KJ's BEER THREAD!

[kay-jay]

hi

i posted a thread about unusual uses for your plumbing skills and equipment in which i showed a few pics of my home made brewery. some members expressed an interest in this so here is a photographic record of a full brewday.


first....the equipment!
the hot liquor tank (used simply to heat water to 76 degrees)

Untitled by kay_jay1975, on Flickr

next is the mashtun (holds the malted barley along with the heated water from the hot liquor tank.)


Untitled by kay_jay1975, on Flickr

next is the boiler (used to boil the liquid contents from the mash tun)

Untitled by kay_jay1975, on Flickr

the copper is used to filter the hops from the wort (raw beer)

Untitled by kay_jay1975, on Flickr

the above equipment set up in a 3 tier gravity formation

Untitled by kay_jay1975, on Flickr

the immersion chiller (to cool the boiled wort down to fermentation temp of 18-25degrees)

Untitled by kay_jay1975, on Flickr

next up the ingredients....

the grist - pale malt,chocolate malt,roasted barley,black malt,torrefied wheat and flaked barley.

Untitled by kay_jay1975, on Flickr

water treatment (thanks to good old nw united utilities my tap water is pretty good for beer so only a teaspoon of gypsum and a crushed sodium metabisulphite tablet is required)

Untitled by kay_jay1975, on Flickr

the hops

Untitled by kay_jay1975, on Flickr

the method!

once the hlt has heated the water to strike temp of 76 degrees release 2.5 litres of water per kilo of grain used into the mashtun then add the grain slowly (a pint at a time) stirring thouroughly
this is called doughing in and looks like this when finished

Untitled by kay_jay1975, on Flickr

this wants leaving with the lid on for 90mins wrapped in a blanket to keep the temp stable at 65degrees (10degrees are lost while doughing in)

to be continued........

 

[kay-jay]

the mash now wants leaving for 90 minutes wrapped up to keep the temp stable at 65degrees (11 degrees are lost while doughing in

Untitled by kay_jay1975, on Flickr

drain the mashtun into the boiler

Untitled by kay_jay1975, on Flickr

the mashtun looks like this when drained, this spent grain is good for chickens, give it to dogs in small amounts too!

Untitled by kay_jay1975, on Flickr

the remaining water from hlt is run through the mashtun until the boiler is full then the wort is brought to the boil

Untitled by kay_jay1975, on Flickr

boil for 90 mins adding the hops

Untitled by kay_jay1975, on Flickr

after the boil is 90% complete, attach the immersion chiller to the cold tap via the hosepipe and dunk the copper coil into the hot wort. run cold water through the coil when the boil is finished to cool to a temp suitable for the yeast.
then drain into another bucket (with a snap on lid) this is for fermenting, add the yeast stick the lid on fit an airlock basically its a trap that fits to the lid to allow the co2 produced in the ferment to escape.

i'll post pics of the priming and bottling stages in about a week, and pics of the finished product a couple of weeks after that.

KJ

 

[Toddyplumb]

Brilliant , thanx for sharing KJ

 

[kay-jay]

thanks toddy!

its gonna be a really nice stout. but i brew all kinds of real ales blondes, bitters rubies etc.

KJ

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

mmm, i love a good Stout

Where do yuo pick your recipes up from? the internet?

 

[RobB]

Nice pics KJ.

Just a quick fire warning - I am an ex insurance fire surveyor - make sure you dont accidentally turn on the heating elements with empty plastic containers.

 

[Scottley]

So how long will it take before we are all invited for sampling?

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

Share them in the Plumbers arms?

 

[kay-jay]

plumbstar tom - i'm pretty experienced at brewing now so most of my recipes i compose myself. never brewed one i couldn't drink!

as for sampling........i mainly do that myself but if anyone lives near bolton give me a yell and it can be arranged.(stocks permitting)

its a very rewarding hobby and it works out about 20-30p a pint depending on the recipe.


KJ

 

[turnpin]

just when the plumbing gets a tad boring you discover a new perspective for all those left over fittings!!!!! ..hic ...! very interesting articleregards turnpin

 

[kay-jay]

right, i'm off to do the bottling today, so hopefully there will be a few pics and a little sampling!

i may well look into the cost of mailing a bottle via royal mail to uk addresses and if its cheap enough i reckon i could start a 'name the ale competition' with the winner receiving a bottle of my finest! ............what do you reckon??

KJ

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

This is n't one of those sign up to a monthly sample campagn with a £100 pound sign up fee and then you dissappear is it lol

 

[kay-jay]

it can be!

checks to ..............

 

[kay-jay]

cant believe this thread is two years old already.

thought i would bump it for the benefit of members who have joined since then ....

happy brewing.

 

[SimonG]

I remember reading this the first time round, still as interesting now as it was then. Surprised you have'nt gone commercial with it