Mashout Decoction

[aaronpetersen]

I agree. I do a thin decoction mash out EVERY brew day. It is just part of my regime and has been for the majority (3/4) of my batches.

Cheers
Phil

Do you think it adds anything to the final product or is it just a way of reaching mash out temp?

 

[Effect]

Do you think it adds anything to the final product or is it just a way of reaching mash out temp?

just to reach mash out.

 

[sim]

just to reach mash out.

and if you've got grain in there, what kind of a % ?


sim

 

[manticle]

Out of interest, my first thread asking about decoctions is here. Some useful discussions within

http://www.aussiehomebrewer.com/forum/inde...showtopic=38224

and a link from that thread: http://brewery.org/library/DecoctFAQ.html

 

[Effect]

and if you've got grain in there, what kind of a % ?


sim

Only liquid. I open up the tap at the end of the mash time and gather enough wort to get to the desired temp.

 

[sim]

Only liquid. I open up the tap at the end of the mash time and gather enough wort to get to the desired temp.

Alright! me too. i thought for sec i might be on the wrong side of the fence.


Anybody out there doing mashout decoctions that have grain in there?

sim

 

[dent]

I find when I do decoctions a fair bit of starch seems to be liberated from the (thick, grainy) boiled portion. This is OK if when you add it back the resulting temperature is such that some enzyme activity can occur to convert this starch. If you aim for a mash-out temperature though you may destroy any enzyme capacity and thus end up with unconverted starch, which is bad for various reasons.

Obviously if you are boiling wort with no grain this cannot occur.

 

[aaronpetersen]

Thanks for all the info everyone. It seems to me that a mashout "decoction" (for want of a better word) shouldn't have grains in it or you risk ending up with unconverted starches. It also seems that a liquid only mashout decoction adds nothing to the final beer that any other type of mashout (infusion, direct heat) wouldn't acheive. I have therefore decided that I won't bother with a mashout decoction and will stick with my usual method for mashout (I BIAB and mash in my kettle so can apply direct heat). I will however have a go at a step mash using a thick decoction.

 

[sim]

I will however have a go at a step mash using a thick decoction.

good on you, have fun! nothing like a bit o decocting ta get ye old blood pumpin yaargh


sim

 

[drsmurto]

A lot of people trying to over-complicate a very simple technique.

A thin decoction mashout, as Phillip as pointed out, is simply drawing off some of the first runnings and bringing it to the boil.

Add it back to the mash tun to raise the grain bed temperature to mash out temperatures.

No, it's not going to add any melanoidins to your beer (or very little depending on whether you whirlpool to clarify the run-off prior - i don't).

Not sure where/why or how the thread got derailed on a debate on boiling grains, tannin extraction etc but for those making those sort of claims, the link to Braukaiser is a good one. As is New Brewing Lager Beer by Noonan.

Why do i do it? It saves me having to boil water to do an infusion mashout and that volume of water saved can be added to the sparge volume which has the effect of increasing my extraction efficiency. In other words, i am a lazy sod.

I do real decoctions (ie thick) when making pilsners, dunkels, weizens, roggens, alts. It's not technically necessary but i think it adds something to the final product that i don't feel i can get by using melanoidin.

 

[avaneyk]

I did a mashout decoction for my last lager and included some grain (it was about 1/2 grain, 1/2 liquid). Haven't started the keg yet but I didn't notice any haze after lagering. That may have just been lucky though...

 

[Effect]

Haven't started the keg yet but I didn't notice any haze after lagering. That may have just been lucky though...

Did you ferment hop it?

 

[avaneyk]

Did you ferment hop it?

Nope h34r: :lol:

edit: I did this cos I was keen to try a decoction and there were various opinions on whether there should be grain or not. I ended up giving it a go to see how it turned out....

 

[dr K]

I am constantly amused at why so much good information on here has to be preceded by 2 lines of dick measuring and fighting words

Mick 71
You are of course correct and I apologise for my (frustrated) pre-amble.
None the less I do get frustrated by those who swear by, to them, a simple process such as BIB or NoChill then decide to complicate their own process (not that the OP was btw).

K

 

[argon]

I did a thin (no grain) mashout decoction yesterday for 2 batches. I find in my setup it's a hell of alot easier than having to have my HLT boil water for a water infusion. The added benefits for me are that i can keep the same L/G ratio the same and step up the temp without having to direct fire the MT. The Rambo brings 14L of wort in a 19L pot to boil in less than 5 mins... so no time wasted at all.

I reckon i'll be including this in my process from now on. Now i've got a bit of a look at how it all works, i'm looking forward to doing a thick decoction soon for a Bo Pils.