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Author Topic: Grain life/ crushing  (Read 3665 times)

Offline reverseapachemaster

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Re: Grain life/ crushing
« Reply #15 on: February 11, 2014, 08:10:52 am »
I've read online that some plate mills will potentially throw metal shavings into the grain. Have you had that issue?

I have not seen any shavings in my grain but I also haven't tried running a magnet over it. I will give that a try on my next batch and report back.

I'm not sure where the contact point would be that metal is grinding aggressively enough that it is tearing apart. The plates shouldn't be grinding against each other
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Offline Jeff M

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Re: Grain life/ crushing
« Reply #16 on: February 11, 2014, 08:14:02 am »
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/CaraRed is the info i was going off for carared, Shrug.

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Offline klickitat jim

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Re: Grain life/ crushing
« Reply #17 on: February 11, 2014, 08:27:42 am »
I used to think it was caramel malt because that's the section Weyermann has it listed on their website, plus the "cara" thing. But the pros here say it's not and has to be converted. Just tapped an Irish that I used 2 pounds of it in. Doesn't taste overly caramel. Kind of a cross between Munich and Vienna to me. Lots of color.

Offline Jimmy K

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Re: Grain life/ crushing
« Reply #18 on: February 11, 2014, 08:53:34 am »
I've read online that some plate mills will potentially throw metal shavings into the grain. Have you had that issue?

I have not seen any shavings in my grain but I also haven't tried running a magnet over it. I will give that a try on my next batch and report back.

I'm not sure where the contact point would be that metal is grinding aggressively enough that it is tearing apart. The plates shouldn't be grinding against each other
That seemed odd to me too. I mean, a mash should filter out the particles anyway, but those things are made for making bread. Perhaps its just cheap mills?
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Offline Jeff M

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Re: Grain life/ crushing
« Reply #19 on: February 11, 2014, 10:17:26 am »
I've read online that some plate mills will potentially throw metal shavings into the grain. Have you had that issue?

I have not seen any shavings in my grain but I also haven't tried running a magnet over it. I will give that a try on my next batch and report back.

I'm not sure where the contact point would be that metal is grinding aggressively enough that it is tearing apart. The plates shouldn't be grinding against each other
That seemed odd to me too. I mean, a mash should filter out the particles anyway, but those things are made for making bread. Perhaps its just cheap mills?

The one i linked was definitely a China Special.  when we first started using it there was def more debris in it then after it was broken in.  There can also be metal shavings in the grain itself but i mostly used the magnet to fulfil my own neurotic tendencies.
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Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: Grain life/ crushing
« Reply #20 on: February 11, 2014, 10:45:41 am »
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Offline bluesman

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Re: Grain life/ crushing
« Reply #21 on: February 11, 2014, 10:52:39 am »
This says up to 6 months stored properly.
http://www.brewingwithbriess.com/Assets/PDFs/Briess_PISB_2RowBrewersMalt.pdf

+1

It comes down to how fresh the grain is to begin with, so if the grain is fresh and stored properly (i.e. sealed in airtight container/bag etc...) it should maintain it's fresh flavor for many months (up to a year) after crushing. Vacuum sealing and cold storing will take it to the next level, but isn't necessary as long as it's kept in airtight container.
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Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: Grain life/ crushing
« Reply #22 on: February 11, 2014, 11:47:25 am »
The last bag of Weyermann Pils malt had a best by date of over a year from when I bought it.
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Offline denny

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Re: Grain life/ crushing
« Reply #23 on: February 13, 2014, 09:24:33 am »
Considering placing a larger order for Crystal 40 and curious about...

1) How long will crushed grain last?

2) Can I buy a good grain crusher for a reasonable price?

The one problem I've found with precrushed malt is not using an entire sack at once.  If you use it a bit at a time, the fines drop to the bottom and the husks rise to the top.  Unless you remix it when you use it, yo;re likely to get too much of one or the other.  Not much of a problem with smaller amounts.
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Offline majorvices

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Re: Grain life/ crushing
« Reply #24 on: February 13, 2014, 12:30:17 pm »
Considering placing a larger order for Crystal 40 and curious about...

1) How long will crushed grain last?

2) Can I buy a good grain crusher for a reasonable price?

The one problem I've found with precrushed malt is not using an entire sack at once.  If you use it a bit at a time, the fines drop to the bottom and the husks rise to the top.  Unless you remix it when you use it, yo;re likely to get too much of one or the other.  Not much of a problem with smaller amounts.

This is a very good point!