So, I attempted my first minimash using a 5 gal. Igloo cooler rig (thanks to all who posted the parts and pics of a setup). I was making a Chocolate oatmeal stout (kinda an original recipe) using 2lbs of american 2-row pale ale malt, 1lb crystal malt (60L), 1lb of caramunich malt and then some adjuncts. Seemed to go well for the mash and sparge, though attempting to boil outside in the largest blizzard to hit our area in 15 years was a bit difficult, so I had to move inside.
My first question is, for a mash followed by a sparge, do you drain all of the original mash water before you start sparging? Do you sparge when the water level above the grains can no longer be seen? Or do you drain the mash water, then add the sparge water and restir and allow to settle again? I have seen a variety of different ways of doing this?
My second question is during the last 15 minutes of the boil, I say I had some pure vanilla extract in my cupboard. I decided to add about a 3/4 tsp to the last 15 minute boil. Should I have used vanilla bean (very expensive at the grocery store)? Should the vanilla been added during the steep?
Either way, the OG was about 1.050 and it was fermenting like crazy in 12-14 hours. I am sure it will come out tasty, but I am still refining my homebrew skills. The more info I can gather, the better the following brews will come out.
My first question is, for a mash followed by a sparge, do you drain all of the original mash water before you start sparging? Do you sparge when the water level above the grains can no longer be seen? Or do you drain the mash water, then add the sparge water and restir and allow to settle again? I have seen a variety of different ways of doing this?
My second question is during the last 15 minutes of the boil, I say I had some pure vanilla extract in my cupboard. I decided to add about a 3/4 tsp to the last 15 minute boil. Should I have used vanilla bean (very expensive at the grocery store)? Should the vanilla been added during the steep?
Either way, the OG was about 1.050 and it was fermenting like crazy in 12-14 hours. I am sure it will come out tasty, but I am still refining my homebrew skills. The more info I can gather, the better the following brews will come out.