Greg
Thanks for the links,
I do not have a boiler yet, I will probably construct one of my own that will take up to 30 litres of mash liquor for strong ales. I have used a 12 litre saucepan till now and used the side burner on the BBQ, supported to take the weight. Yes folks, brewing is an outdoor activity (or remote building activity) as the very powerful smell of the wort and the hops boiling for an hour or two (even with the lid on) just may get noticed by other household members who may say something about it <ng>
Here is a picture (on the right) of my primary brewing vessel. It only cost about $20. It also comes with a lid that has a screw down apron and "o" ring for an airtight fit, a tap, bungs for all exits, and fermentation lock. I find it a really convenient piece of equipment, and is manufactured by (I think) PIT Plastics, Almelo, Holland. It also can be used for wine making of course, and it great for brews that take time and need protecting. The lid can be left off of course for a fast top fermentation. No messing with siphon tubes, I have made a special connector and tube for the tap for minimum aeration transfers. Dropping and Barrelling no problem.
(click and see photo of buckets)
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When full it is heavy, so rather then risking an accident or injury, I have made a sling and use a hoist to lift it. It will brew up to 45 litres and will fill two 5 gallon casks, or one 5 gallon cask, one 2.5 gal cask, and about 20 bottles. Cleaning bottles is such a pain, but they are fastest to condition ale. With a typical 4% brew, the bottles are ready after about four weeks in the bottle. The 2.5 gallon cask four weeks after that, the 5 gallon cask another month or two after that. The beer does keep and improve much longer though.
Here is the book I use as a brewing reference for British ales. It does not seem to have got good reviews, but I found it a fantastic introduction to the Full Mash process. It also has stuff for a beginner using a simple process. I found the technical information excellent. Not only that... but it goes into some detail on brewing history in this country. I found it a great read....full of facts. The only section of the book I have not tested is the water treatment section. The water where I live is as perfect as you can get it. USA bottled water in those 20 litre containers could be used if the local water is suspect (which I know it is in many areas)
amazon.com |
