Egg7

Recipes 

Hi Everyone

I plan on starting my first batch tomorrow! But I have one question. I'm making an IPA. I bought a Brewers Best set of ingredients to make life easy. However, the directions in the ingredient kit say to steep the grain at 165 degrees for 20 minutes, remove, bring to boil, and add the extract/ dried malt.
The book I have says that many directions say this but to ignore it. It suggests bringing the water to a boil and adding everything at once... SO...

What should I do?

Thank you

danorocks17

Recipes 

steep you grains first, then you will want to bring your water to a boil. when it boils, kill the flame and add your extract. If you do it while the heat is still on you might boil over. turn the flame back on, and once it starts boiling, throw in your bittering (first) hops. Good luck, and welcome to the club. I started out with the exact same kit and it came out great.

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Burning Fence Brewery

"blessing of your heart, you brew a good ale"

Egg7

Recipes 

Thanks Dano

Just to make sure, I steep, then remove the grain, then bring to a boil?

cravej

Recipes 

I would follow the directions. The book doesn't seem very specific. I also started brewing with the very same kit.

TopherM

Recipes 

FOLLOW THE KIT DIRECTIONS!

I suspect whatever you are reading in the book is out of context, and you're misunderstanding.

Steeping grains at anything much over 165 is going to start leeching tannins and bringing off flavors to your beer. NO ONE with any knowledge of brewing would ever tell you to put grains into boiling water.

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Primary #1 - Summer Hopped Hefeweizen
Primary #2 - EMPTY!
Primary #3 - EMPTY!
Secondary #1 - Downtown Flanders Brown (Due June 2013)
Secondary #2 - Pinot Noir Wine (Due December 2013)
Keg #1 - Bavarian Pilsner Ale
Keg #2 - Hard Cider (Spring SeaCider)
Keg #3 - Centennial Blonde
Bottled - NONE!

danorocks17

Recipes 

After steeping you remove them, other wise you will end up with some nasty tannins in there

to be honest i usually steep my grains longer than that (usually 45 -60 min) but absolulty follow the directions that came with the kit! the kits are pretty hard to get wrong, so just follow the directions and you will come out with some great beer!

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Burning Fence Brewery

"blessing of your heart, you brew a good ale"

danorocks17

Recipes 

oh and if you have a dog (i dont but my friend who helps me on brew day does) you can make doggie treats with the spent grains. Just search "doggie treats" on here and you will find the recipe

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Burning Fence Brewery

"blessing of your heart, you brew a good ale"

Egg7

Recipes 

Thanks again for the replies.

I believe I was misunderstanding the book directions. But I will follow the kit directions.

birvine

Recipes 

Yup, and all should be well. The key things are not to steep at too high a temp, extract with the flame off, then proceed.

Add your hops as per the directions and in a few weeks or months... enjoy!

B

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heferly

Recipes 

Follow the directions until they say your beer is ready in 5 days..let that puppy sit in your primary AT LEAST 2 weeks, and better yet 3-4 weeks..your beer will be so much better

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Basement Cafe Brewery