mini mash with coleman jug

[silverbullet07]

I was reading up on the topic about mashing small amounts of grains in a coleman jug to improve the breakdown of the starchs to sugar. I plan to brew a Dunkelweizen with Wheat extract put have added 1.5 lb of dark Munich along with .5 lb Caramunich, .375 lb of Carafa I and .5 flaked Oat.

I know that steeping will not break down the starch in the munich and flaked oats so I plan to mini mash all the grains for 45-60 min @ 150F and then sparge with 170F for 10 min.

I came across the article about the coleman jug and noticed I had one on the shelf however it is a 1 gal. I do not have my grains yet to determine but was wondering if the 1 gal will hold 2.875 lb of grain and 3.45 qt of water.

Another question was about the grains, is it ok to add all the grains in the mini mash steep? I know the caramunich and carafa can be steeped, will adding these to the mash work just as well?


Thanks

 

[wilserbrewer]

Well, steeping at the right temperature range is a "mini mash" and will convert the base grains, this can be done in your kettle if you like, once you get the temperature correct, just place the kettle in a warm oven for an hour, might be easier IDK. Yes adding all the grain to the mini mash is acceptable. Only difference b/w steeping and converting grain w/ a mini mash is tighter temperature controls, which isn't really that difficult, or critical since it is only a small portion of the total brew.

Rackers calc "can I mash it" will tell you volume of mashed grain here...
http://www.rackers.org/calcs.shtml

 

[TheBiGZ]

Yes...you can mash all the grains together. However, 2.875 lb of grain won't fit in a 1 gallon cooler with the standard 1.25 quarts of water per pound of grain. You could however use a 1:1 ratio and it should fit...but then you'd have a thicker mash.

You don't need to use the cooler. If you have a larger pot, you can use that...wrap it in blankets or towels to hold the heat in.

 

[silverbullet07]

Thanks for the information. I do have a Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron Round French Oven like the one here
( http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NNAVOO/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20 )

They are suppose to retain and distribute heat very well, will this be good for the mini mash?

 

[wilserbrewer]

Thanks for the information. I do have a Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron Round French Oven like the one here
( http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NNAVOO/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20 )

They are suppose to retain and distribute heat very well, will this be good for the mini mash?

Sure, try it...any pot will work fine, I would still do the warm oven FWIW. Others wrap the pot in a few towels or blankets to retain heat....whatever works is good.

 

[lhommedieu]

I plan to convert a cooler to a mash tun within a couple of weeks - but want to brew another extract before brewing my first all grain.

So, if I take my specialty grains and mash them in the grain bag in the cooler at 150 degrees for 60 minutes, and then sparge at 170 degrees, am I, in effect, mini-mashing?

Best,

Steve

 

[chickypad]

So, if I take my specialty grains and mash them in the grain bag in the cooler at 150 degrees for 60 minutes, and then sparge at 170 degrees, am I, in effect, mini-mashing?

If none of your grains are base grains with diastatic power then you are still just steeping.

you're also necromancing

 

[beergolf]

Sure, try it...any pot will work fine, I would still do the warm oven FWIW. Others wrap the pot in a few towels or blankets to retain heat....whatever works is good.

Agree.... The warm oven trick works great. Holds temp almost to the degree.