Grain Age & Efficiency
  • BenSBenS
    Posts: 6,248
    Does grain age effect the potential extract of malt? I recently used up the bottom of my 2-row bin (grain at least 2+ yrs old) and got pretty horrible efficiency. Wondering if it could have been the age of the malt. Thoughts?
    There's no starting point. It's just a massive sea of shit to wade through until you find the occasional corn kernel. -DrCurly
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,786
    i know that the enzymes in the grain used for starch conversion are degraded over time, but i don't know what the effect of time is on the actual starches. i would think that they aren't affected much. did you use all old malt, or did you mix it up with some fresh stuff?
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • BenSBenS
    Posts: 6,248
    It was all old malt. I realize it could be other things, I was just curious. If the enzymes degrade over time, do you think my malt could have lost just a ton of diastatic power and not been able to convert all the starches? I mashed low around 147F.
    There's no starting point. It's just a massive sea of shit to wade through until you find the occasional corn kernel. -DrCurly
  • ceanntceannt
    Posts: 53,828
    That would be my guess ... if you had used some new base malt, you might have been ok
    Never attribute to malice, that which can adequately be explained by stupidity.
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,786
    BenS said:

    It was all old malt. I realize it could be other things, I was just curious. If the enzymes degrade over time, do you think my malt could have lost just a ton of diastatic power and not been able to convert all the starches? I mashed low around 147F.



    Yes. Do you test for starches with iodine? It only takes a minute and definitely helps getting a nice clear beer.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,786
    http://www.homebrewforums.net/discussion/25/how-to-tell-when-your-mash-is-complete

    There were some pictures somewhere around here of the starch test done in a shot glass and a couple I put on here of how to do it on a piece of chalk, but I don't remember where.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,786
    Maybe @Lakewood remembers.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,786
    Found a shot of the chalk test. Towards the bottom of the page.

    http://www.homebrewforums.net/discussion/124/caught-in-the-act/p1
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,708
    FromZwolle said:

    Maybe @Lakewood remembers.




    I'll try to dig up thee shot glass method pics.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • BenSBenS
    Posts: 6,248
    I used to do the chalk test on my mash but I didn't on this brew day.
    There's no starting point. It's just a massive sea of shit to wade through until you find the occasional corn kernel. -DrCurly
  • JayrizzleJayrizzle
    Posts: 90,691
    BenS said:

    I used to do the chalk test on my mash but I didn't on this brew day.



    I've never hear of that one, please share.
    It seems odd to me that the enzymes would have been so far gone that they wouldn't have converted the mash, unless you had a lot flaked grain.
    image
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,786
    Dr_Jerryrigger said:

    BenS said:

    I used to do the chalk test on my mash but I didn't on this brew day.



    I've never hear of that one, please share.
    It seems odd to me that the enzymes would have been so far gone that they wouldn't have converted the mash, unless you had a lot flaked grain.

    FromZwolle said:

    http://www.homebrewforums.net/discussion/25/how-to-tell-when-your-mash-is-complete


    There were some pictures somewhere around here of the starch test done in a shot glass and a couple I put on here of how to do it on a piece of chalk, but I don't remember where.




    FromZwolle said:

    Found a shot of the chalk test. Towards the bottom of the page.

    http://www.homebrewforums.net/discussion/124/caught-in-the-act/p1



    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • BenSBenS
    Posts: 6,248
    Dr_Jerryrigger said:

    BenS said:

    I used to do the chalk test on my mash but I didn't on this brew day.



    I've never hear of that one, please share.
    It seems odd to me that the enzymes would have been so far gone that they wouldn't have converted the mash, unless you had a lot flaked grain.


    3.25lbs 2row, 4.25lbs of white wheat, 8oz of flaked maize
    All of it was way old leftovers that have been sitting in my shed for 2+ years.
    single infusion mash @ 147F OG-1.040 not horrible efficiency, but pretty sure the old grain was the culprit. I'm chocking it up as a learning experience.
    There's no starting point. It's just a massive sea of shit to wade through until you find the occasional corn kernel. -DrCurly
  • JayrizzleJayrizzle
    Posts: 90,691
    FromZwolle said:

    Dr_Jerryrigger said:

    BenS said:

    I used to do the chalk test on my mash but I didn't on this brew day.



    I've never hear of that one, please share.
    It seems odd to me that the enzymes would have been so far gone that they wouldn't have converted the mash, unless you had a lot flaked grain.

    FromZwolle said:

    http://www.homebrewforums.net/discussion/25/how-to-tell-when-your-mash-is-complete


    There were some pictures somewhere around here of the starch test done in a shot glass and a couple I put on here of how to do it on a piece of chalk, but I don't remember where.




    FromZwolle said:

    Found a shot of the chalk test. Towards the bottom of the page.

    http://www.homebrewforums.net/discussion/124/caught-in-the-act/p1





    oh you want me to read?
    I don't know if I can do that.
    image
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,708
    Dr_Jerryrigger said:

    FromZwolle said:

    Dr_Jerryrigger said:

    BenS said:

    I used to do the chalk test on my mash but I didn't on this brew day.



    I've never hear of that one, please share.
    It seems odd to me that the enzymes would have been so far gone that they wouldn't have converted the mash, unless you had a lot flaked grain.

    FromZwolle said:

    http://www.homebrewforums.net/discussion/25/how-to-tell-when-your-mash-is-complete


    There were some pictures somewhere around here of the starch test done in a shot glass and a couple I put on here of how to do it on a piece of chalk, but I don't remember where.




    FromZwolle said:

    Found a shot of the chalk test. Towards the bottom of the page.

    http://www.homebrewforums.net/discussion/124/caught-in-the-act/p1





    oh you want me to read?
    I don't know if I can do that.


    You can do it. We're counting on you.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • JayrizzleJayrizzle
    Posts: 90,691
    I'll do my best!
    image
    But it's hard not having legs
    image
  • ceanntceannt
    Posts: 53,828
    If you need help .... my wife teaches special ed....
    Never attribute to malice, that which can adequately be explained by stupidity.
  • ceanntceannt
    Posts: 53,828
    She offered to help me once ..... I told her that my IQ are 20/20......
    She didn't even smile .....
    Never attribute to malice, that which can adequately be explained by stupidity.
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,708
    ceannt said:

    She offered to help me once ..... I told her that my IQ are 20/20......
    She didn't even smile .....



    No sense of humor
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
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