| |
Main
Date: 02 Dec 2006 06:58:34
From: Rick Haskin
Subject: finally took the plunge-1st all gain batch
|
As the subject says, I finally broke down and made an all grain batch.
I've been on the fence about it for a couple of years, my
extract/specialty grains brew are so good I can't imagine how switching
to all grain could make them any better. Since I appreciate posts I've
read by John Palmer, and since he is such a great guy to post his book
for free on his website, I decided to buy his book before plunging into
all grain. So anyway, I decided to do his recommended first batch which
is called Oak Butt Brown Ale. I've been up all night mashing (I work 3rd
shift and this was my night off) and the wort is still boiling, should
be done in a half hour :) I think John's book is great, the best I've
read so far and I own a hand full of how to brew books. Nevertheless I
was confused over a couple of issues and I wonder if I did anything
wrong. First of all, John does not give the hop schedule for this brew.
He gives a recipe which I had filled at the LHBS but I when I went to
use them I saw there was no hop schedule. I looked farther into the book
where he has a recipe section and found a recipe for the same brew but
this time there was a hop schedule. So I figured that out but it was
confusing. The other thing that gets me (and maybe I should have posted
about it before hand) is the lack of instructions after the mash. For
instance, is it customary to steep the specialty grains as it is done
with extract/partial grain brew kits? Or do you mix all the grains
together and mash them? The LHBS thought I should mix them so that is
what I did. I think I understood everything else. I would love to hear
some feedback, and I'll keep you guys posted as the batch evolves. Thanks
-Rick
--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
|
|
| |
Date: 02 Dec 2006 15:23:22
From: David M. Taylor
Subject: Re: finally took the plunge-1st all gain batch
|
"Rick Haskin" <rrhaskin@gmail.com > wrote in message
news:45716baa$0$20555$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...
> As the subject says, I finally broke down and made an all grain batch.
> I've been on the fence about it for a couple of years, my
> extract/specialty grains brew are so good I can't imagine how switching to
> all grain could make them any better. Since I appreciate posts I've read
> by John Palmer, and since he is such a great guy to post his book for free
> on his website, I decided to buy his book before plunging into all grain.
> So anyway, I decided to do his recommended first batch which is called Oak
> Butt Brown Ale. I've been up all night mashing (I work 3rd shift and this
> was my night off) and the wort is still boiling, should be done in a half
> hour :) I think John's book is great, the best I've read so far and I own
> a hand full of how to brew books. Nevertheless I was confused over a
> couple of issues and I wonder if I did anything wrong. First of all, John
> does not give the hop schedule for this brew. He gives a recipe which I
> had filled at the LHBS but I when I went to use them I saw there was no
> hop schedule. I looked farther into the book where he has a recipe section
> and found a recipe for the same brew but this time there was a hop
> schedule. So I figured that out but it was confusing. The other thing that
> gets me (and maybe I should have posted about it before hand) is the lack
> of instructions after the mash. For instance, is it customary to steep the
> specialty grains as it is done with extract/partial grain brew kits? Or do
> you mix all the grains together and mash them? The LHBS thought I should
> mix them so that is what I did. I think I understood everything else. I
> would love to hear some feedback, and I'll keep you guys posted as the
> batch evolves. Thanks
You did it right, you can mash all of the grains together, no steeping
required. Personally, I crush the dark roasted grains (black patent,
chocolate, and roast barley) a little bit less than the regular grains in an
attempt to reduce any astringency from the dark grains, but I still mash the
whole lot together. Other people don't have the same problem as I do with
dark grains. But anyway... sounds like you are off to a good start. Let us
know how it turns out!
--
Dave
"Fill your cup with whatever bitter brew you're drinking." -- Brad Paisley
|
| |
Date: 04 Dec 2006 18:16:07
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: finally took the plunge-1st all gain batch
|
On Sat, 02 Dec 2006 06:58:34 -0600, <rrhaskin@gmail.com > wrote:
> The other thing that gets me (and maybe I should have posted
> about it before hand) is the lack of instructions after the mash. For
> instance, is it customary to steep the specialty grains as it is done
> with extract/partial grain brew kits? Or do you mix all the grains
> together and mash them? The LHBS thought I should mix them so that is
> what I did.
Most people just mix them and mash everything. There are some rare cases
where mashing dark grains can cause some flavor problems (based on your
water), but I wouldn't worry about it unless you notice an issue.
John.
|
|
