Steeping specialty grains - Water level

[Dano57]

Hello all!

Second post, been lurking and have questions as a new brewer. The first thing is 8 days ago I started a Brewers Best Wit Beer which required steeping 2 pounds of specialty grains and according to the instructions it was to be done with 1 gallon of water. I have read elsewhere that you should use as much water as possible so I am curious which way is best? The color of the beer is definitely darker than I thought so I am curious if I could have "burnt" the wort?

Also I know there is a color scale for beer but where can I find color swatches to use to match up with the beer so I can provide better descriptive info?

Thanks,

Dan

 

[jonmohno]

The color of your beer is not what it looks in the fermenter more so in the hydrometer sample. Ive read also of using more water to steep specialty grains, i dont think it matters that much so a few gallons would be fine, and i think ive seen use all the water to steep.Its going to look darker in less water also.You would only have a threat of burnt wort if you did a partial boil and didnt stir well at first and maybe throughout ocassionally.

 

[By-Tor]

I always used the water i used for the boil, 3+ gals. Did you get the steep very hot? maybe that burned?

 

[squirrelly]

I think the fear comes from steeping too hot or even boiling the grains in too little of water. Both of those will yield very harsh tannins. As for the water level, when I was extract brewing my wife would wrap all the crushed grain to be steeped in a muslin cloth and tie the end around the center of the spoon handle. The spoon would be threaded through the keggel handles and the grain bag would hang about halfway down the kettle completely submerged with wort.

 

[comer88888]

There are tons of threads about this and a lot of different answers from people. In how to brew by John palmer he says one gallon per pound of grain. Thats what I do. Also if you use liquid extract and boil it the full 60 minutes it will make your beer darker.

 

[paparker21]

I had a similar question come up on my last brew actually; I had 3# of steeping grains - filled 2 grain bags completely and the recipe called out for only 1 gallon of steeping water. I opted to use 2 gallons and then top up to 3 when i got ready to brew. I had issues with my grain bags wanting to float as well... can't really remember if i've ever had this problem on my other boils. I really don't think it should matter much but it seems like you'd want more water based on the principles of diffusion-- more water means it can accept more stuff until it's saturated so i would think more water allows for more of the steeping grains to diffuse into the grain tea.

 

[Dano57]

I always used the water i used for the boil, 3+ gals. Did you get the steep very hot? maybe that burned?

I did chase the temp with the crappy floating thermometer I have (Thermapen should be here tomorrow) but it didn't get above 170 and I think I had it under 155 for most of the steep...

 

[Dano57]

Thanks all, talk about fast replys! This forum is great. I just ordered a Porter and think I'll steep in more water to see how it comes out...

 

[jonmohno]

I had a similar question come up on my last brew actually; I had 3# of steeping grains - filled 2 grain bags completely and the recipe called out for only 1 gallon of steeping water. I opted to use 2 gallons and then top up to 3 when i got ready to brew. I had issues with my grain bags wanting to float as well... can't really remember if i've ever had this problem on my other boils. I really don't think it should matter much but it seems like you'd want more water based on the principles of diffusion-- more water means it can accept more stuff until it's saturated so i would think more water allows for more of the steeping grains to diffuse into the grain tea.

They shouldnt float, i have an elsastic end on mine which i can wrap around my pot so its more free and i stirr them,well i do all grain but its the same concept almost.If you have a larger grain bag,which you can do partial mashes with or small batch all grain, you can stirr them just like a mash well. You could also stirr them in the bag if its not tied tight.
In terms of steeping you dont have to worry much. I would worrry more with partial mashes or all grain BIAB.

 

[paparker21]

They shouldnt float, i have an elsastic end on mine which i can wrap around my pot so its more free and i stirr them,well i do all grain but its the same concept almost.If you have a larger grain bag,which you can do partial mashes with or small batch all grain, you can stirr them just like a mash well. You could also stirr them in the bag if its not tied tight.
In terms of steeping you dont have to worry much. I would worrry more with partial mashes or all grain BIAB.

Yea, i think my problem was fitting 3# of grain, in 2 grain bags (these things were the size of cantaloupes after filled with grain), in my small pot was just too much. I stirred them around and tried to force them down in the wort every so often but they insisted on floating. so i don't hijack this thread i'm going to start a new one- got questions on an idea regarding the handling of large volume steeping....