How to crush grain without a mill?

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Can I get by crushing specialty grains for steeping without a mill? I was thinking like with a rolling pin and a gallon zip lock?

 

[the_bird]

Can I get by crushing specialty grains for steeping without a mill? I was thinking like with a rolling pin and a gallon zip lock?

Buy your grain pre-crushed. Seriously. I've done the rolling-pin approach, and it's a total PITA. You can do it in a pinch, but it's a lot of tedius work and even with the bags, makes a mess (the bags tend to get holes in them from the husks).

 

[Evan!]

Like bird says. If you already have the grains, then yeah, the ziploc+rolling pin works, but it's no fun.

 

[mew]

I did the rolling pin thing once and couldn't get an even crush. Some were completely pulverized before others were touched. Maybe with some skill you could do a better job.

 

[Brewing Clamper]

Make sure to use the Freezer bags since they're stronger. What I've done is put the grain in one bag then put that in another bag, but still you'll get some wholes.... have fun...

 

[JayMckeever]

my lhbs will crush them for me if I bring them in. At worst, they may charge you .25 a pound..

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

My problem arises from living in the middle of a lot of grain (i.e. Corn, Soy...) Central Illinois is not plentiful when it comes to lhbs's. I have a Friar Tuck's that stocks BB grains that are not crushed. I just spent a fortune on my kegging set up so my wife's grip on my money is very tight!

 

[krispy d]

many years ago in a pinch I used a coffe grinder. If you are only talking about steeping grains in an extract brew this can work. be carefull. use only a small amount at a time and hit a couple of seconds and check. it is very easy to end up with flour. for an all grain brew this is practically imposible. there is too much grain and no real cosistency.

good luck

 

[the_bird]

My problem arises from living in the middle of a lot of grain (i.e. Corn, Soy...) Central Illinois is not plentiful when it comes to lhbs's. I have a Friar Tuck's that stocks BB grains that are not crushed. I just spent a fortune on my kegging set up so my wife's grip on my money is very tight!

You can get a Corona mill for not much money on eBay. They're not all that good for AG brewers (tough to get a good grind and so therefore they hurt efficiency), but it should be fine for steeping grains.

 

[Denny's Evil Concoctions]

Sledge hammer on pavement.

 

[dibby33]

Thighs of a lady russian weightlifter.

 

[dibby33]

there was talk about using a pasta machine at one point but not sure how that turned out...

 

[Vermicous]

I used to make cookie crumbs by placing the bag of cookies under the rear wheel of my car, be amusing to try it with grains.

 

[Denny's Evil Concoctions]

Steam roller over steel plate might do the trick as well.