The technique of making beer from malted grains instead of using malt extract for the base sugars.
23
votes
8answers
1k views
What's the point of going all-grain?
My extract beers are good, I think better than most commercial beers that I buy. Extract takes less time, less equipment and seems to produce great quality beers. Why do people do full grain?
18
votes
7answers
970 views
About going all-grain
I have made 7 or 8 extract brews over the past year and am interested in moving up to all-grain. What equipment is needed, and what steps are added to the process.
17
votes
10answers
9k views
What can I do with my spent grain after mashing?
After brewing a batch of beer, I always end up with ~14 lbs of spent grain that I usually just toss in a pile in the corner of the yard.
Are there better things to do with it (i.e. cooking, baking, ...
15
votes
4answers
4k views
How do you sparge?
One of the biggest hurdles I came across when switching to all-grain was learning how to sparge. I honestly still don't think I do it 100% correctly. There are very detailed descriptions online, but ...
10
votes
8answers
4k views
How to brew all-grain indoors
I've been brewing with extracts and specialty grains for two years now, and I want to step up to all-grain brewing. From what I understand, it's important to get a full boil when brewing all-grain and ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
All my all-grain batches produce a bitter/astringent, dark, almost burnt off flavor that ruins every batch, from light pilsner to dark belgians
I'm scratching my head trying to figure this one out. Here's the story: I started brewing extracts, and they all came out great. I wanted to get into all-grain so a last year I ordered myself the ...
9
votes
5answers
524 views
Shorter Brew Day
For all grain brewers, what part of the brew session lends itself best to shortening the total brew session. Time is tight for me these days and shortening up the brew session a bit will certainly ...
9
votes
3answers
461 views
Avoiding excessive soot on brew kettles
Are there any secret tricks to avoiding an exorbitant amount of soot on the brew kettle after the boil?
We have been making all grain batches recently using a 20 gallon stock pot and a propane ...
8
votes
5answers
414 views
Does suspended yeast contribute to high SG?
I've got a SMaSH beer (Baird Maris Otter and EKG) finishing in primary. It's been fermenting for just over a week. Starting Gravity was 1.046. I mashed at 154F for 60 minutes. Fermented with WY1335 ...
8
votes
5answers
738 views
What is the minimum amount of equipment to dabble in All-Grain?
What is the minimum amount of equipment I need to have to brew very simple all-grain recipes? Bonus points for cheap & easy-to-find equipment. I'd like to go all-grain eventually, but for the time ...
7
votes
6answers
1k views
How should bulk grain be stored?
I love brewing all-grain but I feel that I could cut down on my costs significantly by purchasing some of my grain in bulk, storing it, and using it as needed. I know a lot of people do this but I'm ...
7
votes
5answers
429 views
Over attenuated all grain beers
I'm having a problem with all my beers regardless of style getting over attenuated. I've been raising my mash temps up to 4° above each beers style (up to 158° or so) to compensate with no luck. I've ...
7
votes
4answers
3k views
How to best grind grain at home?
I buy most of my grain un-ground in bulk, because I don’t have a car my local HBS is way across town.
Before brewing, I’ve been grinding grain using a food processor (with blades) until each kernel ...
6
votes
3answers
273 views
Is there a noticable difference between adding extract to all grain and “pure all grain” on high gravity beers?
This may be similar to some of the questions extract brewers ask, but what I want to do is brew my normal 10 gallons, but I want to do an imperial. I use a 10 gallon mash tun, limiting me to 26 ...
6
votes
4answers
1k views
What are the pros and cons of adding specialty grains to the mash?
When all-grain brewing, you typically add all your grains to the mash, right? Is there ever a time when you leave some of the specialty grains out and steep them instead? What are the pros and cons ...
6
votes
3answers
1k views
All-Grain to Extract and Steeping
I'm wondering how this can be converted to an extract recipe. Initially it was thought we could just do 14lbs (US 2 row) * .75 = 10.5lbs of extract, but then the question was asked if the rest of the ...
6
votes
1answer
513 views
When to harvest wild hops?
Hi there fellow brewmasters! I have recently moved to all-grain brewing after two years of brewing with hopped extracts. The results are pretty good, and the whole process is a lot of fun, but I am ...
6
votes
1answer
2k views
What's the ideal size for a mash tun?
This question has been bothering me for a while and I looked it up using google. The only related search result was this thread http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/how-big-your-mash-tun-needs-123585/ ...
6
votes
3answers
658 views
Using commercial (breakfast) cereals in a mash
This question looks similar to Using flakes in a mash, but is not actually the same. I was thinking, if someone runs out of maize flakes, and definitely wants to use some for his mash, what happens if ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Benefits and drawbacks to different tubing types?
We're making some big upgrades to our homebrew system and one of them involves moving everything to 1/2" fittings and barbs. This means we need 1/2" tubing that will easily and reliably fit on the ...
5
votes
3answers
744 views
How do you insulate a cooler based mash tun?
I have a Coleman 70 Quart Xtreme cooler that I've modified for my mash tun. I seem to be losing a lot of heat out the top. Are there any good ways to insulate it to help prevent heat loss?
5
votes
4answers
420 views
How do you calculate how much extract to add if you don't hit your target gravity pre-boil?
Planning to do my first all-grain BIAB. If miss my target gravity after mashing, how do I figure out how much extract to add before I start the boil in order to reach that OG?
I would imagine ...
5
votes
1answer
348 views
Curiously high OG after first all-grain batch
I conquered my first all-grain batch this weekend, and after some early problems constructing my cooler mash tun, it went off without a hitch.
It's a Northern Brewer all grain kit, and the recipe ...
5
votes
3answers
816 views
Remedy for a Stuck sparge
How do you fix a stuck sparge? Are there any tricks too getting a sparge running again when it slows to a trick or even stops completely?
(This is not intended to be a "how to prevent" the stuck ...
5
votes
1answer
101 views
Can an under-target and under-volume wort be fixed by adding more wort of higher gravity?
Here's the situation: today I brewed a Kölsch style ale, and I encountered two problems:
The mash wasn't very efficient: 60% instead of 70%. OG 1.038 instead of 1.045.
It came in under-volume: ...
5
votes
3answers
347 views
When formulating an AG recipe, how do you determine mash thickness?
I just did my first AG brew today. It went very well!
My question comes with the mash. I know normally, you determine your mash thickness with 1.25-1.5 quarts per pound of grain. If I were to use, ...
5
votes
2answers
801 views
Should I & how do I use a mash tun brew kettle with a false bottom?
I'd like to make the move to all-grain, but it's fairly equipment-intensive. I see combination mash tuns and brew kettles. Are these a solution? Can I use the kettle for mashing, then transfer to ...
4
votes
3answers
1k views
Should the grain or strike water be added to the mash tun first?
I've always added my grain to my MLT cooler first, then dumped the strike water on top (I don't have a sparge arm). I calculate my strike temps based on the grain temp and initial cooler temp, so I ...
4
votes
3answers
1k views
All grain - is full wort boil absolutely necessary?
From what I've read it seems you Have to boil the full wort amount when going all grain. I just want to make sure that is the case, as I couldn't understand why you couldn't just boil the malt etc and ...
4
votes
1answer
1k views
90-minute boil for pilsner malt?
On the "Belgian Blond Ale" episode of the Jamil Show (podcast) it was said that you should do a 90-minute boil because of the pilsner malt.
Can someone explain this further?
4
votes
2answers
919 views
What are the effects of a watery mash?
What are the effects of having too much water in your mash? If it's too "soupy" or watery or whatnot.
4
votes
2answers
367 views
Undershooting OG in all-grain brewing
My last few all-grain batches have been under the expected OG at least as far as the recipe is concerned. The beers still taste good and all, but I'd like to get my efficiency up.
For example, my ...
4
votes
2answers
654 views
HERMS or RIMS - How to choose?
I'm confused. What are the major pros/cons between HERMS and RIMS brewing systems? I've read about both, but can't seem to come to a conclusion on why one would choose one over the other. Is it the ...
4
votes
2answers
532 views
Can I use my Country Living Grain Mill for homebrewing?
I already own a Country Living Grain Mill for making flour and want to start crushing my own grain for my homebrew. Will this style of mill work for homebrew or should I buy a mill specially for ...
4
votes
3answers
490 views
Munich and Vienna Malts - Dullness
I don't have a whole lot of experience (I've been brewing all-grain for less than a year) but I've found that every beer I've made with Munich or Vienna malt (usually 2 - 4 pounds in a 6-gallon batch) ...
4
votes
3answers
1k views
Are Sparge Arms Necessary
Do you really need a sprinkler of some sort to sparge?
Does it really improve the lautering process?
How fancy does a sparge arm need to be, does it really have to rotate or can it just sprinkle all ...
4
votes
3answers
477 views
How to calculate the minimum vessel sizes for all grain brewing
Background:
Brewing in an kitchenette with limited storage space
All Grain brewing, extracts are not available around here
I'm looking at BIAB also, but want to have the traditional 3 vessels setup
...
4
votes
2answers
587 views
Determining the right gravity after mash in all grain brewing
Say I am brewing a beer that is supposed to have an OG of 1.050. I'm doing all-grain brewing and at the end of my mash & sparge, if I took the gravity at that point, what should I expect?
I ...
3
votes
6answers
392 views
Doing my first all grain batch this weekend. What are the key issues for me to follow/watch/do?
Being brewing for years, but will be doing my first all grain batch this weekend. What is the one thing that is key for me to follow/watch/do to insure a good batch?
Thanks.
3
votes
7answers
4k views
Why is my starting gravity low?
In the fall of 2011 I made the leap from extract/partial kits to all-grain kits. I'm enjoying AG, but my SG is continuously below the expected. I have brewed 5 AG kits and 4 have had a low SG.
My ...
3
votes
3answers
592 views
Misjudging Volumes in All-Grain
So I brewed my second all-grain batch today, and, like with my first all-grain batch, I misjudged the final volume and ended up with slightly under 4 gallons in my carboy. Does anyone have any good ...
3
votes
3answers
2k views
When to add DME if you miss your starting OG?
My family was very nice to me this Christmas and I got a bayou classic burner and an 32qt. pot with 2 ports and a bazooka screen as well as an immersion chiller. I had built a 10 gallon mash tun over ...
3
votes
5answers
626 views
The move from kit brewing to all grain brewing
I have brewed a few batches of beer using pre-measured kits.
They have turned out great, and have I have enjoyed them. However, I would like to make the move towards all grain brewing.
Is this a ...
3
votes
2answers
198 views
Different ways to use mushrooms in brewing
We were asked to do a mushroom themed brewing demonstration for a local festival/market.
Yes, I said mushroom.
At first I wondered if this really is such a good idea, but because I like crazy brews ...
3
votes
3answers
167 views
What size mash tun for a half batch (2-3 gallon) brew?
I have a 10 gallon mash tun (chest cooler) and I've been brewing with pre-made kits. I want to start making my own recipes but I want to do half-batches (2.5 gallons) until I get the hang of things so ...
3
votes
3answers
124 views
Stuck Mash — New LHBS
I recently found that there was a home brew store much closer to my house than the one that I had been visiting. The new store has a larger selection of grains, yeast, and hops; but I've been having a ...
3
votes
1answer
55 views
If I condition my grain, is it ok to wait until I grind it?
I ran out of time grinding last night, even though I had already conditioned my grain: are there any concerns with leaving some slightly moist grains in a bucket overnight? I've got about 4 ounces of ...
3
votes
2answers
552 views
What gap should I set my mill's rollers to?
I just received a Barley Crusher mill - is the default roller setting sufficient for most grain types, or do I need to worry about adjusting it?
Do you guys change roller spacing based on what grain ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
IBU rate of Sierra Nevada's “torpedo”?
I am preparing to start a season of working up a solid, reasonably priced All grain American Ale on the brink of a high gravity beer. Sierra Nevada's Torpedo balances sweet malt nicely against a hop ...
3
votes
2answers
271 views
Why an all grain stops at 1.030 when there are an abundance of champagne yeast
I did an all-grain rye for a mash and pitched with Premier Cuvee yeast (tolerant to 18% abv), 5 grams to 4 gal wort. Repitched it again and the forced fermentation test indicates that the mash is done ...
