Double decoction today, used the heated tun, stirred every 10 minutes...went from my typical 73-74% post boil effeciency to 88%. Think I need to start actually using the heater and stirring all my mashes.
I often do an overnight recirc to shorten my actual brew day, even after an overnight mash I get better numbers from my fly sparge with a easy stirring and another 30 minutes recirc. I'm guessing that after several hours I have some sort od channelling.... It's hard to mess with it though as the wort is so clear after an all night recirc.I do a constant recirc mash, but I do stir it a few times just to keep it mixed and break it up.
Almost always in the low 80s
Decoction mashes typically increase efficiency, it's thought to "explode" starch molecules and allowing the amylose enzymes access to the starches that otherwise would inaccessible. As far as attenuation, that has many aspects to it. The biggest impact comes from yeast. Each strain has varying degrees of attenuation. Wyeast 2124 and W34/70 dry yeast are supposed to be the same strain, but 34/70 (@80-83% AA) will give a couple of points more than 2124 (@78-80% AA). Belgian strains are insanely high attenuation and English strains, not so much. The second impact is from the mash and that means targeting the beta amylose enzyme with a long, low temperature rest for increased attenuation.Double decoction today, used the heated tun, stirred every 10 minutes...went from my typical 73-74% post boil effeciency to 88%. Think I need to start actually using the heater and stirring all my mashes.
Just my personal feeling, no. A step mash will do just as well with the highly modified grains we have. Maybe a few more pts in efficiency, but not worth the work IMHOAs we all know, every homebrewer has their own way of brewing that works for their system. I use an electric system with two 15 gallon pots, HLT and BK. I use a 10 gallon cooler, (Big Orange) with a false bottom. I recirc my mash with a HERMS coil in the HLT. I can keep the temp at a set point or increase in steps via the herms coil. There is about a five minute lag or ramp in the HLT and the mash tun follows. Volumes and flow rate determine how long it takes.
Now my questions:
Is there a benefit to decoction over step mashing?
I brew mostly IPAs or hoppy beers that are lighter crisper ales. Will decoction have a large change in the flavor of an IPA?
As we all know, every homebrewer has their own way of brewing that works for their system. I use an electric system with two 15 gallon pots, HLT and BK. I use a 10 gallon cooler, (Big Orange) with a false bottom. I recirc my mash with a HERMS coil in the HLT. I can keep the temp at a set point or increase in steps via the herms coil. There is about a five minute lag or ramp in the HLT and the mash tun follows. Volumes and flow rate determine how long it takes.
Now my questions:
Is there a benefit to decoction over step mashing?
I brew mostly IPAs or hoppy beers that are lighter crisper ales. Will decoction have a large change in the flavor of an IPA?
Not a benefit to IPA's, mostly for Germen/Czech lagers. I don't decoction mash anymore because it didn't make the beer better, only made a mess and took longer. But some people swear by it.As we all know, every homebrewer has their own way of brewing that works for their system. I use an electric system with two 15 gallon pots, HLT and BK. I use a 10 gallon cooler, (Big Orange) with a false bottom. I recirc my mash with a HERMS coil in the HLT. I can keep the temp at a set point or increase in steps via the herms coil. There is about a five minute lag or ramp in the HLT and the mash tun follows. Volumes and flow rate determine how long it takes.
Now my questions:
Is there a benefit to decoction over step mashing?
I brew mostly IPAs or hoppy beers that are lighter crisper ales. Will decoction have a large change in the flavor of an IPA?
Where at in northern Ky?As we all know, every homebrewer has their own way of brewing that works for their system. I use an electric system with two 15 gallon pots, HLT and BK. I use a 10 gallon cooler, (Big Orange) with a false bottom. I recirc my mash with a HERMS coil in the HLT. I can keep the temp at a set point or increase in steps via the herms coil. There is about a five minute lag or ramp in the HLT and the mash tun follows. Volumes and flow rate determine how long it takes.
Now my questions:
Is there a benefit to decoction over step mashing?
I brew mostly IPAs or hoppy beers that are lighter crisper ales. Will decoction have a large change in the flavor of an IPA?
It should, without a doubt, add color because of the caramelization of the sugars present in the boiled portion of the mash. And I think that richer malt flavor is coming from some of the added reactions with the broken-down gelatins and starches.I don't know how much difference it REALLY makes, it SEEMS to add a bit of color and a bit of nice "maltiness" to my lighter beers.
Florence. I just put the water report from Wards on this site if you need it.Where at in northern Ky?