Partial mash grain question

Hello All

Have brewed a few extract kits and want to try my hand on a partial mash. Currently I have one kit left, its a coopers IPA kit. Which is pre hopped liquid malt extract and some DME light 500g.

For a partial mash would I want to add specialty grains or Base grains in combination with my kit?

If so what amount of grain is a good starting point for a partial mash?

I have a VERY VERY large pot so I think i can accomodate any amount.

Thanks, as always.

The type of grain you use depends on if you want to steep or mash.

You can use anywhere from 1/2 to 2 lbs for a good start.

I took this info on grains (from paragraphs) in John Palmer's "How To Brew" and made a chart (which I laminated and carry in my wallet) that lays out which grains can be steeped and which have to be mashed. It helps immensely when at the LHBS.

Email me if you want a copy: [email protected]

Here it is, but the format is not the same:

Base Malts - Mashed Only
American 2 row
American 6 row
Pilsner Malt
Continental Pilsner
British Pale Ale
Rye
Wheat

Kilned Malts - Mashed Only
Vienna
Munich
Aromatic (20L)
Biscuit (25L)
Victory (28L)
Melanoidin (28L)
Special Roast (50L)
Brown (70L)
German Beechwood / Smoked (Rauch)

Roasted Malts - Mashed or Steeped
Carapils / Dextrine
Crystal (15L)
Honey Malt (18L)
CaraVienna (20L)
Crystal (40L)
CaraMunich (60L)
Crystal (60L)
Crystal (80L)
Crystal (120L)
Special “B” (120L)
Meussdoerffer Rost (200L)

Kiln / Roasted Malts - Mashed or Steeped
Pale Chocolate (200L)
Light Roasted Barley (300L)
Chocolate (350L)
Chocolate (420L)
Carafa Special II (430L)
Chocolate (475L)
Roasted Barley (450L)
Roasted Barley (500L)
Black Barley (500L)
Black Patent (525L)
Roasted Barley (575L)
Black (600L)

If I were you, I'd just brew the kit as it is and do your first PM with your next batch. Just adding grains without respect to how they change the recipe isn't a good idea. More malt will need more hops to balance it out, and you're going to be making the brew itself stronger (both in ABV and in character) than it was intended.

Brew this one up and pick up a partial mash kit next time.

It's difficult to change an IPA into something else without pushing the results out of style.