Hi All. Normally, I'd be doing a bit of poking around in the search section, but I have a very busy day and I'd like to get this brew going tomorrow early morning. I've been doing lots of research and just have a few questions about the Nuances of All Grain.
I'm making, what I call, On the Fly Ale. I just picked up some grains and said "let's do it."
I got :
5lb Pale 2 row
5lb Munich
1lb 20L Crystal
1oz Noble
2oz Amarillo
I packet S-05
I plan on doing to decocting method with my ghetto plastic food bucket MLT.
So my questions are:
1. for first protein rest at 122, should I put the water in the MLT first? Or pour it on top of dry grains? If pouring on top of dry grains, do I do it slowly like a sparge? Or do i just dump it all on so the temp of the water keeps up? (I plan on heating the water to 135 to let it drop to 122)
2. For the second rest, I want a heavier bodied beer, so I rest around 156? After lautering and reheating, do I need to make that water much hotter than my target since the grains will still be wet and warm?
3. Do I really need to mash out? That means just letting the grains sit at 158-160?
4. I have 2 pots. a 5 gal stainless and a 6 gal granite ware. When it comes to all grain, the more water, the better, right? How much room do you think I should leave to prevent a boil over? I don't have a very strong stove, but it can boil large volumes...eventually.
5. I realize that the grains that I bought are probably going to produce a rather light colored beer. Can I boil for 90 mins to make it darker? I would still do 60 min hop addition.
6. I picked up Rye Berries (the stuff that looks like rice) from Whole Foods for the heck of it. Can I add that for some body/alcohol?
7. My food bucket MLT is on loan from a friend, i imagined that one should have a plethora of holes in the bottom, but there are maybe about 75 holes in it. Is the lack of holes going to increase my chances for clogging? I can make another one with more holes if need be. If it does clog, what's a good method for undoing it - stirring?
Thank you all for taking the time to read through this. Normally I'd be hunkered down on howtobrew.com, flipping through Charlie's book, and googling and hbt'ing, but I've had a lot on my plate. Thanks again! Wish me luck!
I'm making, what I call, On the Fly Ale. I just picked up some grains and said "let's do it."
I got :
5lb Pale 2 row
5lb Munich
1lb 20L Crystal
1oz Noble
2oz Amarillo
I packet S-05
I plan on doing to decocting method with my ghetto plastic food bucket MLT.
So my questions are:
1. for first protein rest at 122, should I put the water in the MLT first? Or pour it on top of dry grains? If pouring on top of dry grains, do I do it slowly like a sparge? Or do i just dump it all on so the temp of the water keeps up? (I plan on heating the water to 135 to let it drop to 122)
2. For the second rest, I want a heavier bodied beer, so I rest around 156? After lautering and reheating, do I need to make that water much hotter than my target since the grains will still be wet and warm?
3. Do I really need to mash out? That means just letting the grains sit at 158-160?
4. I have 2 pots. a 5 gal stainless and a 6 gal granite ware. When it comes to all grain, the more water, the better, right? How much room do you think I should leave to prevent a boil over? I don't have a very strong stove, but it can boil large volumes...eventually.
5. I realize that the grains that I bought are probably going to produce a rather light colored beer. Can I boil for 90 mins to make it darker? I would still do 60 min hop addition.
6. I picked up Rye Berries (the stuff that looks like rice) from Whole Foods for the heck of it. Can I add that for some body/alcohol?
7. My food bucket MLT is on loan from a friend, i imagined that one should have a plethora of holes in the bottom, but there are maybe about 75 holes in it. Is the lack of holes going to increase my chances for clogging? I can make another one with more holes if need be. If it does clog, what's a good method for undoing it - stirring?
Thank you all for taking the time to read through this. Normally I'd be hunkered down on howtobrew.com, flipping through Charlie's book, and googling and hbt'ing, but I've had a lot on my plate. Thanks again! Wish me luck!