Accidental venture into partial

Uh-oh, what have I gotten myself into? I went to the LHBS today in search of an extract kit for a porter. Ended up leaving the shop with a kit, alright, but it's got a bag o' grain in it. Gah! What have I done? At the time, I was thinking, "Sure, that's no problem. I can just find some directions for a partial mash and that'll be a piece of cake." I must've been insane!

The more I read brewing books and websites, though, the more complicated it seems. I've been reading John Palmer's "How to Brew" site, of course, but how do I know if this grain needs mashing or just steeping? (It's the British porter recipe on this page.)

I tried searching, but there are just too many search results to sift through. Can someone direct me to a foolproof, step-by-step guide to doing your first partial? This looks fine for steeping, but again, how do I know if I need to steep or mash?

That is indeed a partial mash recipe. You can tell because there is pale 2-row in it, that's always the biggest indicator.
As far as easy step by step instructions... Hmm, well you're basically doing a tiny AG batch without the complicated sparge. You'll have a lot to read if you don't know the process. You're on the right track with how to brew, another awesome resource is Papazian's complete joy of HB.
Not the easiest thing to read about, pick-up and execute all in one afternoon I'm afraid...

OK I thought I had some advice, but now I'm second guessing myself. So now I have to ask instead: if this is a kit, doesn't it say what to do with the grains on some directions somewhere? I haven't started partial mashing yet, but I'm sure there's someone one here that knows how

Geez you guys are fast!

Chairman Cheyco said:

That is indeed a partial mash recipe. You can tell because there is pale 2-row in it, that's always the biggest indicator.
As far as easy step by step instructions... Hmm, well you're basically doing a tiny AG batch without the complicated sparge. You'll have a lot to read if you don't know the process. You're on the right track with how to brew, another awesome resource is Papazian's complete joy of HB.
Not the easiest thing to read about, pick-up and execute all in one afternoon I'm afraid...

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Thanks!

See, I just feel like a moron reading the ingredients list, because what I actually have in the bag from DeFalco's is one tub of liquid malt, a bag of grains, a vial of yeast, Bru-Vigor, and two little packs of hops pellets (also some dextrose, but of course I won't need that until bottling time). I'm assuming some of the malts are combined together already? (Sadly, it didn't occur to me to ask at the shop, because they just put everything from the kit in a bag and I didn't think to question. D'oh!)

I don't necessarily need to do it all this afternoon, although I might if I can figure out how not to screw it up. We've got a mini-vacation from school so I have a nice, long weekend to get this done. The liquid yeast can just chill in the fridge (literally!) until I'm ready.

eviltwinofjoni said:

OK I thought I had some advice, but now I'm second guessing myself. So now I have to ask instead: if this is a kit, doesn't it say what to do with the grains on some directions somewhere? I haven't started partial mashing yet, but I'm sure there's someone one here that knows how

Geez you guys are fast!

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"kit" doesn't have a real definition here, does it? It's certainly an ingredient kit, it just lacks directions for what to do with them.

-walker

Does it have a nylon bag for the grain to mash in? If so just keep the grain bag in about 2 gallons of water on the stove. Use a thermometer to keep the temp at 152 for an hour. Then procede like normal with the extract.

You guys beat me

eviltwinofjoni said:

OK I thought I had some advice, but now I'm second guessing myself. So now I have to ask instead: if this is a kit, doesn't it say what to do with the grains on some directions somewhere? I haven't started partial mashing yet, but I'm sure there's someone one here that knows how

Geez you guys are fast!

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You would think! There are, in fact, no directions included. I didn't even think to ask about directions because every other time I've been there, directions were included. Why would this time be any different? Here's where making assumptions bites me in the ass.

Walker's post is more helpful for your situation, but I still strongly suggest reading up on what actually happens in the mash, so you can better understand it and make better beer.

PS Walker has you mashing too high, I wouldn't go above 153F for that recipe!

Thanks for all the help, people!

Brewsmith said:

Does it have a nylon bag for the grain to mash in? If so just keep the grain bag in about 2 gallons of water on the stove. Use a thermometer to keep the temp at 152 for an hour. Then procede like normal with the extract.

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That does seem simple!

Chairman Cheyco said:

PS Walker has you mashing too high, I wouldn't go above 153F for that recipe!

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No way, Cheyco. Mash high to get more unfermentables and give that Porter some body.

-walker

Walker is closer with 1 gallon of water now that I read a little closer.

It's not hard and you can do it all on the stove top. You don't even need the burner on the whole time. Get it up to temp and when it drops a few degrees, just turn the burner on again to get it back up.

If you take the rinsing option, heat another pot with another gallon of water to about 160. You can start this after the mini mash is about half done. Then use this water to rinse the grain after the mini mash as sat for it's hour.

Walker-san said:

No way, Cheyco. Mash high to get more unfermentables and give that Porter some body.

-walker

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Whatever, you don't even know what malted grain looks like, now you're going tell me how to mash?

Don't forget to take your yeast out of the fridge several hours befor pitching.

Thanks again for all the help! I brewed up yesterday while my friends were over, and now it's bubbling happily along. All seems well.

The recipe called for an OG of 1.048 and I got 1.050, so that's pretty close. It was definitely a no-worries type of brew day. The partial mash was incredibly simple, including the wash, so I either did it wrong or people hype its difficulty way too much.

Anyway, if it works out and I didn't manage to contaminate it or whatnot, I think I'll stick with the partial mash from now on.

dancingbarefoot said:

Anyway, if it works out and I didn't manage to contaminate it or whatnot, I think I'll stick with the partial mash from now on.

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WTF, you've come this far, go AG!!!!! :rockin:

But don't I need a bunch more equipment for AG? That'd be a problem in this apartment.

stick with what works for you and make great beer.

cheers

Personally, I like mini-mashes. About 110% as difficult as extract with specialty grains, 95% of the control and flavor of all grain and 50% the time and equipment. I'm lazy & I like the brewing to be done by the time the BBQ is.

All it takes is a really big grain bag!

I racked it to secondary last night, and it's smelling fantastic. However, the volume is less than I expected, so the surface area inside the carboy is pretty big. OK to leave it like that, risking too much oxygen exposure, or should I top it off with water or something?

It will be fine. EnoughCO2 is out-gassed to fill the volume and CO2 is heavier than air.

Chairman Cheyco said:

Whatever, you don't even know what malted grain looks like, now you're going tell me how to mash?

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Uh oh! Battle of the mods! Shouldn't uh.. Dude or some other 4000 plus post count mod do something???

I dont have 4000+ post and I'm not a mod but I'll step in . . . .

FIGHT

FIGHT

david_42 said:

It will be fine. EnoughCO2 is out-gassed to fill the volume and CO2 is heavier than air.

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Thanks! I know they say not to worry, but I just want to be sure.

Pumbaa said:

FIGHT

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**sits back to watch fight**

We're not going to fight you guys, that was over a week ago. Besides, I already won.

Cheyco's skinny but he's tough. Had a turd come out sideways once and he didn't scream or nothin.

Sasquatch said:

Cheyco's skinny but he's tough. Had a turd come out sideways once and he didn't scream or nothin.

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Oh great, look who's back. The muskeg freeze early this year?

oooo sounds like a catfight's a brewin'

*goes to get popcorn*