drsmurto
Well-Known Member
I'm doing something along the same line next week.
95% Weyerman Bohemian Pilsner
5% Weyerman carapils
1 addition of saaz at 60 minutes.
I'll be doing an infusion mash because I am not set up to do a decoction mash at the moment but was thinking about drawing off a couple of liters at the start of the boil and caramelizing it in an attempt to replicate a bit of the decoction mash flavor and colour.
Worth a try or am I barking up the wrong tree?
I'd personally add at least a flavour addition of saaz at 20 mins.
Caramelising won't produce the same characters as a decoction. You'll get caramel/toffee flavours but not the melanoidins.
Decoction mashing sounds a lot more complicated than it really is. I simply draw out the required volume of grain from the mash tun using a wire strainer from my kitchen. Put that in a pot and slowly heat it up to the temp steps (you can simply boil it but i prefer to do a 65C rest and a 70C rest on my way to boiling). Add it back to the mash tun.
It's time consuming but not difficult and the aroma of boiling malt is addictive. :icon_drool2: