Cracking grains in a pinch Options

[bucwood]

I just got back from the brew store and realized I didn't mill enough grains for my recipe. I need 2 or 3 more pounds and currently don't own a milling machine; I always use my local shop. What's the best way to crack a couple pounds of grain in a pinch with the best results? Thanks.
Buc

[greatfookin]

Try a rolling pin on a cookie sheet, just try not to drip sweat on your grains.

[Brian72]

I throw mine in a freezer bag and go over them with a can of LME. Works for me. (IMG:style_emoticons/brewboard/cheers.gif)

[Onthekeg]

Take a bottle of beer,
put the grain in a bag,
roll over it until you want to quit,
do it a dozen more times.

If you still have uncrushed grain,
repeat.

Next time, throw a corona mill on the list.
They work the best in a pinch..

Not selling nothing here, but Crankandstein lowered their prices.
Not saying it good, not saying its bad,
but for a hundred bucks,
you'll be nothing but glad.

A little PUI'ing tonight! (IMG:style_emoticons/brewboard/devil.gif)

This post has been edited by Onthekeg: Aug 30 2007, 09:13 PM

[stangbat]

I have used a rolling pin once before. It works. Not fun, but it will get the job done.

[bucwood]

Thanks guys. A mill of some sort is definitely on the list of items to save for. I've been interested in the Barley Crusher for a while. Just over a 100 bucks and gets good reviews. Thanks again!
Buc

[dc2002]

The Phil Mill 1 is also a nice economy mill WITH GAP ADJUSTMENT. While it is a single roller, most folks that have one will tell you it can really get a good crush.

With my 19.2V drill I can do 20-30 lbs in about 10 minutes...unless I'm crushing wheat or rye - those two take a couple passes to get a good crush...

In a pinch - I have used a ziploc bag - not completely sealed - and a rolling pin. No mess and just pour it in when youre done...

[ewanzel]

Once in a pinch (before I got my mill) I used my honda accord, a bunch of garbage bags, and my driveway to crush some base malt. I don't think I would do it again, but I've been waiting for an excuse to share this...It took a while to get a good crush, but in a pinch you can put your grain in about 6 layers of garbage bags and run over it a bunch to crush it.

[Rainman]

Hard rubber mallet?

[dmtaylor]

I use my blender to crack all my grains, and it makes great beer. Yes, seriously. Just be sure to crack only 1 cup at a time, and just pulse it a few times until most of the grains are cracked. If you do it right, you will have yourself about a 20-70-10 mix of flour, cracked grains, and nearly whole grains. My efficiency is typically about 72% for an average beer of about 1.055 original gravity. For dark or roasted grains, barely pulse at all because it tends to pulverize quickly and can give you astringency. But for base malt and light specialty malts it works wonderfully. Try it. Don't be afraid of your blender. Put it to good use. Oh, and don't forget to put the lid on when you're pulsing.

--
Dave

[Jimmy James]

I use my blender to crack all my grains, and it makes great beer.

Thanks Dave, I thought I was the only one! When I just need to crack some specialty grains I have gone this way in the past. Thankfully, my LHBS has a nice mill and I haven't walked out of there w/out crushing in a long time.

[barbarossa]

I use my blender to crack all my grains, and it makes great beer. Yes, seriously. Just be sure to crack only 1 cup at a time, and just pulse it a few times until most of the grains are cracked. If you do it right, you will have yourself about a 20-70-10 mix of flour, cracked grains, and nearly whole grains. My efficiency is typically about 72% for an average beer of about 1.055 original gravity. For dark or roasted grains, barely pulse at all because it tends to pulverize quickly and can give you astringency. But for base malt and light specialty malts it works wonderfully. Try it. Don't be afraid of your blender. Put it to good use. Oh, and don't forget to put the lid on when you're pulsing.

--
Dave

Do you do all grain batches this way? I want to start getting grains from morebeer, but still haven't got a grinder. However, I usually do 20-30 pound grain bills so I doubt this would happen.

[dc2002]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg1ckCkm8YI

just like this??? You must have a blendtec blender...

[Hokie Brewer]

When I first read the thread title, my first thought was "damn... that must be some strong fingers... pinching grains to crush them."

[dmtaylor]

Do you do all grain batches this way? I want to start getting grains from morebeer, but still haven't got a grinder. However, I usually do 20-30 pound grain bills so I doubt this would happen.

Yep, I've never used anything else. If you want to know that it works, here's proof: I've made 21 all-grain batches so far, and entered 14 of those into competition. So far I have won a 1st and a 2nd in local competitions, and my average score in competition is low 30s, range is 23 to 41 (out of 50 possible points).

If you're crushing 20-30 lb at a time, the blender method will be very time consuming. I brew 3-gallon batches and typically use like 5 to 10 pounds. It takes me about half an hour to grind, less for smaller beers, which isn't bad at all. But to do 10-gallon batches, I wouldn't want to be standing there for over an hour grinding! Even so, if you had any interest doing partial-mash beers, supplementing with extract, it wouldn't be so bad to crush a few pounds in the blender as I do.

--
Dave