Crystal malt and flaked barley.

[Rog.T.B.]

Could someone tell me how to prepare 100 grams of crushed crystal malt and 110 grams of flaked barley to add to Coopers IPA kit as I have had conflicting advice on the forum.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Could you tell us what the conflicting advice was as it may help others reading this.

 

[Mavroz]

Can you add to a kit?? Why would you want to?
The malt and barley need to be steeped at a certain temperature (65 degrees ish) for 30 mins, then the liquid boiled, usually with other ingredients at varied time intervals.

 

[Rog.T.B.]

Hi, the conflicting advice was, to boil both the crushed crystal malt and flaked barley for 30 mins allow to cool 30 mins and add to F V, with DME, sugar and can of malt. The other was to put both in muslin bag hold at 75% for 15 mins drain and abb to FV. What would you suggest?

 

[Mavroz]

I wouldn't suggest using either method with a kit at all.

Either brew the kit as per the instructions of research extract/partial mash brewing.

There are many topics on here regarding both.

 

[Pavros]

Perhaps the confusion has arisen because some grains can be steeped instead of needing a full mash and boil.

I can't remember exactly without looking at my notes but I think I steeped some crystal malt in the past and added to a Coopers kit. I just used a stockpot on the hob but can't remember for how long or what temperature.

 

[Pavros]

Just looked st Greg Hughes' book.

Crystal malt doesn't necessarily need to be mashed and can be steeped.
Flaked barley needs to be mashed.

When I steeped some crystal, I put it in a muslin bag in some water for 20 minutes at about 65C ( I wasn't very precise at that stage in my brewing). I then added some bittering hops and boiled for 30 minutes - I'm not sure I noticed any difference other than a slight improvement to a one can kit.

Now I would probably not bother steeping any grain and just dry hop.

 

[simon12]

I have never done it but think Pavros sounds correct. A bit of crystal may add something without a mash or even a boil but flaked barley would just add starch, a partial mash would be a good idea with at least 50% of a base/pale malt, but just doing a full extract brew would likely get better results more easily.

 

[Rog.T.B.]

Thanks guys, what do you think Chippy?

 

[foxy]

Plenty of brewers add to the cans makes for a more interesting brew, yes you can steep the grains you want to add, then boil for sanitary reasons.
https://aussiehomebrewer.com/threads/a-guide-to-extract-with-specialty-grain-brewing.70529/

 

[Pavros]

Good link @foxy. Thanks.

@Rog.T.B. If you follow Foxy's link but ignore all the bits about malt extract as you are substituting the beer kit extract for that. Just follow the bits about what to do with the 'speciality grains'. I suspect that is what I was trying to do with my half-arsed attempt a few years ago.