Also, I don't have a fridge to lager in, has anyone had success with an ice bath? I reckon I could keep it cold enough if I change the ice bottles two or three times a day... NB: I am a student with a lot of free time on his hands B)
Decoction mash
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mysterio
Decoction mash
I'm going to attempt a decoction mash lager this summer. Has anyone ever done one and have any tips to share? What are the advantages over a temperature step mash? I'm aware most folks think decoction mashes are redundant with todays modified malts but I fancy the challenge
Also, I don't have a fridge to lager in, has anyone had success with an ice bath? I reckon I could keep it cold enough if I change the ice bottles two or three times a day... NB: I am a student with a lot of free time on his hands B)
Also, I don't have a fridge to lager in, has anyone had success with an ice bath? I reckon I could keep it cold enough if I change the ice bottles two or three times a day... NB: I am a student with a lot of free time on his hands B)
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PieOPah
I assume that using Ice Bottles you would be using 2 litre PET bottles? I have tried to cool down my wort using these and the biggest problem I found was that once the ice began to melt, the water inside the bottle acted as an insulation. This stopped the heat transfer making it useless. I had to spend all of my time spining the bottles making the ice cool own the water inside which in turn cooled down the wort.
I think that you would have a similar problem with an ice bath. The only way that you could keep the water cold enough would be to cut the bottle away from the ice. If you have the storage for enough ice then you could probably get away with this.
I think that you would have a similar problem with an ice bath. The only way that you could keep the water cold enough would be to cut the bottle away from the ice. If you have the storage for enough ice then you could probably get away with this.
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mysterio
I've been experimenting with an ice batch (in a plastic rubbish bin) to cool my king keg down and it seems to be working ok. I'm using 330ml water bottles, about 3 at a time, along with ice packs which are keeping the water fairly cold. I think for lagering temperature I'll have to use ice cubes but I still think I'll have trouble keeping the temp constant.
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IanRMartin
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mysterio
I won't be doing a triple decoction. I will probably do a protein rest with a relatively thick mash, step up with boiling water for a beta-amylase saccharification and a single decoction to reach the alpa-amylase saccharification. Possibly a second mash-out decoction.
Pale ale malt definately doesn't need the protein rest but pilsner malts certainly do. I could almost certainly get away with a two step infusion mash but I'm going for authenticity and a challenge! I was talking to a couple of microbrewers (Steamwhistle in Canada and West in Glasgow) and they reckon the decoction is important for the maltiness, attenuation and final clarity. It doesn't really matter if this is true or not I just fancy doing it!
I've been thinking about lagering and I reckon I could do it with an ice bath inside and huge amounts of ice. It doesn't get too hot here in Scotland anyway... I will probably fill a couple of tupawares or ice cream tubs with water, freeze them, then hammer them in a tea-towel to get loads of ice. Sure I could wait 'til winter but when I get an idea in my head i'm impatient!
Pale ale malt definately doesn't need the protein rest but pilsner malts certainly do. I could almost certainly get away with a two step infusion mash but I'm going for authenticity and a challenge! I was talking to a couple of microbrewers (Steamwhistle in Canada and West in Glasgow) and they reckon the decoction is important for the maltiness, attenuation and final clarity. It doesn't really matter if this is true or not I just fancy doing it!
I've been thinking about lagering and I reckon I could do it with an ice bath inside and huge amounts of ice. It doesn't get too hot here in Scotland anyway... I will probably fill a couple of tupawares or ice cream tubs with water, freeze them, then hammer them in a tea-towel to get loads of ice. Sure I could wait 'til winter but when I get an idea in my head i'm impatient!
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mysterio