mashing

The German Step Mash Profile for Beer Brewing

by Brad Smith on July 18, 2023 · 0 comments

This week I discuss the German Step mash profile and how it can be used for Continental and German beer styles. I’ve also seen this mash referred to as a barbell mash or lager mash. The German Step Mash Profile A German Step mash is a term many of us use to denote a mash […]

This week I take a closer look at the mashing process and what is actually going on when we mash malted barley and then sparge it to produce wort during the brewing process. The Purpose of Mashing Mashing is, in its most simple form, a process that breaks longer carbohydrate molecule chains into simpler sugars […]

This week I show you how to do an iodine test to see if your mash has completed and the starches in the mash have been fully converted to sugars. The Iodine Test for Mash Completion How does an all grain brewer know when the mash is complete? It turns out there is a very […]

This week I present the mash temperature calculations in BeerSmith and how you can adjust your equipment profile and mash profile to hit your mash temperature the first time. Mash Steps and Profiles To understand the mash profile system in BeerSmith, lets start with the mash profiles themselves. You can edit and create mash profiles […]

John Palmer and John Blichmann join me this week to discuss All Grain Essentials and the upcoming BYO Boot Camp in Denver where they will be presenting hands-on classes in all grain brewing. Subscribe on iTunes to Audio version or Video version or on Google Play Download the MP3 File– Right Click and Save As […]

At a recent homebrew club meeting, one of the members asked me a brilliant question – when and how should you adjust your mash pH when all grain beer brewing? This is a devilishly complex question as you want to adjust your mash pH quickly if brewing with modern malts. The Mash pH Conundrum I […]

Some time ago I wrote an article on steeping vs mashing dark grains for all grain beer brewers. That article recommended steeping some dark grains into a separate tea to minimize burnt, harsh flavors. This week we take a look at a simpler method for achieving the same effect. Steeping vs Mashing Dark Grains As […]

This week we take a look at how to set up and use BeerSmith with the “Brew in a Bag” (BIAB) home brewing method. Brew in a bag offers simplicity in all grain brewing with less overall equipment expense and less cleanup. Brew in a bag methods and equipment are outlined here. A large number […]

We’re all incredibly busy these days and many of us are short on time to brew. So this week in part 1 I take a look at ways to shorten your all grain brewing session so you can brew more beer in less time. In part 2 we’ll take a look at ways to speed […]

Parti-Gyle brewing, sometimes incorrectly called party-gyle brewing, is an ancient technique where more than one beer is made from multiple runnings of a single mash. This week we’re going to take a look at this technique and how you can use it to brew great beer at home. The term parti-gyle is the English name […]

John Palmer and Colin Kaminski join me this week to discuss their new book “Water, A Comprehensive Guide for Brewers”. We discuss the best water for brewing beer, mash pH, residual alkalinity, beer brewing water for extract and all grain brewers, water sources and much more. Download the MP3 File – Right Click and “Save […]

Cereal Mash Steps for All Grain Beer Brewing

by Brad Smith on September 6, 2013 · 10 comments

barley_beer_web

This week I take a look at both when and how to do a cereal mash when brewing beer. A cereal mash step is used with unmalted or low enzyme grains such as rice, corn or oats to gelatinize the sugars before continuing with a traditional mash. When to Use a Cereal Mash Step? A […]

Water Alkalinity and Mash pH for Brewing Beer

by Brad Smith on August 26, 2013 · 9 comments

Brewery workshop

This week I take a look at your brewing water alkalinity and how it affects your mash pH. Controlling the pH of the mash is important for the all grain brewer – it is one of the differences that makes good beer into great beer. Mash pH in Brewing Those who have moved beyond their […]

This week we talk about how to make the switch into all grain beer brewing. My guest is Chris Graham, Chief Operating Officer of MoreBeer and also a Brewer’s Association board member and American Homebrew Association Governing Council member. Download the MP3 File – Right Click and “Save As” to download this mp3 file [audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/beersmith/BSHB-63-All-Grain-Graham.mp3] […]

This week my guest is Bob Hall. Bob shares with us some great tips for managing your brewing water and mash pH. Bob teaches biology and ecology at the University of Wyoming and has been homebrewing for 23 years. Download the MP3 File – Right Click and “Save As” to download this mp3 file [audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/beersmith/BSHB-61-Hall-Water.mp3] […]