Mash tonight, brew tomorrow??? Bad Idea???

**BierMuncher** · 04-04-2007, 09:17 PM

I have little to do on Friday evenings and lots to do on Saturday afternoon.

You see my dilemma.

Is it a bad idea to get my (AG) mash done "tonight", set the pot off to the side and start my boil "tomorrow"?

Has anyone else split up their brewing routine like that?

brewman ! · 04-04-2007, 09:21 PM

Can't you brew all in one evening session ? I do.

I get my stuff out beforehand. Sometimes I mash in before diner, othertimes I mash in after diner. Watch a movie, play with my son while mashing. Do dishes, etc. My brewing doesn't take any time until I start sparging. 30 minutes for sparging, 2 hours for boiling, chilling, pitching and cleaning up. I'm done by 11PM and I usually have time to watch some TV.

Even if I doddle, I'm done by midnight.

**BierMuncher** · 04-04-2007, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brewman !

Can't you brew all in one evening session ? I do.

I get my stuff out beforehand. Sometimes I mash in before diner, othertimes I mash in after diner. Watch a movie, play with my son while mashing. Do dishes, etc. My brewing doesn't take any time until I start sparging. 30 minutes for sparging, 2 hours for boiling, chilling, pitching and cleaning up. I'm done by 11PM and I usually have time to watch some TV.

Even if I doddle, I'm done by midnight.

I could, but I'd rather take everything at a liesurely pace. A little tonight...a little tomorrow.

Plus, us old timers get to bed too early.

Sir Humpsalot · 04-04-2007, 09:50 PM

Well, you'll have to mash out to stop conversion, get up to 170 degrees or so, IIRC. Then I guess it's ok to wait, but I wouldn't wait too long. Or maybe I would.

Random thought... after mashout, could you use campden tablets to keep bacteria at bay for a few days? Does boiling break down campden tablet stuff?

Willsellout · 04-04-2007, 09:51 PM

I don't see why you couldn't..and FWIW I'm like you..I don't like to be rushed. I like to brew one day, quick clean and then clean up the next.

Dan

**BierMuncher** · 04-04-2007, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toot

Random thought... after mashout, could you use campden tablets to keep bacteria at bay for a few days? Does boiling break down campden tablet stuff?

At most, I would wait until the following morning. Having a fresh brew "pending" is too much to resist.

brewman ! · 04-04-2007, 10:39 PM

I hardly call what I do rushed. But I understand what you are saying.

**david_42** · 04-04-2007, 10:43 PM

If you are mashing in a cooler or have some way of keeping the mash warm, just mash-out before going to bed. As long as the temperature stays over 120F, you shouldn't have problems. If you don't mash-out, you will have a very fermentable wort.

**BierMuncher** · 04-04-2007, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by david_42

If you are mashing in a cooler or have some way of keeping the mash warm, just mash-out before going to bed. As long as the temperature stays over 120F, you shouldn't have problems. If you don't mash-out, you will have a very fermentable wort.

I would definitely mash out to the pot. Leaving the mash sitting in "mash state" overnight would make me nervous.

I'm just talking about leaving the pot of wort sitting over night (covered and in a generally clean area of course).

joshpooh · 04-04-2007, 10:53 PM

I tried this method on a batch that is currently in secondary. Obviously I can't be sure of the effect on the final product yet, but it didn't seem to have an effect. Others in the forum told me it could possibly create a sour beer b/c of contamination. The wort wasn't sour so I'm doubting the beer will be. If the beer tastes the same the last batch of this type, I will probably use this method more often.