Brew 5: Baggers & Mash Summer Ale

Starting all-grain brewing is an intimidating prospect for a novice brewer. But as The Beatles sung, 'I'm gonna try with a little help from my friends'. Brewing comrade Tom, from St. Ares (home)brewery, was keen to do an all-grain brewday at his place. Because we didn't have a large enough pot to boil the 25-23 litres of wort, we decided to do half the brew each in our 20 litre stove-top pots.

Tom had a handmade cooler mash tun he was keen to try and I wanted to attempt a single vessel brewday with my stove pot and a brew bag. We decided to halve the brew: I'd do 10 litres on the stove-top and Tom would do the remaining 15 litres or so in his mash tun.

Brew in a Bag

Tom's mash tun in action

 

The brewday was a first for both of us so we decided to do a really simple, traditional English style ale. We wanted the malt characteristics of the Maris Otter to really shine through. We balanced the malt with traditional English hops: Northern Brewer and East Kent Goldings.  

The all important wort taste test!

Due to the excitement of the day (and numerous homebrew tastings throughout the afternoon) my notes are pretty rough. But from memory we mashed at around 67 degrees Celsius for about 75 minutes. Everything on the day went smoothly (although Australia did lose the cricket). It was a dream first all-grain brewday which instilled in us a inaccurate estimation of our brewing abilities (more of that to come!).

Two for the price of one. Both pans before the boil.

Recipe

Fermenter Volume:	23l
Yeast:	Notingham Ale Yeast
Grains:	5kg Maris Otter
	500gs Pale Malt
	250gs Medium Crystal
Hops:	Northern Brewer	20gs	60min
	Goldings	20gs	20min
	EK Goldings	20gs	15min
	EK Goldings	20gs	10min
	EK Goldings	20gs	5min
	EK Goldings/Northern Brewer	20gs	Dry
Mash temps:	67 Degrees Celsius	75min
OG:	1.055
FG:	1.013
Estimated ABV:	6%

At the boil with wort coolers ready to hook up 

Tasting Notes

Cloudy and pale in the glass with low carbonation and small head. Strong malt character with subtle honey and spice notes. It's bitter and easy drinking. A very tasty session ale that has improved dramatically with age.

Baggers & Mash in the Glass

 Brew again star!