Rinsing Steeping Grains

[bcmaui]

As my system and process evolves I am doing something with my extract batches that I have not heard discussed before.

When steeping a typical batch, I am using about 2 gallons of 155F water and I let it sit for 1/2 hour.

When the steep time is up, I pull the grains sack out and place it in a colander over the boil kettle and fire up the burner.

I am rinsing the grains with cool tap water with the first 2 gallons of the 4 gallons I have to add before the extract goes in. It takes 5 or so minutes between when each gallon added as I use a carbon filter in the kitchen and walk back and forth to the brew area, so the temp does not get much below 130F as I am doing this.

I know you do not want to rinse the grains with water that is too hot to keep from leaching out tannins, but are there any negatives to rinsing and filling up with 60F filtered tap water other than it takes longer to come to a boil? Or would adding warmer water be better?

Is it even worth bothering rinsing the steeping grains at all when brewing with extract?

[siwelwerd]

Seems like you could easily run into the same problems as oversparging. If you're not detecting astringency, I don't know what else could go wrong.

[Spidey]

Your method is pretty much exactly what I do. The only downside to using cold water rather than hot water that I foresee is that you won't solublize as much in the way of sugars as well as other grainy goodness. But since you're sparging with a lot of water per quantity of grain, I don't think this is much of a problem. The end of my sparge runnings have generally been reasonably light and clean. IMO it's worth rinsing the steeped grains to get the most out of them, especially if you're steeping larger quantities. I've steeped up to 3 lbs before. Anyway, this method has worked well for me for 3 years now.

[brewinhard]

Just do your best to minimize splashing from rinsing the grains as this could lead to HSA (hot side aeration) and potentially cause long term storage problems due to oxidation. With all this being said, many brewers feel that HSA doesn't matter especially if you have seen how some breweries treat their wort. If your beers come out how you like them and you and others notice no issues then keep on doing what your doing! I do agree with Spidey in that more sugars could be rinsed using warmer water than colder water.

[bcmaui]

OK - since I now have two burners:

I will try having a second pot with 4 gallons of warmed water come up to 160ish while steeping and will rinse the grains with a warm gallon next time.

Then will add the other 3 gallons, stir in extract, and bring to boil and proceed as normal.

Should save a little time. I was curious, other than extraction potential and a slower time to a full boill, if the cool water addition was doing anything negative.

In most advanced setups there is a hot liquor tank and I have not used one as of yet having only a single boil kettle.

[Fritz Eye]

Just to play Devil's Advocate as it sounds like you got your syste down pretty good and you will be going all gain soon.
Why not experiment with Mini Mash?
You can do this via the directions described in Brewing Classic Styles or do what I do do as described in More Beers tutorial section. The only thing I do diffrent there is mash in a pot large enough to hold the grains and water in an oven that was preheated and then turned off.
It is pretty easy and making your own wort is cool.
B3 has some great mini mash kits, Fire In the Hole is my favorite.
Before you know it, you will be doing all grain.
Good luck.
Fritz

[BeerPal]

...it sounds like you got your syste down pretty good and you will be going all gain soon.

+1

Instead of making your extract process more complex, why not just go all grain now? Once you do you will wonder why you waited so long.

[Dirk McLargeHuge]

...it sounds like you got your syste down pretty good and you will be going all gain soon.

+1

Instead of making your extract process more complex, why not just go all grain now? Once you do you will wonder why you waited so long.

+1

I used to rinse my steeping grains, and then just let them drain. It did help the extract beers. But going all grain has really improved my brewing. I understand why Mufasa recommends going all grain right away.