two_hearted
Well-Known Member
There's probably a few threads like this out there, but the search function on this site is so terrible I couldn't turn anything up.
Is it worth the extra effort and time?
Is it worth the extra effort and time?
I've never done a turbid mash, but I have made award winning sours with 100% extract. I would have to second what Coff said and say that doing a turbid mash, if it is important, is pretty low on the "importance scale", especially considering other easier methods for getting starch into the wort.
Also, another point is timing of when the bugs are added. If they are added early, I would say a turbid mash would probably be less necessary since there is more sugar that they will be able to eat. The later you pitch the bugs, the more advanced starch reserves you need to feed your bugs.
Mind you, there are varieties of lacto bugs (pedio/lactobacillus) that produce the enzymes to convert starches to sugars, as do most brettanomyces strains to various degrees.
So, all said and done, it comes down to:
1. When do you want to pitch the bugs?
2. How sour do you want it?
3. What end flavors are you going for?
That's where experience comes in. Find your methodology after some experimentation and tastings.
Good luck! Cheers!
Thanks for the info. Can you elaborate on the other methods? I really love sour beer and have dived in head first over the last few years, but never brewed one.
Also, Oldsock/Michael Tonsmeire has an article in this month's Zymurgy about this topic...
I've had good luck with turbid mashes, but they are far from required. The big issue with sour beers is that even the same wort pitched with the same microbes can result in wildly different beers. Makes experiments and comparisons difficult. I'm a big advocate of diversification of process/microbes/fermentors and blending.
Great article, by the way, Mike. I really like how you laid out the logic of decision making for the variables you talked about in the article. It is a good summary of a lot of scattered information! Can't wait for your book!
Also, Oldsock/Michael Tonsmeire has an article in this month's Zymurgy about this topic...
I've had good luck with turbid mashes, but they are far from required. The big issue with sour beers is that even the same wort pitched with the same microbes can result in wildly different beers. Makes experiments and comparisons difficult. I'm a big advocate of diversification of process/microbes/fermentors and blending.
Cheers! Hopefully the book does something similar for the whole process (my goal). I'm presenting an expanded version of the same topic at NHC in Grand Rapids as well.
Agreed, great article. I found it extremely helpful. I can't wait to check out the book! Anyone know when it drops?
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