All grain beginner

[Eccipoo]

Hiya lads, first time poster long time lurker....been brewing extract for quite a while now, and in that time have been gathering up the kit for all grain. I'm pretty much there, and gettin stupidly excited about it. However I'd love to have a great 1st run at it, so I'd like to really understand my set up.

Will be buying beersmith this month and dialling in my set up....however I'm curious, if I did a mock 'brew' with just water throughout my system, will these numbers give me the correct info for working out boil off rates on my kettle and the dead space in my mash tun?

Side note: (quick question) getting a fermentation fridge in order and I have an old on in the garage. Doesn't fit my coopers FV or my youngs FV. Anyone able to use these in under counter fridges, or should I be using a skinnier/taller FV.

Appreciate any advice

Decky

[Pheeel]

Honestly i wouldn't bother. Just do a brew and measure it there and then. Order an AG kit from one of the home brew stores and start with that

[Will_D]

Hi and Welcome.

Tell us where you are based and there's a good chance someone nearby will invite you along to their next brewday or would come over to you if you want.

[DEMPSEY]

Welcome to the club Eccipoo, Measure your dead space in your mash tun you should do OK as when you get Beersmith the set up section for your equipment will ask for this information. Beersmith has already got a calculation for boil off which is fairly accurate so on your first boil off take notes and compare then you can simply adjust the number on Beersmith. Take note that the liquid volume of hot liquid has expanded and as it cools it shrinks,Beersmith notes this as well.

[Eccipoo]

I'm based in Belfast, andytown to be specific. If anyone's close and even willin to drop a pm or a text that'd be great

Might come a bit clearer when I fiddle about with beersmith.

Cheers for the response folks

[irish_goat]

Welcome ! Belfast Homebrewers are your local club. It's a shame as you just missed our national competition held last week in Brewbot, Ormeau Road. They have a meet up every month though and you'd be more than welcome to go along.

[Eccipoo]

Yeah, I've heard a few names and heard they met up a few times in the Hudson. I've just never really got round to it, must make a bit of an effort to get to one and ask a few folk some questions

[LordEoin]

if you're going to be boiling and stuff anyway, why run just water?
Get yourself a mashkit or knock a simple SMASH together and go for broke.
Worst case scenario you waste a few euro