I've got my first batch in bottles and the second batch in the fermenter, both of which were ingredient kits purchased from the LHBS. For my next batch I'm thinking of trying a clone recipe (extract not FG) that has a list of ingredients and the amounts necessary but I have some questions on buying the ingredients and how to use them:
1. The recipes I'm looking at have a certain amount of dry malt extract but then 3-4 different types of grains. The second kit I did had one kind of steeping grains which was pretty straightforward, I put them in a grain bag and steeped them for the requisite amount of time. But if the recipe calls for more than one kind of grain do I just throw them all together in the grain bag and steep them at the same time? Do they need to be in different grain bags and steeped at different times?
2. If I order the ingredients online or buy them from my LHBS, should I buy the exact amounts of each that are called for in the recipe or should I buy more than that and measure it out myself?
3. One more question on steeping grains: I've read about having to crush the grains with a rolling pin before adding them to the grain bag and steeping them. I didn't do this when I made my second kit because I didn't know about it. Is this step necessary with ingredient kits? If not, is it necessary if I buy the grains from the LHBS?
Thanks,
-Brian
1. The recipes I'm looking at have a certain amount of dry malt extract but then 3-4 different types of grains. The second kit I did had one kind of steeping grains which was pretty straightforward, I put them in a grain bag and steeped them for the requisite amount of time. But if the recipe calls for more than one kind of grain do I just throw them all together in the grain bag and steep them at the same time? Do they need to be in different grain bags and steeped at different times?
2. If I order the ingredients online or buy them from my LHBS, should I buy the exact amounts of each that are called for in the recipe or should I buy more than that and measure it out myself?
3. One more question on steeping grains: I've read about having to crush the grains with a rolling pin before adding them to the grain bag and steeping them. I didn't do this when I made my second kit because I didn't know about it. Is this step necessary with ingredient kits? If not, is it necessary if I buy the grains from the LHBS?
Thanks,
-Brian