Trying different grains

MrN · Post by **MrN** » Wed Jul 13, 2016 5:07 pm

Has anyone got any methods for trying out malt flavours before brewing with them? I want to try a couple of different varieties of crystal and was thinking I could steep a small quantity of each in a little water and then taste that. I thought it might help me plan what quantities to use in my next recipe. Will this be helpful? Do you think you could do something similar with hops?

Kyle_T · Post by **Kyle_T** » Wed Jul 13, 2016 5:13 pm

Just eat the grains and let them sit in your mouth a bit.

Dennis King · Post by **Dennis King** » Wed Jul 13, 2016 5:22 pm

Kyle_T wrote:Just eat the grains and let them sit in your mouth a bit.

What he said, not with hops though.

BrannigansLove · Post by **BrannigansLove** » Wed Jul 13, 2016 5:54 pm

Dennis King wrote:
Kyle_T wrote:Just eat the grains and let them sit in your mouth a bit.
What he said, not with hops though.

I second both of these responses.

Post by **f00b4r** » Wed Jul 13, 2016 6:49 pm

For testing hops try this method of dry hopping a pack of Miller lite or similar.

lee1 · Post by **lee1** » Wed Jul 13, 2016 8:27 pm

that is a great idea foo might try that myself well done top of the class

Post by **f00b4r** » Wed Jul 13, 2016 9:46 pm

lee1 wrote:that is a great idea foo might try that myself well done top of the class

I read a lot and i'm very good at learning from other people's really clever ideas

MrN · Post by **MrN** » Thu Jul 14, 2016 9:22 am

f00b4r wrote:For testing hops try this method of dry hopping a pack of Miller lite or similar.

That's a pretty clever idea, I'll definitely give it a go.

Meatymc · Post by **Meatymc** » Thu Jul 14, 2016 11:28 am

What a great idea on the hops - talk about saving shed loads of time and money! Lot of interesting stuff beyond the link as well!

Matt12398 · Post by **Matt12398** » Thu Jul 14, 2016 1:09 pm

I've tried the hop test with Coors Lite and to be honest, I don't think it's a very good test. The flavours didn't go together very well and didn't really give an indication of hop flavour.

Dennis King · Post by **Dennis King** » Thu Jul 14, 2016 1:34 pm

Matt12398 wrote:I've tried the hop test with Coors Lite and to be honest, I don't think it's a very good test. The flavours didn't go together very well and didn't really give an indication of hop flavour.

Probably sends the coors light into a state of shock, not used to hops.

Piscator · Post by **Piscator** » Thu Jul 14, 2016 4:15 pm

Hop flavours change with fermentation - tasting a sample of hopped wort from the hyrometer jar doesn't taste like the finshed profile after fermentation.
In my view the only way to really know is to do a simple brew with a moderate amount of hops for each type and see what you think.

Capped · Post by **Capped** » Fri Jul 15, 2016 4:34 pm

Kyle_T wrote:Just eat the grains and let them sit in your mouth a bit.

I've just got me a bag of biscuit malt. Not be best pleased if they taste like ginger nuts.

Jim's Beer Kit

Practical Homebrewing

HomeBrew Forum

Sponsored by BREW-SCHOOL