I’d just like to say that I have really enjoyed reading through this thread and seeing your determination to see this through! It’s also great to see all of the support from this community. All I can add at this time is encouragement and I’ll leave you with this. I still remember when I was where you’re at in my brewing journey. It all seemed quite overwhelming. But after lots of research and question asking I went for it. Sure, it didn’t go perfect that first batch (or batches even to this day……lol) but at the end of the day I made beer. The important thing was, looking back after that first batch, what had seemed so overwhelming and almost impossible now was so much less intimidating. I’m excited to see how it goes for you when you take the leap. Just try not to get to caught up in the details starting out, there will be plenty of time for that later. I know you’ll do just fine. Now go make some beer!
PS: that is a dead sexy brew setup you have! Congratulations on that find.
Thank you for that very kind and encouraging post...
I could keep the thread in suspense... but then, this has gone on way too long.
How did I do?
Ahem.
POST-GAME REPORT:
Well, a fail, but not a Superfail. I wasted some grain, but my loss was a big win for my next door neighbor's chickens, who received all the spent grain... and I'll get some eggs out of it!
"You can't make an omelet without ruining a bunch of grain" --bmac8
That, and some water, was the only thing lost. I completed an all-grain mash but rookie-panicked when I only saw about 7 gallons of wort.
Mistake: I started with a simple (but incomplete, semi-self-authored) American SMaSH IPA recipe, and that is the first mistake I made--I had not accounted for the water soaked up into the grain, and that was where I halted major brewing operations.
Mistake: I did not understand sparge step, and I went deer-in-headlights instead of adding water... wort could have easily been saved, but I stopped right there.
Good news: I saved all the other ingredients for the next brew day.
Good news: propane burner worked great. Temp sensors, plumbing, pumps and connections all worked great.
Good news: cleaning and sterilizing went well following the fail. This is a major accomplishment as I am working in a garage without a sink, and water that is hosed in (long food-grade safe RV hose comes in from garden.) I walked some of the cleaning waste back into the house and dumped into toilet. Cleaning-rinsing waste water pumped out and down driveway. Cleanup went well.
Good news:
No animals were harmed in the making of this mini-wort.
Good news: I know I have support here in this group. Special thanks to Steve Sibelman who visited and helped me very much.
Happy Holidays, all!
LET THERE BE BEER!