Easy Partial Mash Brewing (with pics) - Page 9

bernerbrau · 09-08-2008, 04:31 PM

DB -- or anyone skilled in partial mashing -- is there an upper limit to how much grain can go in the partial? Like, is 7 pounds grain and 3 pounds DME in the last 15 minutes for a 5-gallon batch out of the question? And if so, is there any reason not to use the same partial mash methods for an all-grain beer?

**DeathBrewer** · 09-08-2008, 07:03 PM

good question...i just made an all-grain 5 gallon breakfast stout with 9 lbs of grain using this method. it filled my 5 gallon stockpot (mash pot) almost to the top, which was great because i had zero temperature loss with the lack of head space.

the only limits would be what your container can hold and how much you want to lift (that 9 lbs was quite a bit heavier with absorption

still no big deal, tho. you could always use a hoist for a big beer.) make sure your bag can handle it, too.

also, remember you should use more water with more grain, so you have to have pots that are big enough. a proper amount of water to the mash and sparge will help increase efficiency. i usually put enough water in the 2nd pot so that i can do a full boil (as an example: 5 gallons of water + 2 gallons mash water - absorption = 6+ gallons preboil)

**gwood** · 09-08-2008, 08:03 PM

I have a 30qt brew kettle and I can get about 8.5lbs of grain in there, maybe a bit more.

**DeathBrewer** · 09-08-2008, 08:14 PM

you should be able to get quite a bit more with a thicker mash.

this calculator works pretty well: Green Bay Rackers--Mash Calculators

at 1.25 quarts/lb of grain (my usual minimum), i can fit 12 lbs of grain for a total mash volume of 4.71 gallons (leaving a small amount of space)

i probably wouldn't do more than 10 lbs in my 5 gallon, tho. might get messy.

Craig311 · 09-08-2008, 08:32 PM

DeathBrewer,

Did my first PM this weekend and just wanted to say 'thanks' for this great post. I referenced it throughout the entire process. More than that, it somehow took a lot of the mystery/intimidation away.

ColdOne31 · 09-08-2008, 10:51 PM

Great thread DeathBrewer, I'm on my 2nd batch of extract brewing right now and will probably do a few more until I jump to mini-mash. This will make a great reference tool. thanks.

ballbuster · 09-08-2008, 11:42 PM

Awesome thread DeathBrewer! Cant wait to try it, Could not be explained in any easier to understand terms. I need all the easy explanations I can get. Just a tip! Dont ever listen to old bald guys when it comes to hair fashion tips.

**DeathBrewer** · 09-08-2008, 11:48 PM

lol, thanks everyone!

i'm glad to see how helpful this thread has been. still need to make those edits in the beginning. i'm trying to make everything crystal clear so that jump to partial mashes (and all-grain for that matter) doesn't seem like such a feat. work is hell, i'll get it done as soon as i can.

in the meantime, keep posting those questions! it only helps people more and the feedback i have received as of yet has already helped me improve this process and gain 5%+ efficiency!

ifishsum · 09-08-2008, 11:52 PM

I've gotta thank you as well DB, your write-up answered a lot of questions for me and I'm trying my first PM tomorrow as well. Keep up the good work!

Ecnerwal · 09-09-2008, 02:58 AM

You might set a large colander on top of the pot, rather than be left holding the bag. Given the bag, a canning rack (which has rather big spaces) might even work, and that has hooked handles to hold it up in place.

This might be enough to get me to give PM or even AG a try - I already have a 10 gallon brewpot and a canning element on the stove (if you don't have one, and you brew on an electric stove, I recommend them highly. You can put the original element back in and take the canning element with you when you move out). Any appliance store should be able to order one if they don't have one in stock.

I've been wary of the fuss and time of getting into AG and mashing and lauter tuns and RIMS and HERMS (which seem to have replaced RIMS as the acronym of choice, but I'm carefully avoiding finding out too much about them - trying to make beer, not equipment). But I already do a full-volume boil for 5 gallon batches and steep pounds of chocolate malt, so mashing may not really be much more work/time with this method.