I was wondering if anyone could tell me if I steep 250-300gm of crystal malt and add this to a 1.7kg kit beer, then throw in 500gm of light hopped spraymalt will I need a bit of dextrose thrown in to bring the % of alchohol up to 4.5-5%?
I was wondering if anyone could tell me if I steep 250-300gm of crystal malt and add this to a 1.7kg kit beer, then throw in 500gm of light hopped spraymalt will I need a bit of dextrose thrown in to bring the % of alchohol up to 4.5-5%?
Hey Sid,
Try this calculator someone on here found...
[post="0"]Brewcraft Calc.[/post]
It depends on batch size sid. Don't forget to boil the steeping liquid either! Looking at your fermentables and using a typical batch size of 23L, I'd say add more DME/dextrose. 250-300g Crystal will not add the equivalent gravity points of 250-300g extract/dextrose.
thanks guy's, hey, the calc is a good little tool, that'll come in handy.
Yeh the batch is a 23L, just playing around with the calculator and it looks as though I'll definately need to add some dextrose to boost it up a bit. Yep, will boil as well.
Does cyrstal malt go with a wheat beer or will it over power the wheat flavour of the kit beer?
Hey mate,
I would put in about 750g of DME in preference to the dextrose to increase the flavour characteristics and body. The dextrose will provide alcohol only.
Also, i wouldnt steep crystal for a wheat beer. Crystal is better in ales, ie amber ale, IPA etc.
Make sure you keep the temp about 60deg C while steeping, excess temps while steeping can cause astringency. And as said above, boil afterward.
Good luck!
:beer:
So according to that there is no need to be steeping Crystal grain and may as well just boil it with your other malts and sugars, I do realise that excessive boiling of any grain in its husk will release undesirable flavours that may affect the beer but boiled for a shorter time will release the sugars and flavours with much less effort.
So what is the best procedure for the brewer who is not doing all grains or partials?
FG,The steeping is easy - call it a "soaking" if its easier to visualise. I've been steeping crystals to add to kits and extract recipes by placing in a dutch oven with hot water from a kettle and either wrapping that in a beachtowel and sometimes in a luke warm oven. The idea is the constant temperature for half an hour. Strain with a colander into my mash pot (at this stage a standard 8 litre pot), rinse twice (keeping all this steeped and rinsing water, then this becomes the basis of my mini mash. Add malt extract and hops.
Boiling the grain is said to release unwanted tannins also contained in the grain. Never felt the need to boil the crtystal to find out. The results have been pretty good with nice extra flavours added.
Get a decent water thermometer to measure the temperature and everything else you need will be in your kitchen.
While your procedure there is very good, and will work, especially if you wanted to start adding grains that do require a mash, it is actually overkill for grains that only require steeping.
I was wondering if anyone could tell me if I steep 250-300gm of crystal malt and add this to a 1.7kg kit beer, then throw in 500gm of light hopped spraymalt will I need a bit of dextrose thrown in to bring the % of alchohol up to 4.5-5%?
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