Grain crusher

[NorthernBrew]

Hi guys. Been wondering if i should get my own grain crusher. The neighbourhood store can do it for me(for a price) but a buddy of mine was complaining that they crush it too fine. Is that a problem or is finer better? I dont mean flour fine but maybe 3-4 mm granules.
Is there any chemical difference between course and fine or is it only the concern that grain will escape the mash bag?

 

[bbrim]

If you do BIAB you want it as fine as possible, if you do a traditional mashing technique too fine can be a real problem. With batch sparging I think you can get a stuck sparge. With fly sparging you can definitely get a stuck sparge. Also, and this is mostly a risk with fly sparging, if the husks are too shredded you increase the risk of tannin extraction in the final runnings.

 

[Heineken]

I got my own crusher mainly since I wanted to be able to control the crush and keep consistency. You can also adjust if needed if you are doing BIAB vs. batch sparging, etc. However, make sure you get a good crusher or you might be better off without one. I got the barley crusher and it works great.

 

[NorthernBrew]

It's BIAB. I'll keep it fine and dandy then

 

[unionrdr]

I have the Barley Crusher grain mill & keep it set at the factory .039". Great crush for my pb/pm biab beers. Very consistent crush that gets me higher OG's. I found I don't need a fine crush to get better efficiency. I can get a 1.061 OG against 1.046 in a recipe. Not much floury stuff at all.

 

[The_Bishop]

I'll go against the grain (see what I did there) and recommend a Cereal Killer. Mine has been fantastic.

 

[b-boy]

I'll go against the grain (see what I did there) and recommend a Cereal Killer. Mine has been fantastic.

I see what you did there. But - technically that's a 'wood' reference, so I can only give you half credit for the pun.

I have a Barley Crusher and love it.

 

[NorthernBrew]

Barley Crusher eh... 2 roll or 3? Big difference or bragging rights only?

 

[unionrdr]

Barley Crusher eh... 2 roll or 3? Big difference or bragging rights only?

2 rollers with a notch on both sides for the factory setting of .039". You can get the 7lb hopper or the 15lb hopper. Works great for me. I do pm with up to 6 pounds or so of grain & no problems at all. very even crush. Here's a link to Midwest; http://www.midwestsupplies.com/barley-crusher-maltmill-w-7-lb-hopper.html

 

[NorthernBrew]

2 rollers with a notch on both sides for the factory setting of .039". You can get the 7lb hopper or the 15lb hopper. Works great for me. I do pm with up to 6 pounds or so of grain & no problems at all. very even crush. Here's a link to Midwest; http://www.midwestsupplies.com/barley-crusher-maltmill-w-7-lb-hopper.html

Nice one.
What? Does not ship to iceland for free... well i never

 

[unionrdr]

Seems to me I had to pay shipping at the time I bought it, & I'm a heck of a lot closer?!

 

[NorthernBrew]

Stimulate the economy. We are saints and martyrs ; )