Cold steeping gravity vs mash gravity

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by HouseBrew, Nov 6, 2015.

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  1. HouseBrew

    HouseBrew Initiate (0) Oct 27, 2015 Oregon

    Do you get the same gravity when cold steeping dark grains that you would when you mash?
     
  2. inchrisin

    inchrisin Pooh-Bah (2,013) Sep 25, 2008 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah

    It depends on how you mash. If you were to run a no sparge, then the numbers should be pretty close if you keep your water to grain ratio the same.

    Most likely, if you sparge, you'll get better efficiency and more gravity that way than you would if you just cold steeped grains. I wouldn't think you'd go through the trouble of sparging cold steeped grains, but that's not to be overlooked either.
     
  3. HouseBrew

    HouseBrew Initiate (0) Oct 27, 2015 Oregon

    I was thinking of putting the grains in a muslin bag and then dropping them in a pot. That way I could sparge the grains easily.
     
  4. adamranders

    adamranders Initiate (0) May 25, 2015 Wisconsin

    I may be wrong, (pretty sure i'm not) but cold steeping should not add any gravity as no conversion occurs
     
  5. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Specialty grains like crystal malts and dark roasted malts do contain sugars, unfermentable dextrins, and soluble maillard products. Steeping dissolves them into the wort. So they do contribute gravity.
     
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  6. adamranders

    adamranders Initiate (0) May 25, 2015 Wisconsin

    I stand corrected, makes sense.
     
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