Old grain

[Vinman58]

Just brewed up a pale ale with grain that was crushed 6mos ago. It smelled and tasted fine but my o.g. seems low for 10lb of 2 row? 1.048. Is that normal for 5.5 gallon batch?

 

[RM-MN]

My experience with old grain is that the enzymes are not affected by that much age. The quality of the crush is more likely to get you that OG than the age of the crushed grain.

 

[Vinman58]

My experience with old grain is that the enzymes are not affected by that much age. The quality of the crush is more likely to get you that OG than the age of the crushed grain.

That may be? What would typical gravity be for 10lb 2 row in 5 .5 gallon batch?

 

[bracconiere]

Just brewed up a pale ale with grain that was crushed 6mos ago. It smelled and tasted fine but my o.g. seems low for 10lb of 2 row? 1.048. Is that normal for 5.5 gallon batch?

That may be? What would typical gravity be for 10lb 2 row in 5 .5 gallon batch?

i brew 10 gallon batches with 20lb's...and get around 1.068 OG......YMMV, of course i brew cheap beer and have been obsessed with efficiency for many years....


edit: to be more useful, what kind of water do you use? if tap, maybe the municipality changed sources? ph of mash? like @RM-MN said as long as the enzymes are locked up by being dry, i don't think 6 mos of air exposure would hurt them....? (especially barley malt that has MORE then enough to begin with)

 

[cubalz]

Typically 1.060-1.068. I agree with RM-MN that the age of the grain is not the issue but the crush you used. I would not worry too much about it, I am sure the beer will be tasty!

 

[kevin58]

Crush and don't forget mash temp/length of mash.

 

[smata67]

10# of Briess 2 row in 5.5G of water using WLP001 will get you 1.047. A 5G finished batch 1.052. So if all you used was 2 row, you are not far off. If it was crushed by someone else, that crush is frequently a bit coarser than self crush, so you can end lower. And of course, any other grain or sugars will boost those numbers.

 

[Vinman58]

10# of Briess 2 row in 5.5G of water using WLP001 will get you 1.047. A 5G finished batch 1.052. So if all you used was 2 row, you are not far off. If it was crushed by someone else, that crush is frequently a bit coarser than self crush, so you can end lower. And of course, any other grain or sugars will boost those numbers.

Yep, used 12oz. Crystal 20 and 8oz. Carapils mashed 1 hour at 152 ish. Need to get a mill and crush my own or buy double crush? I'm sure it will taste good

 

[bracconiere]

10# of Briess 2 row in 5.5G of water using WLP001 will get you 1.047. A 5G finished batch 1.052. So if all you used was 2 row, you are not far off. If it was crushed by someone else, that crush is frequently a bit coarser than self crush, so you can end lower. And of course, any other grain or sugars will boost those numbers.

that's like 65% effec. that would suck! i pull 83% even without a step mash.....