Adding grains to secondary?

[Dhelderman]

Hi all. Just started a 5 gallon batch of cider.

Here's where I'm at so far:
-pitched 21 grams of Belle Saison yeast on 5 gallons of pasteurized, preservative free cider (3 gallons Lewisburg, 2 gallons Indian Summer). I also added 2 containers of FAJC. Original Gravity is about 1.056.

My plan after primary is finished (Belle Saison is a beast and finishes in less than a week, but I'm going to let it sit in bulk primary for about 3 weeks) is to rack two gallons off into individual 1 gallon carboys and bottle the remaining 3 gallons immediately.

I want to do something experimental with those 2 gallons and I was thinking of adding grains to give some flavor and body. I've been reading about graffs a little. I don't really want to add hops.

Will there be much impact from adding a mix of, say, oats, wheat and barley? I thought I would just rack the cider on the grain mixture, top off with a little FAJC to restart fermentation and let it sit for a month. Should it sit longer? Should I use other grains?

Tips/pointers would be appreciated, as well as guidance as to what the result may be. Thanks all.

 

[jtratcliff]

You'll go sour if you add the grains directly. Grains are crawling with bugs like lacto... That's part of the reason for the boil when making beer: kill off unwanted critters to give your chosen yeast free reign.

 

[Dhelderman]

You'll go sour if you add the grains directly. Grains are crawling with bugs like lacto... That's part of the reason for the boil when making beer: kill off unwanted critters to give your chosen yeast free reign.

So are you saying boil the grains, then add them immediately? Or should I boil to kill any unwanted bacteria, then mash them at a lower temp, then add to the cider?

 

[Yooper]

So are you saying boil the grains, then add them immediately? Or should I boil to kill any unwanted bacteria, then mash them at a lower temp, then add to the cider?

No, never boil the grains.

Steep the grains in water, remove the grains, and then bring that liquid to a boil. Cook and then add.

Don't add grains to the fermenter, as it will sour the cider.

 

[Dhelderman]

No, never boil the grains.



Steep the grains in water, remove the grains, and then bring that liquid to a boil. Cook and then add.



Don't add grains to the fermenter, as it will sour the cider.

Thanks, Yooper. I'm going to have to spend some time reading about grain adjuncts, malts, etc.!