These are pictures from my brew day on 4/4/12. I took step by step pictures to help Mr. Beer brewers convert to All Grain brewing. I used the brew in a bag technique for this brew. In my opinion, it is just as easy as extract brewing and a great way to go to all grain brewing. The best part is that this batch only cost around $8 to make one case of beer!
Grain bill for a Blond Ale
This is my fermenter filled with sanitizer. I use Star San.
I heated a pot filled with 3 gallons of filtered water to 160 degrees
Once the water is the right temperature I add a paint strainer bag. I bought this one a Lowes in the paint department. This will hold the grains.
Slowly add the grains and stir. The grains must be cracked or milled before mashing. You can order grains pre-milled. I use my friends Barley Crusher
Thoroughly stir the grains so none stick together.
Cover the pot to hold in the heat. I mashed at 152 degrees for 1 hour.
I also covered the pot with a towel to hold in the heat. I usually lose 2 degrees in 1 hour.
These are the hops. I used Centennial hops for bittering and Cascade for aroma. Since I am only making a 2 gallon batch, I am using .25 oz of each hops. I have them divided in half so I can add them at different times during the boil.
After 1 hour I pulled the grain bag from the pot and placed in a colander. This allows me to start the boil while all the water drains from the grain bag.
I left the grain bag in the colander for about 15 minutes.
I boiled the wort for 60 minutes. I had 4 hop additions during the boil. I do not use hop sacks. I feel that I get more from the hops if they freely boil with the wort.
I chilled the wort with a wort chiller. I usually use on ice bath in the kitchen sink but I borrowed the chiller from my friend Dave! After the wort is around 68 degrees I put the wort in a sanitized fermenter and place in my fermention fridge. I use a Johnson controller set at 68 degrees and usually ferment from 10 to 14 days. I use Safale US05 yeast. I reused yeast from a pale ale for this batch. More on reusing yeast later.
This is the finished product! Brewed on 4/4/12 Bottled on 4/20/12 and the first taste test on 4/30/12! This beer was fantastic and will be brewed again soon!
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