Incorrect use of Grains of Paradise?

[CAOMarcos]

I just finished a saison in which I wanted to add some grains of paradise. I've never used this spice before and I'm afraid I may not get the effect I want because I may have added them incorrectly. Beersmith advised that I add them with 5 mins left in the boil, so I cracked them roughly using a mortar and pestle and added them at the correct time, but I put them in the hop bag I use to reduce volume loss due to hop particulate. This means that the grains of paradise only had 5 mins of extraction time. Is this long enough to add some flavor and aroma, or should I grab more and add them to primary or secondary after a soak in vodka?

 

[MetalMatt]

When I use them, I grind them in a coffee grinder and add at 10 mins. I don't use any sort of hop bag. However, I have no idea if this is the correct way to do it either. Waiting for someone else to chime in.

 

[bottlebomber]

When you say they were only in there for 5 minutes, is that to say that you pulled them out before you chilled?

 

[Revvy]

You take the hopsack out before you rack to a fermenter? Why?

 

[CAOMarcos]

When you say they were only in there for 5 minutes, is that to say that you pulled them out before you chilled?

Yes, they came out of the boil with the hop bag before I put the wort through the plate chiller.

 

[CAOMarcos]

I basically use a paint strainer to keep hop material out of my plate chiller. I accidentally added the ground grains of paradise into the hop bag. I wanted the spice to stay with the wort to theoretically keep adding flavor during primary fermentation.

 

[bottlebomber]

You can taste it and see what you think when you take a gravity sample. If you aren't satisfied, you can make a strong tea with the grains of paradise and add it before bottling/kegging.

 

[OldWorld]

Many times less is more when using spices in beer. Don't worry it probably will add a little bit of spice without being too overpowering.

 

[bottlebomber]

I'm going to have to agree with that. I completely ruined a batch of pumpkin ale because I didn't think it had enough spices. Ive only been able to drink 2 or 3 bottles and I brewed it almost a year ago.

 

[RiffMagnum]

When i've used it i did exactly what you did: coarsely crushed and added to the wort with five minutes left in the boil. I didn't use a grain bag, just threw em right on in there, but i don't have a plate chiller so i'm not sure what difference that makes.

 

[ScottSingleton]

I did my first Saison ever over the weekend and crushed some grains of paradise with a mortar and threw them in the boil with 5 minutes left.. it's exactly what my recipe called for. Betcha yours turns out perfect.

 

[hopbrad]

i put whole seeded grains of paradise in my boil with about 10 minutes left along with some lemon zest. i didnt know i was suppose to crack them. but also let them go into the fermenter. think ill still get some of that flavor? its the summer belgium saison from AHS.