Is this grain milled? Low efficiency with BIAB. See photo.

[Clayton Jones]

Hello. First post here.

I'm pretty much a newbie -- started brewing maybe 4 months ago. Have made 10 batches so far. The last 4 have been all-grain in a BIAB setup I made with parts from brewhardware.com with a recirculation pump and an Inkbird PID temp controller, which keeps the mash within a half-degree or so of my target temp based on random checks with a Thermapen.

I squeeze the bag gently.

I ordered some all-grain recipe kits from Adventures in Homebrewing when they had a sale a few weeks ago, and just did my first one. It was anticipated to have an OG of 1.068, but it came out at 1.049. Using the brewer's friend efficiency calculator, my brewhouse efficiency was only 44% (previous BIAB batches that I have gotten from Jasper's Homebrewing I have not had amazing efficiency, usually in the 75% range, but I've felt it was good enough). Temperatures were very stable throughout the 60 minute mash at 152-153F.

I requested that the grain be milled/crushed when I purchased, but based on what I have read about this issue I suspect that it was not. I had thought the grains looked OK on inspection, but now I am wondering if I was faked out by the rice hulls in this recipe... I took a picture before I brewed... what do you all think? And if it needs to be further milled, can I put it in my Vitamix a bit at a time or will I need to buy a grain mill as I have 3 more kits?

Thanks,
Clayton

Grains:
10lbs 2 Row
1 lb rice halls
1 lb wheat malt
1 lb flaked oats

 

[deadwolfbones]

Looks really poorly milled.

There are a few sites out there that will double-grind for free (and some will even triple or quadruple mill if you ask nicely). I've been getting my grain triple-milled by Atlantic Brew Supply and getting 75-83% efficiency.

 

[IslandLizard]

It does look milled, but I see a lot of husk, and milled (?) rice hulls, as well as what looks like a few whole, uncrushed kernels. Not a very good crush job! Especially for BIAB, where you can use much finer milled grist as the bag is your (fine) filter.

 

[IslandLizard]

Can you get this recrushed somewhere?

Most shops mill quite coarsely, ridiculously coarse in too many cases. Running through 2x or 3x helps somewhat but best is to mill once with a tighter gap. Especially when there is small kernel grain included, like wheat or rye. I've had homebrew wheat beers where I could not taste much or any wheat, due to the wheat kernels never getting crushed.

Any homebrewers or a homebrew club in your area?

Many homebrewers buy a $25 Corona mill knockoff and mill their own.
You should be able to get 80-85% mash efficiency.

Squeezing and/or sparging helps eek out more high gravity wort trapped in the grist bag.

 

[RM-MN]

Many homebrewers buy a $25 Corona mill knockoff and mill their own.
You should be able to get 80-85% mash efficiency.

The Corona mills are even cheaper than that. Set it tight and your mash efficiency will be up into the 90% plus.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Zimtown-...ns-Shelled-Nuts-Commercial-Home-Use/707023671

 

[Clayton Jones]

Thanks everyone!

 

[IslandLizard]

1 pound of rice hulls is surely overkill in that recipe. Since you BIAB, rice hulls are rarely needed until you get into the 40-50% gummy malt/adjunct range (wheat/rye). Then 8 oz should be plenty.

 

[Jag75]

I dont do Biab , but I would think that rice hulls are not needed even if wheat or oats are in the grain bill since it's in a bag ?

 

[CascadesBrewer]

FYI...here is a shot of what comes out of my mill set at a 0.025" crush. Even at the default settings (probably in the 0.040" to 0.035" range) it got a much more uniform crush than your pic.

 

[Immocles]

FYI...here is a shot of what comes out of my mill set at a 0.025" crush. Even at the default settings (probably in the 0.040" to 0.035" range) it got a much more uniform crush than your pic.

Crap. I was watching this thread today because I just got some grain that’s slightly better crushed than OP. But after seeing yours...I may need to find one of those discount mills. I’ll be doing my first all grain (biab) this coming week. Or at least hoped.

 

[RM-MN]

I may need to find one of those discount mills.

Do an online order through Walmart, should be free shipping to store nearest you and only take 3-4 days. You can track your order and they notify when to pick it up.

 

[VirginiaHops1]

Yeah I'm a fan of AIH but they do a piss poor job of crushing grain. Back before I had a mill when I was buying grain pre-crushed I bought some from them once and it was the only time I got sub 50% efficiency.

 

[Immocles]

Do an online order through Walmart, should be free shipping to store nearest you and only take 3-4 days. You can track your order and they notify when to pick it up.

Good idea, there is one in town. Reviews on the knock offs seem terribly bad, but they work well enough? Don’t leave shavings or unwanted materials in the grain?

 

[Jag75]

What's the difference in like the Corona style and say barley crusher or cereal killer?

 

[VirginiaHops1]

Good idea, there is one in town. Reviews on the knock offs seem terribly bad, but they work well enough? Don’t leave shavings or unwanted materials in the grain?

I bought one through walmart.com recently because it was the cheapest merchant selling them and as I recall most of the bad reviews were from people trying to mill harder materials, like corn, and not happy with it. I didn't see any bad review related to homebrewing. It's fine for smashing grain for beer. As far as shavings I haven't noticed any, although there was a gray residue on it when I got it so I soaked in warm soapy water for awhile before using.

 

[LittleRiver]

You'll never regret having your own mill, having control of your grain crush makes a huge difference.

The corn mills that have been suggested will work fine. A roller mill will also do the job. I like roller mills because I can use a feeler gauge to precisely set the gap between the rollers (.025" for me). Probably the best value on a roller mill is the Cereal Killer. $99 for a mill, mounting plate, and shipping is a good deal.

 

[IslandLizard]

I bought one through walmart.com recently because it was the cheapest merchant selling them and as I recall most of the bad reviews were from people trying to mill harder materials, like corn, and not happy with it. I didn't see any bad review related to homebrewing. It's fine for smashing grain for beer. As far as shavings I haven't noticed any, although there was a gray residue on it when I got it so I soaked in warm soapy water for awhile before using.

It says the grinders are 'Stainless Steel,' not cast iron as in the original Corona or Victory knockoffs. Corn is unbelievably hard, I'd not be surprised it wears down the SS. It should work fine for malt though.

Definitely clean the parts that come in contact with your grain thoroughly. Machining oils and milling residues don't taste good.

 

[MaaZeus]

What's the difference in like the Corona style and say barley crusher or cereal killer?

The size and the way they are mounted. Corona works really well for grinding but it is not really meant for big milling works as it is and people usually mod it, build a mounting system so it can mill directly into buckets instead of small bowl at the time and so on. Also the way it grinds is different, Corona works like an old stone mill with two stones rubbing at each other so it may create more flour and shreds husks. But that does not really matter, it is just another way to skin the cat.

 

[CascadesBrewer]

What's the difference in like the Corona style and say barley crusher or cereal killer?

I have a Barley Crusher. For the longest time, the complaint against the Corona-style mills was that they ground too fine for brewing...but for BIAB they seem like a good fit. The Barley Crusher type mills also seem better suited for crushing 10 to 15 plus lbs of grain with their larger hoppers and wide rollers...though I have seen motorized Corona-style mills with custom hoppers.

 

[JimRausch]

OP- What can you do now? Especially since you're about to brew? It's a pain-in-the-butt, but what I used to do before I bought my own mill, is put the grain in ziplock bags and use a rolling pin on them. You can get a pretty good crush, and a wicked good forearm workout.

 

[IslandLizard]

OP- What can you do now? Especially since you're about to brew? It's a pain-in-the-butt, but what I used to do before I bought my own mill, is put the grain in ziplock bags and use a rolling pin on them. You can get a pretty good crush, and a wicked good forearm workout.

The rolling pin never worked for me, but I failed the Hulk test in early life.
I'd use a food processor, blender or even small amounts in a (cleaned) coffee mill/grinder. Or wait your 4 days to get that mill.

Look on Craigslist, maybe someone is selling a grain mill.

 

[JimRausch]

The rolling pin never worked for me, but I failed the Hulk test in early life.

I exaggerated a little bit. I'd buy my main grains crushed, but did use the rolling pin on whatever specialty grains in my recipe. So maybe 2-3 lbs total, usually less.
With his grain bill already partially milled, a touchup with a rolling pin may be all he needs. Or, as you said, wait 4 days until the mill comes in.

 

[yourlastchance89]

Corona mills work very well for BIAB. The only issue I've had with mine is when I first started I feel I was milling my grain to fine and every beer I made was coming out too dry. Always overshooting on efficiency and always overattenuating during fermentation. If your looking for a little more control in manipulating the body of your beer I would suggest modifying the gaps on it to give you less of a crush so the enzymes don't go to town during the mash, but still crushed fine enough to allow for good efficiency.