Recent content by jan23778

Hi, It looks like a-amylase has a secondary trigger (other than temperature). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibberellin Bibberellins are acids that actually initiate a-amylase action: "Usually in germination, the breakdown of starch to glucose in the endosperm begins shortly after the seed...

Ok, yeah. That would make sense. I had discarded that as I just couldn't get my head around enzymes being active at such a massive difference in temperature, I thought they needed more specific parameters. But given the massive difference in speed of conversion; minutes v days, that does make...

Hi govner1, Thanks for the response, you are absolutely correct, my issue is with the temperature it does this at. Beta amylase is active at 130Fish but I cannot believe that a plant will produce enought heat on its own to reach this temperature. I get a mental image of a cartoon grain with...

Hi Homercidal, Thanks for the response. Yeah, it must be something along the lines of what you suggest as I can't think of anything eslse it could be. Strange though, as even on some horticulture websites I have seen it suggests that it is the Amalyses that do the same work in plants that we...

Hi, I consider myself as a relatively advanced homebrewer but I have always had a question that I have never been able to completely answer. I was wondering if anyone had any views. I understand that in brewing the Alpha (and Beta) Amylase breaks down complex carbohydrates into simpler...

Let it finish it's fermentation in primary before moving it to secondary. This will mean that it will ferment next to nothing in secondary. I agree with earlier comments about not using a secondary as your little yeasty friends will start to clear up after themselves once they finish their...

All recipes can be scaled down to a smaller quantity but I would not suggest omitting ingredients as you will end up with a very different beer. Same goes for changing the spice to a different one. That said though, the beauty of homebrewing is experimentation. Give it a go, see what you come...