After four years of all-grain, tomorrow I am planning on brewing my first 5 gallon NB extract kit and that's exciting twist for me. NB recipe call for stepping the grain for 20 minute or until the water reaches 170 F. Is that made simple because it's beginners kit ? if so how do you properly step the Specialty Grains ?
The steeping process is not the same as mashing to create sugar, but these grains will add color and some flavor to your beer (and probably a tiny amount of sugar if any of the grains are mashable). The steeping process also gives a newbie a feel for the mash process, kind of like riding with training wheels. The process is to add your cracked grains to a quart or so of water that is already at the prescribed temp (at least enough water to cover the grains in a bag), and then hold that heat level for 20 minutes (some recipes specify 30 minutes or other time lengths). After the 20 minutes is up, you'll run some additional hot water over your grain bag to wash off the last amount of flavored liquid that is still on the grains. I do the entire process in my boil kettle, keeping the lid on to retain heat, but lifting the lid and taking an occasional temp reading and then starting my burner if necessary to raise the temp due to any heat loss. Wash the grains while suspending them over the kettle because you'll want some hot water in the kettle anyway to start your boil. Sometimes I just dunk the grain bag in a pot of hot water that is intended to be added to the kettle for the boil, and that is another way to wash the grain.
Brewed this NB kit by the book 11 days ago and just tasted. FG (hopefully) is 1.009 and it is delicious. My 4th batch and now I'm trying BIAB but I'm stoked for this one. My wife's favorite style.
