1st GF Brew Day: Review My Process?

[kdw2pd]

Hi all,

My girlfriend has recently been told by her doctor that she likely has Celiac, so I'm going to be trying out gluten-free brewing for her, and had a couple of questions for GF brewing vets:

1.) I understand that good cleaning and sani will let me use the same cold-side gear between GF and non-GF gear. Do I need to do anything special to clean my mill, other than standard cleaning?

2.) For the mash, I'm planning on a two-step mash, similar to what Chris suggests here: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showpost.php?p=8014376&postcount=12. Gelatizine at 75C (millet, rice, buckwheat) for 30 minutes or so, then reduce to 60C and add WLN4100, Ultra-Ferm. Let it go, recirculating with a pump, until I hit about 1.060 or so.

3.) The recipe is going to be a coffee porter, using D90 and D180 for color and some sweetness/fruitiness, per the No Nonsense GF Stout iglashion posted here: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=323755. Will add in some maltodextrin, but suggestions for other ways to get some crystal malt/sweetness and maintain body? I won't have time to make my own crystal millet or rice, or get any ordered in.

 

[Legume]

It would be dificult to clean your mill well enough to make it safe to make beer for a celiac. Celiacs react to PPM levels of gluten contamination. The rest of your equipment can probably be cleaned well enough.

Your mash plan looks great.

I avoide using more than 1 lb of candi syrup, especially if it is D90 or higher. The darker syrups give a wierd flavor when used heavily. You need dark rice or gas hog rice malt to make a solid dark beer. Light colored GF beer styles are easer to do well, darker styles are more challenging.

 

[kdw2pd]

Thanks for the feedback. After conversing with White Labs, it looks like it'll be prohibitively expensive to order the WLN4100. An enzyme question for the confused: can I use standard powdered amylase enzyme after gelatinization, or is there something particular about the exo-alpha-amylase in AMG-300L that makes it work for converting unmalted grains? I have a ton of powdered amylase enzyme.

Was trying to get away without an order from glutenfreehomebrewing.org, but looks like that's necessary. Will grab some CaraMillet and Gas Hog. She's a huge fan of Left Hand Nitro Porter, so getting her a coffee stout/porter is high on the list. With the color from the dark rice and some sweetness from the CaraMillet, I'll save my candi syrup for a Belgian Dark Strong.

I'll snag a corona mill. It's $20 to not defeat the purpose.