splitting AG batches???

[je52rm]

does anyone take their 2-row pale malt and make a large batch of wort from it and then split that into anywhere from 2 - 5 seperate batches that will each have their own different specialty grains mashed/steeped and added to make two different beer recipes?

I was thinking of trying this with Brown Ale so i can have a little variation between the two batches and therefore dial in a recipe that is more to my liking. Also to expand my knoweledge of how different ingredients affect the homebrew quicker than just doing 5-gallons of one recipe at a time.

I have an extra MLT (small 2-gallon) that came with my original starter kit from LHBS that never gets used so i figured I can use my big igloo MLT for the 2-row and then use the small MLT for my specialty grains.

 

[PoppinCaps]

Personally, I would do 2 different small mashes with 2-row and specialties. Otherwise just steeping the specialty grains alone might not take full advantage of them being there is no diastatic power. A 2-gallon MLT should be big enough for a reasonable gravity AG 2-2.5 batch, it's what I used to use for partial mashes and half batches. The way you've stated should still work fine, but it might not turn out the same when you mash them all together.

 

[je52rm]

Personally, I would do 2 different small mashes with 2-row and specialties. Otherwise just steeping the specialty grains alone might not take full advantage of them being there is no diastatic power. A 2-gallon MLT should be big enough for a reasonable gravity AG 2-2.5 batch, it's what I used to use for partial mashes and half batches. The way you've stated should still work fine, but it might not turn out the same when you mash them all together.

yeah i guess i didnt take into account the diastatic activity needed to break down the specialty grain starches into soluble sugars. thanks man!