need to mill some steeping grains, don't own a mill

i've searched the forum and while i've found out tons of information about DIY (project) mills and store bought ones, i haven't found anything that can help me this weekend.....

i only need to mill about 6 ounces of specialty grains for an IPA i'm brewing this weekend.

what would be a good way to do this?

i was thinking ziplock bag and rolling pin.

will this work? will something work better?

thanks in advance.

peace
j

Sure will.

I've also just used the can of extract as a rolling pin too.

Ziplock with a rolling pin (or hammer) will be fine for such a small amount of grain. You could also clean out a coffee grinder(if you have one) and give it a few quick grinds, but you have to be careful to not turn the grain into flour.

chumprock said:

Sure will.

I've also just used the can of extract as a rolling pin too.

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thanks for the quick response!

I 2nd the rolling pin and ziplock, though really anything that crushes them should work.

c.n.budz said:

Ziplock with a rolling pin (or hammer) will be fine for such a small amount of grain. You could also clean out a coffee grinder(if you have one) and give it a few quick grinds, but you have to be careful to not turn the grain into flour.

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i thought about this as well. i do have a coffee grinder, but i'm not sure what the settings are. also thought about my "mini chopper".

A chopper or grinder may shred it too much, all you really want it to crack open the grains so they can convert and impart their flavor. I think a ziplock bag and anything heavy will do the job well. Just not ideal for 8+ pounds of grain.

It is really easy to overdo it with a coffee grinder. I have done the plastic baggie thing with a wine bottle on top of a wodden cutting board and it worked fine. Rolling pin would likely be better but couldn't find the darn thing when I needed it.

Zen_Brew said:

It is really easy to overdo it with a coffee grinder. I have done the plastic baggie thing with a wine bottle on top of a wodden cutting board and it worked fine. Rolling pin would likely be better but couldn't find the darn thing when I needed it.

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I put a nice dimpled surface in a cutting board with the ziplock+extract can method. Remember that the grain is pretty hard and can F up whatever is underneath it.

B

The last time i picked up granes at my LHBS i was in a hurry and forgot to crush them. I just used a food processor to give them a little crack, and then finished using the ziplock and wodden mallet method and i found it worked great. Just don't over do it in the food processor. I was doing about 2-3lbs of grain.