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Author Topic: Steeping dark malts  (Read 1525 times)

Offline DW

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Steeping dark malts
« on: December 15, 2013, 01:25:12 pm »
I'm brewing Russian Imperial Stout tomorrow.  I've got 4 lbs of specially grains to steep before the boil.  Do you think I would get more dark roasted flavor/color by cold steeping all night and then heating up to 155 tomorrow and holding for 30 minutes, or would that be too much and lead to tannin extraction?  I did not buy extra grain to cold steep only. 

Offline morticaixavier

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Re: Steeping dark malts
« Reply #1 on: December 15, 2013, 01:30:33 pm »
I am not sure if you would get  a lot more out of an overnight cold steep followed by a hot steep than you would with just a hot steep. The idea of the cold steep is to extract color only without any roasty character. Tannin extraction is a whole different animal and probably not a problem you will contend with in this brew
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Offline kylekohlmorgen

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Re: Steeping dark malts
« Reply #2 on: December 20, 2013, 07:43:42 am »
Steep 'em before the boil at ~155F.

In RIS (and in all stouts, IMO) you want that added acidity and acrid roast character.

Since you have so much to steep, I would either split them into 4 separate bags or (ideally) use a BIAB-style bag.
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