How does this technique compare to decoction mashing? If the finished beer tastes the same, I think ill just do decoction mashing.
It's the same. Stick with decoction.
J/k. You might wanna read the paper.
How does this technique compare to decoction mashing? If the finished beer tastes the same, I think ill just do decoction mashing.
I stopped using my spunding valve too. I just rack to the sealed keg with 4 gravity points left and it ends up perfect. I wouldn't recommend that to anyone however unless your process is very predictable and your measurements accurate.
LoDO is pretty mind-blowing, isn't it?
Your talking specific gravity points not Plato correct?
I made the LoDO Oatmeal Stout today.
The wort sample was extremely delicious. It had the honey sweet LoDO flavor (63% of the recipe was MO) but with a sweet chocolate finish. I didn't think the roast was amplified at all - if anything it was smoother and more subtle. Really looking forward to trying this in a couple weeks.
Realized the other day i totally invalidated this experiment. The original recipe calls for Briess Black Barley (500L). I used Thomas Fawcette Roasted Barley (500-700L). Unfortunately it didn't click with me until afterwards that i had gone out of my way to get the 500L stuff last time. I just saw "Roasted Barley" on the recipe and bought that.
My fermentation sample, now at 6 plato (FFT indicated FG of 3.7 plato), has some notes of coffee and dark chocolate. I still think this is going to be good, but i can't call this a true experiment without using an identical recipe. Maybe next year when i make it again i'll do it right....
Perhaps you will still taste a difference in the other 95% of the grain bill?
Not totally sure of your system but maybe some things to consider. They were changes I've made that LoDo or not I think are worth keeping as they make brew day easier IMO.
-Full volume mashing. Sparging really isn't necessary, takes more time, more gear, more work.
-Have your grain already in the tun and bottom fill the mash water, I use a siphon. Much less O2 ingress compared to stirring the grain in, it's faster, and a lot less work. A couple pump rests accomplishes the same thing as stirring the mash up and eliminates having to worry about splashing. You also get a bit of a window to adjust your mash ph before hitting conversion temps.
Is the gelatinization issue just for Best, or is it a regional or worldwide issue?
Full volume mashing doesn't take extra gear but you do need a big enough MT to be able to pull it off. Also I should have pointed out on the second thing I noted... I'm using the yeast/dextrose method for my water in my old HLT cooler. This eliminates needing to cool strike/mash water. If your boiling your water then obviously the same approach won't quite work.
Learn something new everyday..I had no idea this yeast/dextrose was an option..I absolutely have space to do this overnight in my old igloo MT cooler that I have a quick disconnect on already to move the sparge water back to the HLT after striking in.
I could use the HLT as the holding tank for the strike water to do the yeast/Dextrose DO method.
When doing this in your cooler, how are you moving it back to heat up the water to strike temp?
Also what's your ratio of dextrose/yeast per gal of water and what sort of yeast are you using for this? Just bread yeast or something else?
Many thanks as this method is completely new to me and will certainly keep the brew day boiling/chilling to a minimum.
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I treat my water overnight with 1 tbsp dry yeast and 1 tbsp white sugar. I don't remember the exact number of grams they used, its posted somewhere, just that I measured it and it was about a tbsp so Ive been rolling with that. When Im ready to mash in I pop the lid off the cooler and use my siphon to rack it to the kettle. Between this and the full volume mashing I was able to drastically cut back my SMB use and make brewday that much lazier
For yeast Ive been using Red Star. Cost like a few bucks for a 500g brick. Its been my only investment in making the move to LoDo.
**Edit - Want to throw out there that some seem to feel that the boiling method holds the fresh grain flavors longer than the yeast/dextrose method. I haven't tried them both to have an opinion but figured I'd throw that out there.
**Edit - Want to throw out there that some seem to feel that the boiling method holds the fresh grain flavors longer than the yeast/dextrose method. I haven't tried them both to have an opinion but figured I'd throw that out there.
The ratio is 1.6 g/gal yeast to 0.8 g/gal dextrose.
I too leave it either overnight or during the workday. It depends on whether I am brewing in the morning or afternoon. Its about 8-10 hours either way.
I wish I had a DO meter to see what the minimal dose of each is to get the DO down to 0.
Having tested both methods, I am one of the "claimers" of the flavor. First and foremost I have to say hats of to bilsch for the method.. its ingenious. It has helped countless people out and needs to be noted. That said,
I find it to not be as "clean" as the preboil. Maybe its the mixture, maybe it's the yeast decomposing in the mash/boil, but its something. My best descriptor is "muddy". I have never actually side by side tested them, just going off memory from previous batches. Having brewed about 230+ low oxygen batches with preboil, and about 10-15 with the yeast method. Its probably splitting hairs, but its noticeable to me and I strive to make the best beer humanly possible. So, with that said... Don't let me try and turn anyone off from the method, as its brilliant and some folks may not be after that last % or 3.
Having tested both methods, I am one of the "claimers" of the flavor. First and foremost I have to say hats of to bilsch for the method.. its ingenious. It has helped countless people out and needs to be noted. That said,
I find it to not be as "clean" as the preboil. Maybe its the mixture, maybe it's the yeast decomposing in the mash/boil, but its something. My best descriptor is "muddy". I have never actually side by side tested them, just going off memory from previous batches. Having brewed about 230+ low oxygen batches with preboil, and about 10-15 with the yeast method. Its probably splitting hairs, but its noticeable to me and I strive to make the best beer humanly possible. So, with that said... Don't let me try and turn anyone off from the method, as its brilliant and some folks may not be after that last % or 3.
With the yeast method I think you need a DO meter to verify that it actually worked. Sometimes the yeast is stale and doesn't work, some strains have been found to work slower than others, etc.
The biggest advantage of the preboil method is that you don't need a DO meter. When you see it boiling, you know it's degassed.
With the yeast method I think you need a DO meter to verify that it actually worked. Sometimes the yeast is stale and doesn't work, some strains have been found to work slower than others, etc.
The biggest advantage of the preboil method is that you don't need a DO meter. When you see it boiling, you know it's degassed.
Interesting footnote..wonder if somehow boiling the water provides some other additional protection barrier (full bacterial boil-off maybe?) that helps with LODO..
I did notice you mentioned you treat your water overnight..Have you tried just treating it an hour or 2 before striking in and seeing any difference
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