Dextra Pils as base malt- HELP

[4assed]

It doesnt work. I was told it would make a decent substitute for Pilsner malt, but upon a bit of reading (too late) it has about 0 diastatic power. I have 21 pounds of it mashed at 146 deg after a protein rest at 122, and there are no discernable sugars. About 1.017 preboil. What would happen if I added about 4 lbs light DME and some dextrose? Would it make something drinkable? Or is this a dump and learn sort of deal?

 

[4assed]

Dumped. Lesson learned.

 

[BigEd]

I was told it would make a decent substitute for Pilsner malt,

Just curious but who told you that? For future reference any malt with the "Cara" prefix is a crystal type malt and is not suitable for use as a base malt. The only partial exception that I'm aware of is Weyermann's CaraFoam (a dextrin type malt) which does have some degree of diastatic enzymes and uncoverted starches. Even at that it could not be used for anywhere near 100% of the grain bill.

 

[4assed]

Obviously I'm not terribly familiar with crystal, cara and dextra malts, and I guess after 17 all grain batches I had to learn about them the hard way. Info came from a well meaning and not inexperienced LHBS, but he was out of Pilsner Malt and I (being at work) didn't have time to research before I made my purchase. Lesson learned x 2.