Steeping/Sparging question

[vapicker]

I'm still pretty new to brewing. I've done 4 extract brews with specialty grains and am getting ready to start my 5th today. I've gotten all my kits from my LHBS except for one which I ordered from Austin Homebrew. The directions from my LHBS kits always have me steeping my grains in a smaller pot, heating up sparge water in another pot, then dumping my grain bag/water into a strainer over my brew pot and pouring my sparge water over the grain bag. The kit I got from Austin Homebrew simply had me add 2 and a half gallons of water to my brew pot, heat the water to 155, turn off the burner and steep my grains in that water. That was for their Fat Tire clone and it turned out excellent. My question is, is it really necessary to use the extra pots for steeping and heating up sparge water or could I just start using the method Austin Homebrew suggests?

 

[blowmax10]

I'm still pretty new to brewing. I've done 4 extract brews with specialty grains and am getting ready to start my 5th today. I've gotten all my kits from my LHBS except for one which I ordered from Austin Homebrew. The directions from my LHBS kits always have me steeping my grains in a smaller pot, heating up sparge water in another pot, then dumping my grain bag/water into a strainer over my brew pot and pouring my sparge water over the grain bag. The kit I got from Austin Homebrew simply had me add 2 and a half gallons of water to my brew pot, heat the water to 155, turn off the burner and steep my grains in that water. That was for their Fat Tire clone and it turned out excellent. My question is, is it really necessary to use the extra pots for steeping and heating up sparge water or could I just start using the method Austin Homebrew suggests?

No it is not necessary - might even be better for a new brewer not to do it because of the risk of extracting tannins

You will get more color/ flavor out of the grain bag by washing it but it won't make or brake your beer

 

[cvstrat]

I've never done any pm or extract brewing, but I have seen plenty of videos while researching the general art of brewing. I can tell you that I've seen it down both ways. From what I understand you could just save a bit of the sparge water and wash the outside of the grain bag into the boil kettle. I think what you want to avoid is squeezing the bag to get the juices out as you will release tannins like blowmax10 said.

I would probably suggest you wash the grain bag down, but not excessively and don't squeeze it or anything. Remember tho as a disclaimer I have absolutely no real life experience with that and other people here probably have a much better opinion. However I think you would get better quality beer if you gently washed some down the grain bag with a small amount of the hot water.

 

[blowmax10]

Like I said - My take on it is

If your comfortable doing it then go for it

If you want one less thing to worry about (did I extract tannins / hot side aeration)

Then don't mess with it

But its 100% personal preference

 

[Sleepyemt]

Is it an extract or PM?
If its an extract kit, really your only seeping specialty grains. I havent ordered the kits from AHS, but it sounds similar to the ones midwest sells. You'll want to seep at 1gal/ lbs. for best results, From palmers book. Either way cant really hurt ...