IPA attempt 1

The Organic IPA recipe I found on breworganic.com was followed so loosely (given available ingredients) that I thought I'd better note down what we actually did, just in case it is worth re-producing (more likely modifying). For lack of a notepad, BlogSpot it is:

The kit:

• LPG bottle, high pressure camping burner
• 10ltr stock pot and stainless spoon
• 25ltr plastic brew barrel with airlock
• nylon mesh bag for grains
• Thermometer
• Mobile phone to keep time

The process & Ingredients:

1. Fill plastic brew barrel with 25 ltrs of rain water
2. Bring 4 ltrs water to 75 degrees C and turn off heat
3. Drop in 1Kg pale ale grains, cracked, in a nylon grain bag and soak for 20 min with the lid on (temp should drop to 68C after adding grains and drift down to 64C if using a smallish pot with lid in mild ambient temp)
4. Bring 1 ltr of water to 75 C in another pot
5. Lift up grains, squeeze and pour the ltr of water over the grains into the tea (to flush out a little more from the grains)
6. Add 1.8Kg light malt extract
7. Add 600 grams raw sugar
8. Add ~33Grams New Zealand Pacific Gem hops (bittering), Boil for 40 mins
9. Add ~33 Grams New Zealand Hallertau hops (flavour), Boil for 15 min
10. Add ~33 Grams New Zealand Hallertau hops (Aroma), Boil for 5 min
11. Cool wort to 75C
12. Pour wort from height into the water in the brew barrel. To add oxygen, stir.
13. Temp should now be close to 28C, add a pack (11.5g) of Safeale s-04 Dry Ale Yeast by Fermentis
14. Add lid & airlock

No idea what the specific gravity was.. Looked about right, possibly a bit light.. I'm already wondering if next time I use 2kg grains (1 kg light and 1 kg a bit darker) plus 1.8Kg malt. Ideally with a bigger pot - 16ltr stock pot would be nice.

Hallertau hops smell amazing, every time I walk past the brew barrel I have to stop and soak up some of the delicious aroma emanating from the airlock.

Next - if I can't find a keg system I can afford, it will be into bottles (swapa crate $4.50 per doz 750ml)

Will update on first tasting