2 Row malt+Amylase enzymes

[camboscams]

So in an effort to find 6 row malt locally I have started to consider the use of enzymes (been doing NChoochs bourbon with 2row and having a poor conversion) .... I have a brew shop that stocks Crosby and Baker products and she can get powdered Amylase enzyme no problem, but they sell the gluco-amylase in a liquid form here's a link

http://crosby-baker.com/index.php/processing-aids/enzymes.html
Its the 9576A Convertase AG-300, 1/2 Liter

I'd like to use this for doing rice washes for a nice vodka as well

[Prairiepiss]

Just add some more 2 row?

[camboscams]

Very true... But at the cost of 2 row and the cost of a few tablespoons wouldn't it be a bit cheaper to add a bit of enzyme? Not that i'm trying to nickel and dime this hobby but anything helps

[Dnderhead]

enzymes will add nothing ,2 row will add some flavor /sugar as well as enzymes

[Prairiepiss]

What do you mean you are having poor conversion? 3 lbs of 2 row should have enough enzymes to convert 10 lbs of grain. At 120dp that would be 36 DP per pound. 6 more then the recommended 30. If you added a half pound on top of the 10lbs you would get 40 DP per pound. Or replaced .5 pound of corn with .5 2 row. That would be 42 DP per pound. A 1/4 pound would be 38 DP and 39 DP.

Are you following NC's mashing process? How are you mashing?

[rtalbigr]

So in an effort to find 6 row malt locally I have started to consider the use of enzymes (been doing NChoochs bourbon with 2row and having a poor conversion) .... I have a brew shop that stocks Crosby and Baker products and she can get powdered Amylase enzyme no problem, but they sell the gluco-amylase in a liquid form here's a link

http://crosby-baker.com/index.php/processing-aids/enzymes.html
Its the 9576A Convertase AG-300, 1/2 Liter

I'd like to use this for doing rice washes for a nice vodka as well

Besides the flavors and sugars that Dnder mentioned, with the 2-row you are getting a whole spectrum of enzymes, the most important being the Beta Amylase. With just the alpha and gluco you are limited in your ability to convert your starches. Gluco really doesn't do that much, and with just alpha you will end up with some un-fermentable sugars. If your mashing process is done properly the combination of the alpha and beta in the 2-row will maximize your fermentable sugars. Another consideration is the corn you are using. Feed grade cracked corn typically has low yields, so the greater the percentage of cracked corn in your grain bill the lower amount of sugars you will get. So, by increasing the amount of 2-row you will increase your yield. I use powdered alpha in my mashing process only to somewhat thin the corn out while cooking. I find little use for it other than that.

That being said, the DP ratio in your grain bill isn't necessarily a limiting factor in conversion. I have used a DP ratio as low as 24 L/lb and had good conversion. It's much more about understand what's going on, understanding the mashing process, and being precise and meticulous in your procedures.

Big R