The_Chemist
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- Nov 4, 2008
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Alright,
I have been making wine for years now but just recently started making beer and I have a general question concerning how to get the most from the malt in making a wort. I may not have a complete understanding of many of the technical terms, so bear with me. Also, I looked high and low but this question appears to be too fundamental find in a FAQ or with the search function.
Okay, so considering the malt, the main goal when making the wort is to extract the fermentable sugars and other flavor/aroma compounds from the malt into the water that becomes the wort. My question is in three parts:
1) I don't fully understand why the bag to contain the malted grains is necessary except in that it makes it easier to remove the solid bits. Is there another purpose for using this bag?
2) If you want to do a good extraction, you want to use as much 'solvent', in this case water, as possible. Why do many recipes tell you to use less water and then fill the fermenter up to desired level. This seems like it might lead to a poorer extraction than is possible.
3) This is the big one. Why is it not common to leave the malted grains in the primary fermenter for the entire primary fermentation instead of removing them before pitching the yeast. Would this not give a more complex brew and make the most of the grains?
Thanks in advance for your answers!
Aaron
I have been making wine for years now but just recently started making beer and I have a general question concerning how to get the most from the malt in making a wort. I may not have a complete understanding of many of the technical terms, so bear with me. Also, I looked high and low but this question appears to be too fundamental find in a FAQ or with the search function.
Okay, so considering the malt, the main goal when making the wort is to extract the fermentable sugars and other flavor/aroma compounds from the malt into the water that becomes the wort. My question is in three parts:
1) I don't fully understand why the bag to contain the malted grains is necessary except in that it makes it easier to remove the solid bits. Is there another purpose for using this bag?
2) If you want to do a good extraction, you want to use as much 'solvent', in this case water, as possible. Why do many recipes tell you to use less water and then fill the fermenter up to desired level. This seems like it might lead to a poorer extraction than is possible.
3) This is the big one. Why is it not common to leave the malted grains in the primary fermenter for the entire primary fermentation instead of removing them before pitching the yeast. Would this not give a more complex brew and make the most of the grains?
Thanks in advance for your answers!
Aaron