New To Ag

[T.D.]

Yeah, there is a specific amount of sparge water you need. There are rough calculations you can use to make sure you end up with the right final batch volume.

I am lazy and let Beersmith do all the calculations for me, but I think its something like this:

5kg of grain
3:1 mash water to grain ratio (so 15L of mash water)
Grain absorbs roughly 1L per kilo of grain (so that reduces your extract by 5L)
Sparge with the amount of water required to make up boil volume (so that's say 30L boil volume minus 10L of extract from the grain = 20L of sparge water). That's not taking into account other losses like dead space in your mash tun etc.

Can somebody clarify/correct my specific details here - as I said I am not entirely sure if my calculations are correct and I would hate to give a new brewer dodgy info!!

 

[Burchman82]

thanks for the suggestion screwtop, but i think ill stick to the information that people willingly give on this site instead. sorry if im too noob for ya (been kitting for 10 years). 20 bucks better in my pocket anyway

 

[Burchman82]

what difference is it to getting a round esky compared to your square standard ones?

 

[cubbie]

what difference is it to getting a round esky compared to your square standard ones?

[post="119850"][/post]​

That's a whole other story. i think the main difference for you starting up is that the rectangular ones are a whole lot cheaper!

There are pros and cons for both. Either way you will make good beer.

Having said that I picked up a 38L round rubbermaid for 40 bucks new out of the Quokka.

 

[apd]

Just to confuse matters further...the easy mash system.

You mash and boil in the same vessel. You said you already have a boiler, so you could go down this path without having to worry about buying an esky/cooler.

 

[PistolPatch]

Burch, spend the $20 like Screwtop suggested and you will save heaps on equipment. AG can be started with really basic stuff and you can improve on it as you go along. You don't even need an esky!

There is no way that you will be able to gain a basic system by replies to this post as everyone has different equipment/methods.

Have a good look at the links given above and that should get you going. Spending the $20 will get you going faster and cheaper!

I could have done an AG some time ago if I followed the advice I've just given!

 

[Burchman82]

well ive got a pretty darn good handle on everything now guys so thanks for the input... now to just get to work on this kettle!

ill probably end up goin the standard esky as i can then use it to go camping an stuff like that.


Im just against payin money for information that is so readily available from you guys. besides, takes the fun out of it then!

ive discovered at least 3 or 4 different ways of doing things since starting this thread... so mission accomplished! :super:

 

[stillscottish]

Don't forget "How To Brew" by John Palmer

It's American but a pretty good on line resource.


My equipment:
15yr old 40litre Esky with $3 tap from homebrew shop added.
Bit of stainless steel scrubby jammed in back of tap to hold back grain.
Cheap 18litre aluminium stock pot from Kmart for holding and heating water.
Boiler is the one I use with my "water purifier".

This has given me good results for years but I'm slowly succumbing to Stainless Brewtower Envy!!!

Campbell

 

[mika]

There's got to be someone up in Townsville doing an AG brew day. Sometimes some of the Homebrew shops hold them, no admission charged and as long as you're not too much in the guy's face the advice is free and friendly as well.
Don't take this the wrong way Burchman82 but I get the impression you're still a little lost. Once you see the process it makes it a whole lot simpler, then you can start thinking in your own mind about which system/process will suit your budget and your knowledge base.

 

[jimmysuperlative]

Burch, have a look at www.basicbrewing.com they have a DVD available for about 20 odd bucks AUD inc post if you can wait, takes about 10 days to arrive.

[post="119835"][/post]​

I've had a look at the DVD ...good option if you have no AG brewers close by to see how it's done.

For me it was good to see things I'd read put in to practice!

 

[Weizguy]

Beersmith and ProMash are free to download and test.

You'll get free calculations re mash water temp/volume, Sparge temp/volume and IBUs.

Very handy and well worth the time to download.
I used a free Beersmith today for my SFPA.

Seth out

 

[Jazzafish]

I brewed a skunk fart pale ale today too. Went well, should turn out great. Cheers Mr Skunk Fart.

I downloaded the beer smith demo, played around with it a fair bit. Then when it expired I downloaded Pro Mash. While both are good in certain areas, I bought Pro Mash as I liked it better.

I suggest you try them both out. The calculators for things like temperatures and sparge volumes are pretty spot on for me.

I also think if you are going to go AG, you may as well get the bigger mash tun. If you are going to spend 4 to 6 hours on a batch... it may as well be double the size.

 

[Burchman82]

thx mika_lika, i think ive got it all in one sock now, im just not that articulate with my forum posts! :blink: im not a complete noob, i have done a sh*tload of reading and have been brewing since i was about 6 years old. its just the little points/differences that can get confusing for me. (maybe from all that drinking)

In answer to your question, there is a HBS that has a guy whos told me a lot of information and does do some brews in-house occasionally. but hes not the easiest person to sit around with for an hour... if you know what i mean.

As for other Tsv brewers, ive asked before on this forum and had 0, thats zero takers on it... so yeah its just me in Tsv at the moment, ruler of the Tsv homebrew crown by default!!! pfffft just kidding :wacko:

 

[Burchman82]

thanks for answering my main question jazza, im tending to think the same thing! cheers!

I will have to download that software you mentioned when i get home... stupid computers here at work have blockers for just about every site on the net.... 'cept for this great one! (guess not many ppl look at it at my work)


oh, is there any brewing software available for the PocketPC? ive done a quick search at home and came up with nothing... anyone else seen any?

 

[Hoops]

yeah ive seen sosmans site, very informative. Like i said though im mainly getting confused with all the different setups available and exactly what piece of equipment is doing what... but i think im getting my head around it finally..

1 vessel to heat water (fermenter or something with submersed element)
1 vessel to boil water (50L Keg with gas cooker)
1 vessel to steep the grain in. (esky)

is that about it (in laymens terms anyway)???????

[post="119820"][/post]​

You're an AG brewer now - it's called mashing

Well done dude, you've taken a great leap into mash brewing and you'll never look back.
If you're on MSN in the next couple of days I'll send you some files and be able to discuss it all in great length.
Trying to setup for AG is a little like trying to get a piece of string - how long, what type of string, what colour, how expensive is the string etc etc and everyone has their own opinion on the best piece of string.

Saying that for a simple and cheap setup I would go:
1. 50L keg - cut top off, put a tap in it and there's your kettle (boiler)
2. Get a large esky for the mash tun (hold grains and water) - bigger is better. Then put some sort of mesh/filter/braid etc (doesn't really matter what type but the braid is a quick easy way to go)
3. Some container for hot water - urn, another keg, another esky etc - again bigger is better, you can never have too much hot water.

I have a 50L keg-kettle, esky-mash tun, and urn-Hot Liquor Tank, all of these I either had on hand or aquired
I am about to upgrade to double batches and change my setup a little but you can make do with whatever is available, and more to the point whatever is within your budget.

Hoops

 

[Burchman82]

wicked cool hoops.

was wondering when youd get back in here! you been bush or something mate?

im probably gonna go get the 57L round esky job and then prob use a spare fermenter for my HLT unless i score a bigass urn or something from somewhere. before all that happens im gonna get started on this kettle since its the only thing i actually have on hand at the moment.

you know me dude, im always on MSN so yeah that'd be great man.

as for steep, i knew it was called that, just had major mental fart that day so was strugglin for words! heh heh :wacko:

 

[Airgead]

on this forum and had 0, thats zero takers on it... so yeah its just me in Tsv at the moment, ruler of the Tsv homebrew crown by default!!! pfffft just kidding :wacko:

[post="120067"][/post]​

Burchman

There are definitely other AG brewers in Townsville but they don't post here. There's a guy called Graeme Sanders who does a brewing podcast from Townsville. You can contact him at oz.craftbrewer.org. I'm sure he has mentioned a brew club there as well.

Cheers
Dave

 

[Burchman82]

i know theres others i was just pullin the piss

cheers for tha link but