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brigbrew · 01-22-2013, 02:19 AM

I just bought a BIPA extract kit and the steeping grains include a pound of pale malt. I've been doing my homework and found many a thread with conflicting information. Some say steep as usual and just get a small amount of flavor from the pale malt. This seems to fly in the face of everything I've learned about steeping/mashing. Others say it needs to be mashed. I have pretty good temperature control, so I could do a partial mash for 60 minutes rather than steeping for 30, but how will doing one or the other affect my gravity numbers? Because clearly they would change if I pull fermentables from mashing, but not from steeping. So, am i missing some basic piece of information here, or is the store just nuts?

lumpher · 01-22-2013, 02:22 AM

if you steep for 30, you pull most of the fermentables. mashing for 60 is better. they're doing the instructions for convenience, not efficiency

**helibrewer** · 01-22-2013, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brigbrew

I just bought a BIPA extract kit and the steeping grains include a pound of pale malt. I've been doing my homework and found many a thread with conflicting information. Some say steep as usual and just get a small amount of flavor from the pale malt. This seems to fly in the face of everything I've learned about steeping/mashing. Others say it needs to be mashed. I have pretty good temperature control, so I could do a partial mash for 60 minutes rather than steeping for 30, but how will doing one or the other affect my gravity numbers? Because clearly they would change if I pull fermentables from mashing, but not from steeping. So, am i missing some basic piece of information here, or is the store just nuts?

What are all the grains involved?

brigbrew · 01-22-2013, 04:06 AM

Extract:
6 lb. Briess Gold Light LME
1 lb. Light DME

Steeping Grains:
1 lb. Maris Otter
1 lb. 2 Row
8 oz. Crystal 60L
8 oz. Crystal 120L
8 oz. Carafa III

And I was just reading a thread a little further down where Yooper was emphatically stating that they MUST be mashed for 60, when lumpher comes back and says you can get fermentables from steeping. But doesn't the starch conversion need 60 minutes?

kingwood-kid · 01-22-2013, 04:15 AM

Just about all the starches can convert in under 20 minutes. They'll just get progressively more fermentable if you let it go longer. Steeping is usually done around 160-165, partial mash the low 150s. At 160, you'll get starch conversion, but not too many fermentables, as beta-amylase is destroyed pretty rapidly at those temps. Alpha-amylase actually works fastest a little over 160.

**unionrdr** · 01-22-2013, 01:40 PM

The ingredients list looks more like a partial mash. Mash 1 hour at 150-155F to get conversion. This will get decent fermentables vs non-fermentables that provide color & body to my current understanding. Lower temp,more fermentables. Higher temp,less. I've done 2 partial mashes,& this worked pretty well.

cooper · 01-22-2013, 01:45 PM

I agree that they probably flubbed somehting and gave you the PM version of the recipe. Either way it should be fun right! Something a little different than the usual makes for an exciting brew day.

**Stauffbier** · 01-22-2013, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brigbrew

Extract:
6 lb. Briess Gold Light LME
1 lb. Light DME

Steeping Grains:
1 lb. Maris Otter
1 lb. 2 Row
8 oz. Crystal 60L
8 oz. Crystal 120L
8 oz. Carafa III

And I was just reading a thread a little further down where Yooper was emphatically stating that they MUST be mashed for 60, when lumpher comes back and says you can get fermentables from steeping. But doesn't the starch conversion need 60 minutes?

The Maris Otter is also a base malt that requires mashing. I have a feeling the store accidently packaged a Partial Mash as a Steeping grain and extract kit. As everyone mentioned you'll benefit more by mashing these grains on this batch.

brigbrew · 01-22-2013, 03:34 PM

Good to know I'm not nuts. And I've learned a bit about the gray area between steeping and mashing.

Well, partial mash it is! Far be it from me to object to what fate clearly wants me to be brewing.

**unionrdr** · 01-22-2013, 03:55 PM

Who knows? You might be good at it. Just keep mash temps between 150-159F or so,& it'll be ok. 153-155F even better.