jobs and bits and pieces around a brew day. I tend to find the only problems are when my other half requires the kitchen, but now I am more confident even that is no problem In a brew day there is probably 3hrs alltold where your attention is required just on the brewmaking. But as I said the first few will be you giving it all your attention apart from the mash period.

[delboy]

Agreed with the above, you can normally fit all sorts of little jobs etc during a brew day (i usually go for a run or quick cycle, when the mash is on).
And as said above the boil and cool don't need your full attention all the time.

[J_P]

So theoretically the LME and spraymalt could be used for the recipes in Marc Ollosson's book which don't need a full mash? I like the sound of some of his recipes but don't have the equipment or time to go AG at the moment...

I generally mash for 90 minutes, once the grain is in the tun you can do whatever you like for that hour and a half. Generally the dogs get walked and I have something to eat. Once the boil is on the go and your bittering hops are in you can leave it to do its thing.

You'll still need to boil the wort to extract the bitterness and flavour from the hops if you're planning to follow Marcs recipes.

Regarding the cost and kit issue, I cobbled my kit together on the cheap. I documented my kit and a brewday here. You could do it cheaper if you made your own stuff Greeny made his own kit and posted lots of pictures and a brewday here