I am an extract brewer(for sake of time) and a full time farmer. We recently picked up some barley for planting and sprouting. I would like to attempt malting , dehydrating and crushing some for a small experimental batch (1 or 2 gallons). Since I won’t be be buying a mill just for an experiment, what would be the best way to crush the malted barley. Youtube has a few vids. What would happen if I just used a coffee blade grinder. What is the difference between crushed grain vs. ground up grain? Thanks in advance.
In a pinch you can use a bladed coffee grinder a burr style coffee grinder might give you a more consistent grind. We generally use a roller grinder to control the consistency of the grind. Yes it matters. If you don’t have a consistent grind you will have a hard time replicating the recipe, but you can make beer
Welcome back!
Too fine a crush, stuck mash too. Isn’t there some folks using a corona coffee grinder with decent results?
I like the idea you’re gonna try the malting process as well… keep us posted how your endeavor plays out!
Sneezles61
@bpoppp sneezles61 I was thinking the same thing with the corona mill. Depending on the amount you can put it in a zip lock bag and crush it with a rolling pin /bottle. Might have to do it several times based on the amount but won’t cost anything.
This reminded me of a batch that I made once. An Old Peculier clone. Ordered a bunch of stuff online. Fantastic recipe. Partial mash and for this recipe I believe that I mashed three pounds of Maris Otter. I don’t exactly remember the quantity. I would have to go back and find that recipe. Anyway, I ordered it crushed and they sent it whole. Let them know and they refunded me for that part of the order…
Anyway, got out the large zip lock bag and a rolling pin. Did small amounts at a time and checked that it was the proper size and done right.
One of the absolute best batches that I ever made. Not sure if it was the music that I played while I brewed that day or the Mexican brown sugar and Lyle’s Golden Syrup that was in it. But I took a five gallon keg to a disc golf event (Ice Bowl) and the entire thing was gone in about 45 minutes time. Meanwhile, one of the local breweries kegs was still going and not done. I was told I should sell that one. LOL. Because it was a clone recipe…
Moral of the story is a zip lock bag and a rolling pin will work fine. Just make sure you know what the crushed grain should look like before you start the process. And that comes with experience.
not surprised about the clone recipe. A lot of good clone recipes out there. The thing about a rolling pin is doing 10 or 12 pounds would be tedious. But a small amount of specialty grains would be fine especially since conversion is not an issue