In the world of home brewing, mashing is the procedure of heating up malted barley or various other brewing grains to a specific temperature. The grains are then kept at a specific temperature for a set time period in order to induce the enzymes within the barley grains to break down the starches in the grains into different sugar compounds. The type of sugar generated is normally maltose. Eventually the yeast will consume this sugar and convert it into carbon dioxide and alcohol, which makes beer. The best way to get started with homebrewing beer is by homebrewing using malt extract. Malt extract takes the most complex and cumbersome step out of brewing beer which is known as mashing.
Once mashing is completed, the homebrewer is left with mash. Producing mash can be quite complex due to the large volumes of heated water involved, and the intricate process of draining and straining out the sugary liquid from the spent barley. This type of home brewing is called all grain brewing. I recommend that people don't begin with all-grain brewing and instead first become comfortable with malt extract brewing. Malt extract brewing removes the need to create your own mash. Industrial malt makers create mash and through evaporation reduce it down to a concentrated powder or syrup. Home brewers can get this concentrated malt extract and work with it to produce their own beer without having to go through the complex and frustrating process of producing a mash.
Most homebrew batch sizes are five gallons, so if you are making a mash, you'll need a large pot at least that size in addition to other equipment needed to drain and rinse all of the grains. All-grain homebrewers also have to maneuver around these large volumes of liquid and brewing grains, which may weigh over 60 pounds and be fairly hazardous due to the high temps. Extract brewing, however, is much less difficult. There is no need for such large cooking pots and quantities of boiling liquid because you aren't making a mash. For a five gallon batch of beer you'll only have to boil around 2 gallons of water along with the malt extract, which will make things a lot easier.
Hops are added at different intervals throughout the 60 minute boil to impart flavoring and smell to counterbalance the sweetness of the malt. The longer hops are boiled, the more bitter flavors will be extracted.. These kinds of hops are referenced as bitterness hops. Hops that are included near the end of the boil are described as aroma hops as not much bitterness is extracted, but the hop aroma is. For a number of beers like holiday or other such spicy beers, spices and herbs are incorporated near the conclusion of the boil .
When your boil is done, you have what is known as wort. The result is the same whether you brewed all-grain or if you brewed by using malt extract. This hot liquid now has to be cooled off to seventy degrees or colder as rapidly as possible. The hard work is completed, now it's time to allow the yeast to go to work. After the wort is cooled you add the yeast and have to wait for fermentation, which should start within twelve hours. Depending on the beer type, inside of 2 weeks you will have a completed beer ready for bottling or kegging. Brewing using malt extract syrup is a great way to get started with home brewing, and you can absolutely produce some great beers by employing this approach.
Once mashing is completed, the homebrewer is left with mash. Producing mash can be quite complex due to the large volumes of heated water involved, and the intricate process of draining and straining out the sugary liquid from the spent barley. This type of home brewing is called all grain brewing. I recommend that people don't begin with all-grain brewing and instead first become comfortable with malt extract brewing. Malt extract brewing removes the need to create your own mash. Industrial malt makers create mash and through evaporation reduce it down to a concentrated powder or syrup. Home brewers can get this concentrated malt extract and work with it to produce their own beer without having to go through the complex and frustrating process of producing a mash.
Most homebrew batch sizes are five gallons, so if you are making a mash, you'll need a large pot at least that size in addition to other equipment needed to drain and rinse all of the grains. All-grain homebrewers also have to maneuver around these large volumes of liquid and brewing grains, which may weigh over 60 pounds and be fairly hazardous due to the high temps. Extract brewing, however, is much less difficult. There is no need for such large cooking pots and quantities of boiling liquid because you aren't making a mash. For a five gallon batch of beer you'll only have to boil around 2 gallons of water along with the malt extract, which will make things a lot easier.
Hops are added at different intervals throughout the 60 minute boil to impart flavoring and smell to counterbalance the sweetness of the malt. The longer hops are boiled, the more bitter flavors will be extracted.. These kinds of hops are referenced as bitterness hops. Hops that are included near the end of the boil are described as aroma hops as not much bitterness is extracted, but the hop aroma is. For a number of beers like holiday or other such spicy beers, spices and herbs are incorporated near the conclusion of the boil .
When your boil is done, you have what is known as wort. The result is the same whether you brewed all-grain or if you brewed by using malt extract. This hot liquid now has to be cooled off to seventy degrees or colder as rapidly as possible. The hard work is completed, now it's time to allow the yeast to go to work. After the wort is cooled you add the yeast and have to wait for fermentation, which should start within twelve hours. Depending on the beer type, inside of 2 weeks you will have a completed beer ready for bottling or kegging. Brewing using malt extract syrup is a great way to get started with home brewing, and you can absolutely produce some great beers by employing this approach.
About the Author:
Steve Pavilanis is an expert homebrewer who loves teaching others the pleasures of home brewing. Learn more about homebrewing and stop by our instructional video website where you will learn how to brew your own beer. It's easier than you think!
