Potato beer

[gmac]

Anyone make that potato beer that is running on the AHA homepage right now?  I took a look at it and it looked interesting but I'm wondering if anyone has done it.  Since the potatoes aren't cooked I assume the starch gelatinizes OK with the hot water?  Is this a sparging nightmare?  Seems like it should be.

[nateo]

I'd probably do a regular cereal mash first. I don't think I'd trust just throwing raw potatoes into my mash. It does sound like something I'll have to try, though.

[Slowbrew]

My first thought was "sounds like vodka". 

I have heard of people using "potato buds" type products rather than raw potatoes.  The same idea as flaked wheat.

I think you would have to precook the raw potatoes to get much out of them.  I don't see mash temps being able to do it alone.

Paul

[kramerog]

You'll need to "mash" the potatoes first before mashing.  Make mashed potatoes first to gelatinize and make the potato starch accessible and then do a normal mash.  I would use white potatoes over red potatoes b/c red contains more amylopectin, IIRC.

[nateo]

I wondered what kind of potato would work best. I was thinking Yukon Gold, but that's not based on anything but my gut feeling.

[morticaixavier]

I wondered what kind of potato would work best. I was thinking Yukon Gold, but that's not based on anything but my gut feeling.

I would think you would want a starchier potato. s good ol' russet burbank maybe. does make one think though, what about a purple potato.
when you boil those the water turns green, st. paddies day beer?

[gmac]

I wondered what kind of potato would work best. I was thinking Yukon Gold, but that's not based on anything but my gut feeling.

I would think you would want a starchier potato. s good ol' russet burbank maybe. does make one think though, what about a purple potato.
when you boil those the water turns green, st. paddies day beer?

Morts right. Yukon Golds are waxy potatos that have a higher water content and less starch than mealy potatos such as the Russet. That's why russets make way better French fries. Purples fall into the mealy category.

[tschmidlin]

Make mashed potatoes first

I would not want to put my mashed potatoes in beer.  Leave out the butter, cream, garlic, etc.