Understanding grains

[azimmer1]

Hi. I have been all grain brewing for a while and have been doing fine. Tinkering with recipes etc. Is there a good comprehensive review/book on grains? Seems like so many choices. Example comparing carastan to carapils to caramunich. Crystal 20-120 etc. Basically a primer to get an overall handle

Thanks

Andy

 

[hitecgmblr]

http://www.brewsupplies.com/grain_profiles.htm

I found this place t o have some good info on the diff grains.

 

[JonK331]

The MB website has pretty good descriptions too. Most brewing books have at least some description as well. How to Brew and Radical Brewing come to mind.

 

[brettwasbtd]

Not aware of a Book, not to say that there isn't one out there. You can get a brief description of the majority of grains over at BYO's Resource Guide. Other than that, just do some trial and error, taking good notes. I am not at the stage yet, but some people can munch on the grains themselves and get a feel for what a beer will taste like.

 

[Misplaced_Canuck]

I am not at the stage yet, but some people can munch on the grains themselves and get a feel for what a beer will taste like.

That certainly gives you an idea, but the final product after mashing, boiling, and fermenting will be a bit hard to determine. Not to mention that when you chew malt with the husk, a good bit of flavor comes from the husk. This will be significantly lighter in the final product.

M_C

 

[DansBrew]

http://www.brewsupplies.com/grain_profiles.htm

I found this place t o have some good info on the diff grains.

I came across this website like 6 months ago and forgot to book mark it. You have no idea how much you just made my day. I was about to post a thread on this specific website...

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

I would also suggest Designing Great Beers by Ray Daniels...

Gives you a lot of recipe explanation and analysis to understand what ingredients create specific flavors in end beers.

 

[JonK331]

I would also suggest Designing Great Beers by Ray Daniels...

Gives you a lot of recipe explanation and analysis to understand what ingredients create specific flavors in end beers.

+1. Very useful book.

 

[SailorTodd]

I always end up leaning on google search when I'm intrigued about a grain, because there's so much info out there, like the brewsupplies.com grains profile chart, brew dudes has a few grains profiles, the homebrewtalk wiki, and the amount of information about a specific grain may be more or less thorough than others in each of those places, or others. Haven't looked too hard, but haven't seen a comprehensive book about grains either.

 

[azimmer1]

Thanks

 

[COLObrewer]

This chart is handy sometimes: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Malts_Chart

 

[RyanDe680]

I also suggest this: http://brewery.org/library/

 

[NuclearRich]

This chart is handy sometimes: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Malts_Chart

+1

When I build a recipe, I often scour this page. Very helpful.