MapleGroveAleworks
Well-Known Member
Hi all, been brewing for a few years now. I'm a big fan of German lagers and would like to try my hand at step mashes and decoctions. Unfortunately for the life of me, I cannot find a detailed step by step instruction set on how to do it. I understand the basics of it, but I don't like jumping into something without fully understanding the steps. Too much money and time involved.
For example, I was looking up Oktoberfest recipes and it recommends a double decoction, and the only thing it sends you to is the Kaiser website which is very detailed:
http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php?title=Decoction_Mashing
My mind unfortunately doesn't work well with those pictures. I need to be told exactly what to do. Then I'll understand! I don't understand the boiling of the decoction part, so I boil a thick portion and then return to the main mash, well what if I get to my temp of the main mash I need but there is still boiled decoction left over? What do I do with that? Aren't I losing grain then? So many if's that lead me right back to the ease of single infusion.
And the step mashing/protein rest stuff, also confusing. Is that a decoction as well?
I make in my opinion pretty tasty beer, even German lagers using single infusion, so maybe I'm wrecking my brain for no reason.
Hopefully someone can either point me in the direction of a Youtube video that explains exactly what I'm supposed to do at each step, or could help me out on here, or a website or something. I appreciate it!
For example, I was looking up Oktoberfest recipes and it recommends a double decoction, and the only thing it sends you to is the Kaiser website which is very detailed:
http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php?title=Decoction_Mashing
My mind unfortunately doesn't work well with those pictures. I need to be told exactly what to do. Then I'll understand! I don't understand the boiling of the decoction part, so I boil a thick portion and then return to the main mash, well what if I get to my temp of the main mash I need but there is still boiled decoction left over? What do I do with that? Aren't I losing grain then? So many if's that lead me right back to the ease of single infusion.
And the step mashing/protein rest stuff, also confusing. Is that a decoction as well?
I make in my opinion pretty tasty beer, even German lagers using single infusion, so maybe I'm wrecking my brain for no reason.
Hopefully someone can either point me in the direction of a Youtube video that explains exactly what I'm supposed to do at each step, or could help me out on here, or a website or something. I appreciate it!