Mash with whole grains ?

[roger the dog]

I've just got back from the home brew shop with the ingredients for the chocolate treacle stout but the roast barley & chocolate malts are uncrushed. The chap in the shop said if I simply increased the amounts by 20 % I'd be OK, any thoughts ?

[mysterio]

The chap in the shop said if I simply increased the amounts by 20 % I'd be OK

... doubt it!

Just crush the grains yourself with a rolling pin between a tea-towel. Or even a quick whiz in a blender. Should be pretty easy with small amounts.

[iowalad]

I have never tried mashing uncrushed grain but can't imagine having much luck with it.

I think you would be better off crushing them with a rolling pin (Didn't somebody get in troube with his better 1/2 for damaging her wood rolling pin trying to crush grain?), empty bottle or the like.

[Martin the fish]

I've tried crushing grain with a rolling pin. It's ok if you only need 2 or 3 grams but any more is a nightmare. I've managed to blitz 100g black grains in a blender reasonably well.

[roger the dog]

Thanks for the replies, I'll try & crush them somehow, possibly Martin's blender method

[Madbrewer]

Never tried it but did Papazian mention trying this in a coffee grinder also?

[Chappie519]

You wont be able to extract much from the grains if their uncrushed. Try a coffee grinder, i picked up one for crushing grain and it works a treat.

Cheers

[roger the dog]

Thanks for the replies, I haven't got a coffee grinder so I blitzed them in the blender, time will tell if it did the job

[mixbrewery]

Those pasta machines can do a have decent job on cracking a small amount of grain as well.