Making a bigger bear

[gibbiem]

Wondered if I could add sugar to the boil to get a bigger beer? Can only get about 4% with my mash tun

[Clibit]

You can add malt extract. Dried or liquid. Or sugar. Or both. Keep sugar to about 10% of the total fermentables, or less.

You could also make smaller batches of beer.

[floydmeddler]

What size is your MT?

[gibbiem]

Its a 5 us gallon cooler.

Just realised after posting I could probably just add some dme ha ha

[Clibit]

I use a 5 US gallon cooler. You can make a stronger beer than 4%. I mash 5kg easily. I've squeezed more than that in sometimes. 6kg I think. Full to the top, 2.5 litres water to the kg.

[naturals]

?

[gibbiem]

?

Ha ha ha ha nice one mate, didn't notice!

[Clibit]

Meanwhile! How come you only get 4% from your mashtun?

[floydmeddler]

You should be able to manage more than a 4% beer in a 19L MT. I used a 25L for years and managed 8KG grain in there recently with 16L of liquor. Here's the beer: viewtopic.php?f=24&t=62937

[gibbiem]

Meanwhile! How come you only get 4% from your mashtun?

Sorry mate, forgot to reply. Beersmith always says 3l per kg. The last one I brewed was at the limit!! I had a nightmare with a stuck mash which might be why my OG was off. Defo gonna try 2.5l/kg next time though. Need to drink some to free up bottles ha ha

[Clibit]

No worries! 2.5l/kg is a normal mash ratio and works fine. I do add a bit of DME sometimes, if making a stronger brew than the mashtun can muster. But 5 - 6 kg grain is plenty for most of my brews and I can always reduce the amount of beer I make - I sometimes drop to 15 litres or so. I usually do 20 - 23 litres though.

Interesting that floyd did a mash with 8kg grain and 16 litres water, which is only 2 litres per kg. I think he needs to describe the experience and whether he recommends such a thing!

[floydmeddler]

No worries! 2.5l/kg is a normal mash ratio and works fine. I do add a bit of DME sometimes, if making a stronger brew than the mashtun can muster. But 5 - 6 kg grain is plenty for most of my brews and I can always reduce the amount of beer I make - I sometimes drop to 15 litres or so. I usually do 20 - 23 litres though.

Interesting that floyd did a mash with 8kg grain and 16 litres water, which is only 2 litres per kg. I think he needs to describe the experience and whether he recommends such a thing!

That particular brew was a nightmare mash but only because I used 900g of rolled oats. Ended up being stuck like a shit. I've learnt my lesson on that one!

I've done other big beers in this MT though with no probs.

Yep, 2L per KG is perfect I reckon. I use a drill and paint stirrer to get a good mix. Winner every time.

[Clibit]

I would imagine the drill and paint stirrer were essential tools.

[gibbiem]

I think it might have been the oats then messed mine up. I only used 180g but it was probably a smaller grain bill. Think I'll use cars pills next time as I think they're both for the same thing