jwheeler85
Member
I'd really appreciate some suggestions here:
Ok, so I've read all about extracts, partial boils, hop utilization, etc... but I'm just having trouble finding a good way to do these recipes calling for 6 plus pounds of DME.
Basically, I do a 3 gallon or so boil, first steeping specialty grains, then adding bittering hops and about half of the extract called for in the recipe. Boil for however long, more hops, and in the last 15 minutes I add the remaining extract and allow that to pasturize.
I do the half and half thing with the extract to simulate a full volume boil, gravity wise, so that I can get the most out of my hops... boil gravity affects isomerization... so they say. So anyways, where I'm going with this is that I can't figure out a good way to add DME to my boils. I know they say that it dissolves better in cold water... but how do I do that with my current techniques? Last batch I made was a nightmare because all the DME formed a massive solid clump on the surface of the kettle and took me about 45 minutes of constant poking and stirring to dissolve... that, and the stuff started to hydrate while still in the bag due to the steam rising from the kettle.
Any tips from first hand experience that would make this easier???
Ok, so I've read all about extracts, partial boils, hop utilization, etc... but I'm just having trouble finding a good way to do these recipes calling for 6 plus pounds of DME.
Basically, I do a 3 gallon or so boil, first steeping specialty grains, then adding bittering hops and about half of the extract called for in the recipe. Boil for however long, more hops, and in the last 15 minutes I add the remaining extract and allow that to pasturize.
I do the half and half thing with the extract to simulate a full volume boil, gravity wise, so that I can get the most out of my hops... boil gravity affects isomerization... so they say. So anyways, where I'm going with this is that I can't figure out a good way to add DME to my boils. I know they say that it dissolves better in cold water... but how do I do that with my current techniques? Last batch I made was a nightmare because all the DME formed a massive solid clump on the surface of the kettle and took me about 45 minutes of constant poking and stirring to dissolve... that, and the stuff started to hydrate while still in the bag due to the steam rising from the kettle.
Any tips from first hand experience that would make this easier???