Sifting grain

[smizak]

I've noticed that the last couple bags of grain I bought had some serious husk particulate and whatever else in the bottom. I've since been sifting my grain bill with a large stainless steel colander and have been finding all sorts of stuff in the grain; sticks, unidentifiable brown squashed things, strips of really fine plastic, clumps of dirt with grass mixed in etc....

Anyway, I've done three beers since adopting this practice and have noticed a couple of improvements. My wort has been crystal coming out of the kettle, which I'm really happy with. Another, which I'm a little hesitant to say is more than just a correlation, is that these three beers have had very minor chill haze. Usually it takes a week maybe two for my beers to drop clear in the fridge. These beers have been almost brilliant after a couple of days. I've also been using more flocculant yeast, which I imagine can pull out haze proteins just like any clarifier can, so I'm not sure if sifting is causing it.

Anyone else practice this?

 

[HenryHill]

It's a waste of time.

I don't want to see all the things that are in grain; it all gets boiled in the end anyway.

 

[smizak]

It's a waste of time.

I don't want to see all the things that are in grain; it all gets boiled in the end anyway.

I don't know man. I found a pretty sizable chunk of mud in my last bag. I don't want that in there, boiled or not.

 

[samc]

What brand of grain?

I figure I would spot any large chunks of something as I am measuring out the grain so I don't bother sifting unless I see some fingers floating around in the bag.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Should we mention to him about all the stuff to be found in hops?

 

[Bobby_M]

You know they malt the stuff on the floor of what is essentially a big barn/warehouse right? We're lucky to have as few things in there as there is.

 

[smizak]

I'm not really worried about "stuff" in the grain, I understand how it's made. I also know how nasty hops are, I use whole hops, you're lucky if you find just extra "vegetable" matter, if you know what I mean.

I was more curious about the effect of removing husk dust and husk particles. It seems to matter to me.

 

[david_42]

If you feel it improves your beer, keep doing it.

I suspect there are very few homebrewers that sift their grain, but now that you bring it up, I'm certain others will try it.