First Time Decoction - Advice Requested

[Bryan R]

The first boil is 15, maybe extend that to 20, and the second is 10, maybe extend that to 20 as well.

[MaineBrewer]

[Bryan R]

Our pleasure.. Good luck and be sure to report back! There is some super cool stuff you will see.

[Kit_B]

[Beersk]

Solid advice all around. Rob, if you want an entertaining video with good info, check out Brewing TV's "Decoction Day" video. Michael Dawson is a great brewer and funny guy who's been to Germany many times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIQPQmELWPo

[MaineBrewer]

Great video. I'm glad I'm sticking with the Double Decoction; I can't afford another dog to do the Triple.

I might have to look into one of those ladles. Especially after he mentioned burning his hands on the pyrex glass.

[Bryan R]

http://www.webstaurantstore.com/32-oz-s ... 58700.html

[Beersk]

Those a pretty handy, definitely worth picking up if you plan to do a lot of decoctions.

[Roachbrau]

If you're going with a high percentage of Munich malt, make sure to rest your decoctions for a period -ideally until iodine negative - at conversion temperatures before boiling them. Munich is much lower in enzymes than pale malts, and you could have conversion problems if you took the first decoction pull straight to boiling without a rest.

I just brewed a Marzen that was 30% Light Munich and 30% Dark Munich. It was a triple decoction schedule, and even with conversion rests during the decoctions, it took almost 60 minutes to reach iodine negative in the main mash during the conversion rest.

I agree with the recommendation to do a Hochkurz decoction for your first time. 145 for 60 and 160 for 60 will give you plenty of time to play with the decoctions and create some melanoidins!

[MaineBrewer]