2015 Grain Order *discussion* thread

[UndeadFred]

There is even a year to year difference based on crop conditions. A few years back Maris Otter had a year where there were excess proteins in the grain, and people had all sorts of problems with it.

I know many of us are scientists and engineers and want to have control of everything. But remember this is a natural product, that is mostly controlled and engineered by the maltster.. but each use different techniques and have year to year variations. Malting is such a science now that the malts are much better than they were 10-20 years ago and this is why you don't see or desire many step mashes anymore. You used to have to finish the job for the maltster... you don't anymore....

The English (Maris Otter, winter crop) and Scottish (Golden Primise, Spring crop) malts, for example, are single strain malts for flavor, even though they are no longer the most efficient crops grown in Europe by far. American malts tend to be a mix of 3-4 varieties and Rahr, Briess, Great Western, etc... mix them slightly differently each year to keep the same consistency from year to year. Unless it's a really bad year, American Malts are generally made for the big brewers and mild flavor, consistency and good conversion efficiency (really important with 3/4 corn or rice!)-- that is the main goal of North American malts. European ones tend to go after certain flavors. I can't comment on the Chilean malts but I bet they would be interesting too...

If you are making highly flavored (with specialty malts, and to a lesser extent hops in an IPA) darker beers the base malt differences are less important.

For example of different techniques.. look up floor malting.. or realize that Crystal Malt (European) really is different from Caramel Malt (American). Both are mashed in the Kernel approximately the same way. But Crystal is made at very high temperatures (700F) for short times.. Caramel is done in a Kiln, max temperature about 300F, and is roasted longer for the same roast level. In a beer they are similar... very similar... but not the same.

Hopefully that gives you a little more specific details about the differences in grains and base grains...

You can't go wrong with Rahr 2-row, and if that is all you bought ultimately, you can do 85% of everything you ever wanted with that grain.

Fred Spinner

[andrewmaixner]

...
I know many of us are scientists and engineers and want to have control of everything. But remember this is a natural product, ...

I know what you mean about wanting to control it. My most recent batch, a light belgian blond, my brew session notes ended with the summary line "Didn't even measure SG at pitching, every single step of this has had something I messed up." And it tasted pretty good when i checked FG gravity yesterday

[DrPaulsen]

Also, if you want to know more, read Malt by John Mallett. He's forgotten more about malt than most of us will ever know. I really like the book and think it offers a lot of good insights.

[czubak]

FYI Vittles vaults are on sale via Amazon right now. 40# for $27, 60# $35 shipped on prime. I may pull the trigger on a couple

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002H ... NSMVEJRM4V

[tony b]

Snooze, you lose! Price just jumped back up to $32 for the 40#. Still $35 for the 60#. Decent prices with free shipping (Prime). I ordered 2 40# and 1 60#.

[andrewmaixner]

Snooze, you lose! Price just jumped back up to $32 for the 40#. Still $35 for the 60#. Decent prices with free shipping (Prime). I ordered 2 40# and 1 60#.

The bastards
I was just looking up how much it would hold, found this:

I just bought 60# stackables and put the grain in with them stood on end, then stacked them. when stacked the grain is about level with the bottom of the opening.I think to fill them when stacked you will have to push the grain back to get it all in. I don't think there is any way tou could put a bag of grain in a 40# stackable with out standing it on end,and then if you stacked it back up if you took the lid off the grain would fall out.

[JimF]

I still prefer these: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0083R ... UTF8&psc=1. I've used them with full bags of grain, putting a full bag in the container, and with loose grain. Either way works good. I've got one Vittles Vault style container and had the issue where a bag of grain fits, but might spill when in the stackable orientation.

[czubak]

Yeah those are what Matt has also. I like them as well. Once I open a bag it gets dumped into (5 gallon buckets currently) and the bag in the trash

[Matt F]

Yeah those are what Matt has also. I like them as well. Once I open a bag it gets dumped into (5 gallon buckets currently) and the bag in the trash

Yup, love them. Sam's Club usually gets a bunch in the fall for some reason and sells them for a little over $20. That is when I got 5 of them. I leave my stuff in the bag so I can put more than one bag in a container as they empty. When the new sacks come they go in the bottom and what is left of the old grain goes on top. Some of my containers have four bags of different grain in them. Works quite well. Fit under my counter top and roll in and out with ease. Plus, you can see what is inside which is nice.

[czubak]

Solid point on keeping it in the bag. Nice

Sent from my Samsung S5

[UndeadFred]

I guess I have to be contrarian.. my wife uses those for the dog and cat food in our house (imagine that) and I find them to be an incredible PITA. Maybe because when used for brewing you encounter them less.. I dunno. I like my small buckets with the Gamma seals far better. Probably because I'm always the one that has to fill those $%^$ things...

I did find by happy accident that a quart mason jar pretty much exactly holds one pound of grain... So that is where I'm going to start storing specialty grains...

Fred

[Matt F]

Not sure what is a PITA about them. If you try to get grain through the smaller opening with a small scooper it would suck. I roll mine out and open the whole lid. I scoop with a pitcher that can pull about 3lbs. per scoop. To each their own.

[andrewmaixner]

Snooze, you lose! Price just jumped back up to $32 for the 40#. Still $35 for the 60#. Decent prices with free shipping (Prime). I ordered 2 40# and 1 60#.

The bastards
I was just looking up how much it would hold, found this:

I just bought 60# stackables and put the grain in with them stood on end, then stacked them. when stacked the grain is about level with the bottom of the opening.I think to fill them when stacked you will have to push the grain back to get it all in. I don't think there is any way tou could put a bag of grain in a 40# stackable with out standing it on end,and then if you stacked it back up if you took the lid off the grain would fall out.

the price dropped back down to 27 again, so I ordered a few.

[tony b]

Snooze, you lose! Price just jumped back up to $32 for the 40#. Still $35 for the 60#. Decent prices with free shipping (Prime). I ordered 2 40# and 1 60#.

The bastards
I was just looking up how much it would hold, found this:

I just bought 60# stackables and put the grain in with them stood on end, then stacked them. when stacked the grain is about level with the bottom of the opening.I think to fill them when stacked you will have to push the grain back to get it all in. I don't think there is any way tou could put a bag of grain in a 40# stackable with out standing it on end,and then if you stacked it back up if you took the lid off the grain would fall out.

the price dropped back down to 27 again, so I ordered a few.

the Bastards!

[czubak]

Think I am going to pull the trigger on some vittles vaults. I was going to drop $110 to get enough buckets and gamma seal lids for all my grain. I can get 4 of these for $125 and have less shit to trip over. Anyone want to talk me out of it?