Need help with specialty grains

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by HopsHopenstein, Jun 17, 2012.

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  1. HopsHopenstein

    HopsHopenstein Initiate (0) Sep 4, 2011 Connecticut

    Ok so Im about to brew a brewers best Witbier kit and it calls to steep the specialty grains that were included in the kit. My problem here is that the specialty grains are 1lb of Pale malt, 1/2 lb of wheat, 1/2 lb of oats. The recipe calls for 1gallon of water to be used, the grains poured in a bag and soaked in the water at a temp of 148-152 for 45 mins. Just wondering if this is what I should do, I thought that these grains were to be mashed. I have read the other forums on this and still am fairly new to the brewing process. If a mash is what I should do here how should I go about doing it? Can I still use the bag? and what temps and water ratios do I need. Please Help. Thanks
     
    #1 HopsHopenstein, Jun 17, 2012
  2. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    You are doing a mash with the Pale Malt which has enzymes to convert the others (assuming the wheat and oats are unmalted)and itself. Don't use too much water...and you will be mashing vice steeping. I would limit your water to about 1/2 -3/4 gallon for your mash/steep

    Personally, I would let it mash for a full hour because 1# of Pale Malt is not really a whole lot for a # of adjuncts (assuming the wheat and oats are not malted and don't contain any enzymes)
     
    #2 GreenKrusty101, Jun 17, 2012
  3. jokelahoma

    jokelahoma Savant (1,162) May 9, 2004 Missouri

    The directions are pretty correct, and if you follow them you'll be mashing. That's why it calls for a specific amount of water at a specific temperature. You'll be doing a mini-mash at 2 quarts per pound of grain. The pale is in there to provide enzymes for the wheat and oats. It can be confusing, because mashing and steeping appear similar on the surface, but since you'll be using water at a specific temperature and water to grain ratio in order to promote enzymatic activity rather than just soaking out sugars which have already been converted, you're mashing rather than steeping.
     
    #3 jokelahoma, Jun 17, 2012
  4. HopsHopenstein

    HopsHopenstein Initiate (0) Sep 4, 2011 Connecticut

    does it make a difference if I use the grain bag? I hope I can because Im not really set up yet with a false bottom.
     
    #4 HopsHopenstein, Jun 17, 2012
  5. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    Use the grain bag... that's probably why they say use a gallon of water (good advice)...the bag sort of IS your false bottom.
     
    #5 GreenKrusty101, Jun 17, 2012
  6. HopsHopenstein

    HopsHopenstein Initiate (0) Sep 4, 2011 Connecticut

    Thanks for the help gentlemen. Cheers
     
    #6 HopsHopenstein, Jun 17, 2012
  7. ShanePB

    ShanePB Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2010 Pennsylvania

    Yeah, you're doing an extract kit. The directions are correct. You'll get more into the actual mashing, etc. when you move to all-grain.
     
    #7 ShanePB, Jun 17, 2012
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