Squeezing grains (bad)?

[xxdurhamxx]

Hello all. Recently I did a few partial mash batches following the stickied instructions posted by deathbrewer. However I did squeeze my grains in hopes of extracting as much sugar as possible. Are there any drawbacks to such a method? Thanks for the help

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

nope, i squeeze my sack all the time.

 

[robthefrog]

Some folks will tell you not to squeeze the grains because it releases the bitter tannins within the grain husks... I've always been told not to squeeze, but I don't see any real harm in it... You may have a slightly more bitter taste.

I just sit my grains in a strainer over my brew pot and let it drip for a while after sparging. Then I give it a couple shakes and put it in a plastic bowl. Then when I add my extract and get that stirred in real good, I come back to the plastic bowl and pour in whatever else dripped out. Then the grains are off to a holding bin ready to make grain cookies. I'm an extract brewer so far, so I usually only have specialty grains.

 

[PanzerBanana]

Yup, that's all about tannins. I don't mind 'em particularly since I'm one for strong teas and such. They do make for a rather raspy kind of bitter, depending on what you're doing could add something interesting to the right brew.

To play it safe though just let 'em drain real good. A gentle squeezing might not do too much if you're an impatient sort.

 

[MotorcycleMatt]

Squeezing and releasing tannins is an old myth. one thy stuck his grain bag in a press and put a lot of pressure on it and it turned out fine

 

[robthefrog]

Squeezing and releasing tannins is an old myth. one thy stuck his grain bag in a press and put a lot of pressure on it and it turned out fine

Good to know! I shall no longer fear the tannins!

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

Squeezing and releasing tannins is an old myth. one thy stuck his grain bag in a press and put a lot of pressure on it and it turned out fine

i believe you, sir, are correct.

 

[rhamilton]

I always oversparged and squeezed the **** out of the bag with no ill effect. Then I'd let it drip into a measuring cup while the wort got up to a boil and I'd pitch that when I start my boil timer. I always taste things while I brew and I've never tasted 'tannins' from any of my mini-mash steeps.

 

[TTB-J]

Squeezing the bag will not release tannins. You should feel free to squeeze the bag to your heart's content - just be careful, it's usually pretty hot.

 

[robthefrog]

Squeezing grain bags. mmmmmmmmmmmmm

 

[emdiar]

If you have an inferior-quality bag you could split the seams when you squeeze and have a mess to deal with.

At least I imagine so - I swear that's never happened to me in my vast experience of brewing two extract kits with steeping grains.