New to AG

[gehang]

I'm going to do a first time stove top all grain, single grain, single temp mash. I have a few questions I'd like to clear up, not are all specifically applicable to me but they are questions in the back of my head.

Can you mash too long? In a single temp mash I've heard estimates of 1 hour (or until conversion is complete with various ways to test for conversion). Although it may be a waste of time to leave it for 2 hours is it detrimental to the final product?
Is there such a thing as 'over mashing'.

Do people blend mashes? (I think I have this right) A low mash temp creates more fermentables, less body, more ABV, a high mash temp creates less fermentables so you end up with more body (thus more sweet?), and less ABV. Does anyone mash two (2.5 gal) batches in separate pots at high / low temps, then combine to boil for a mid range 5 gal?

If I'm going to steep unfermentable grain (crystal) should I just put it in with my mash grains, or do I need to steep that separately before the boil.

Thanks for easing my mind.

 

[Rivenin]

i've heard of people mashing overnight (for some odd reason, not sure why lol) so in theory, nope, it wont hurt anything to go for awhile, mine are about 60 mins or so. IIRC if you go a bit longer then normal (lets say 90/120 minutes vs 60) you're gonna extract most of the sugars you can out of the grains.

i think what you're referring to is "step mashing" (i think is the term) where you keep raising the temps of the mash after like 30-45 mins or so of mashing at lower temps. it's been done lots, but if you're new, i'd stick with the single mash and sparge method.

hope that helps!

 

[TheMan]

Throw the crystal grains in the mash. All Grain requires no more steeping.

As far as blending the mashes...why not just do one mash at 154.

 

[DrawTap88]

Do people blend mashes? (I think I have this right) A low mash temp creates more fermentables, less body, more ABV, a high mash temp creates less fermentables so you end up with more body (thus more sweet?), and less ABV. Does anyone mash two (2.5 gal) batches in separate pots at high / low temps, then combine to boil for a mid range 5 gal?

If I'm going to steep unfermentable grain (crystal) should I just put it in with my mash grains, or do I need to steep that separately before the boil.

Instead of blending, as you described above, just go for the middle of the high and low range temps and you have the same thing.

Agree with the previous poster. No need to steep your crystal grains. Just toss them in the mash.

 

[dcp27]

longer mashes will lead to greater attenuation, so if you want a higher FG then i guess its detrimental.

 

[CaptKiRkLeS]

Is there deminishing returns at a certain point with mashing? Will a mash of an hour our two really make a difference comaired to an overnight mash?