grain mash questions

[amikkola]

from homedistiller.org, ive read a bunch of stuff on grain mashes, and each person seems to have a different way of prepairing grains for fermentation.

so, my questions... some were adressed in the sight but seem to be contradicted (ive read the whole sight frount to back at least 2-3 times)

1. can you use flour? i dont ahve a feed store around that i know of.. so could i just use corn/rye/etc flour?

2. can beano be used as a compleat substitute for the enzymes from malting?

3. it said somethign about starch converstion taking place naturaly at high temperatures, so... do you even need malt/ beano/ enzymes? could you just heat up the grain (would it be before or after crushing it?) to a high temperature for several hours?

I apreciate the help!

[DBM]

Cracked corn (chicken feed) is avalable everywhere. Cracked corn, sugar, Beano, and baking yeast makes a fine wash. No cooking necessary.

[Grayson_Stewart]

Beano is expensive...you would get better production for the money by just adding more sugar.

It will convert during the ferment, but not near as much of a benefit as another pound of sugar.

[Fourway]

Beano is alpha-galactositase and invertase.
It is helpful in the mashing process but it is only helpful.

To mash (that means to convert the starch in the grain to sugar) you need alpha-amylase and beta-amylase.
These come from malted grain, sprouted grain, a fungus called koji or they can be bought in powdered or liquid form from a brewshop or a supplier of industrial enzymes.

Adding beano to amylase in a mash helps break harder to ferment long chain sugars to shorter more fermentable sugars.

naturally if you are adding a lot of actual sugar, real mashing isn't necessary... the grain is just there for flavor.

I'm answering the original question.

and yes you could use flour in a pinch but it would absolutely *suck* to work with. Don't try it.

[Virginia Gentleman]

And just to add a few sources for cracked corn:

1) feed stores like Southern States, Tractor Supply
2) some "small town" hardware stores carry it
3) pet stores, especially big ones like Pet Supplies Plus, Pet Food Discounters, Petco

From any of these sources just makes sure it's only corn in the bag, no preservatives or additives.

If you want to say roughly where you live, might be able to suggest a store name.

[swpeddle]

My local Co-op farmers supply store has cracked corn going for $16 for a 40kg bag......that's pretty damn cheap as ingredients go.....

[DBM]

Dont use much Beano--I only use 5 drops in 10 gal wash.

[DBM]

I'm paying $4.95 for 50 lb bag at tractor supply store.

[amikkola]

yea, i live in Mass. ill chekc out petco...

thanks...

[seedsprout]

My local Co-op farmers supply store has cracked corn going for $16 for a 40kg bag......that's pretty damn cheap as ingredients go.....

AS with DBM I got just shy of 6 bucks for a 50 lb bag (at TSC) ,16 dollars for 20 lbs seems a bit pricy.

[Virginia Gentleman]

Anyone know if Tractor Supply Co. sells rye? Still searching for a supplier for that.

[pangea]

Anyone know if Tractor Supply Co. sells rye? Still searching for a supplier for that.

I buy my rye from small independant feed and seed companies. There are a few around here and the last that I bought cost $12 for 50#. I go to a local feed mill and get 50# of course cornmeal for $3.50.

[seedsprout]

I forgot 1 pound=.4 kg for some reason I got it backwards in my head that 1 kg was half a pound .. silly things .

[Tater]

http://www.convert-me.com/en/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[Virginia Gentleman]

Thanks pangea, I'll try that.

FYI tater and everyone, you can also type conversions into Google, e.g.:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=40+kg+in+pounds