A Series of SMaSH Brews

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MickDundee

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I bought a grain mill back in August then set the wheels in motion to move house so my first brews with it will be starting at the end of this month (23rd).

I’ve decided to do a series of SMaSH brews whilst I get used to my new efficiency etc. I’ve gone for a combination of hops/yeasts I’ve never used before and those I’ve never used on their own. The malt is Propino because it was only 5p more for a 25kg sack than generic pale malt on thehomebrewcompany.

Each brew will be 5kg malt each, with probably the whole 100g of hops (split differs dependent on AA and style) - as follows. Any thoughts/opinions, or experiences with the ingredients I’ve never used before, are welcome:

Belma / US05 - never had Belma before but liked the write up. US-05 should let it shine

Hersbrucker / MJ54 - a pseudo lager. I’ve used Hersbrucker on its own but only with other Hallertau family hops

EKG / Danstar ESB - a new yeast for me and I’ve read it’s good in English pale ales (only using it because Liberty Bell was out of stock). I’ve only ever used EKG with Fuggles before so keen to see how it does solo.

Mosaic/BRY97 - I’ve used Mosaic a few times but always with Simcoe/Citra/FF; never used BRY before and keen to see how it compares to US05 and MJ44

Waimea / MJ 44 - heard a lot about NZ hops but never used them. 17% AA makes me think I should load up on late/flameout additions.MJ44 is my “go-to” American yeast.
 
Not too sure about the proposed methodology.

I like the consistency of one method, one grain and one hop, but I can't understand why you would then want to mix the variety of yeast.

My suggestion would be use one method and:
  • Either stick with one grain and one hop but vary the yeast,
  • Or stick with one grain and one yeast but vary the hop.
This is the only way you can be sure that you like the yeast you are using or the hop that you are using. Even with this very simple method you will have enough variations of hop or yeast (whichever you choose) to get well over 50 brews before you need to start ringing any changes.
 
I agree with the principle of what you are saying, but 3 of the 5 yeasts are the same strain from different manufacturers (2 of which I’m very familiar with) and one of the others is one of my go-to yeasts. The only one that adds anything with regard to flavour is the ESB one and I’ve paired it with an English style hop that I’m very familiar with.
 
Are you using the propino extra pale? I got a 25kg sack for using across a range of styles from pseudo lager to stout and have been pretty happy with the results
 
Are you using the propino extra pale? I got a 25kg sack for using across a range of styles from pseudo lager to stout and have been pretty happy with the results
Is that the Muntons one at £20 for 25kg? In that case yes.

Glad you’ve been happy with it. I switched from GEB to HBC after putting everything in my basket in both shops and HBC being almost £20 cheaper! I’m so used to the Crisp Clear choice that it’s reassuring to know someone else likes this one.
 
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Yes it was about £20, but I thought there was a pale and an extra pale. I did pretty much same as you re HBC and GEB last big order, and noticed a similar difference.
 
Yes it was about £20, but I thought there was a pale and an extra pale. I did pretty much same as you re HBC and GEB last big order, and noticed a similar difference.
I was shocked because I’ve always considered GEB to be the cheapest by far. It seems to be the hops rather than the malt that made the difference. I didn’t have exactly the same hops in both baskets but same format - 3 for an APA style brew, one pseudo lager and one English.
 
Hi. I think that mill was from me no?
Anyway all sounds good. Ekg smash is great. Brings out the honey. Was just going to suggest that as a new miller you dampen the grains..
It provides a much better crush and the rollers on your cheap mill should work better if its anything like the one I have. It's also supposed to reduce astringency from the grain husks, and the lodo people are all about it.
Basically just get a spray mist bottle and put the grain in a tub and spray it while mixing it about then leave for about ten minutes. I think you want about 2 percent by weight, but it's not that exact a science. Should be damp not wet. It really makes a better crush and a better sparge and you have to buggr about with the rollers a lot less. Efficiency will be up a bit too if you do it right
I hope you have a good drill btw. Doing it by hand is loooooooooong.

I actually think I also did a smash with Belma although thinking back I think it was more of a single hopped cream ale type thing. It's very pleasant, not too bold.
Mosaic is obviously pretty boisterous, does well mellowed by other stuff but is characterful on its own too.
My only slight suspicion might be the waima. It sounds like Columbus which I probably wouldn't smash. That said, he who dares etc.
If you wanted to be clever sticking to the rules you could try boilling down a gallon of first runnings to a dark syrup and adding back. Still be a smash but with some caramel to balance the resinous dankness of the waima.
Crushing it.
 
Hi. I think that mill was from me no?
Anyway all sounds good. Ekg smash is great. Brings out the honey. Was just going to suggest that as a new miller you dampen the grains..
It provides a much better crush and the rollers on your cheap mill should work better if its anything like the one I have. It's also supposed to reduce astringency from the grain husks, and the lodo people are all about it.
Basically just get a spray mist bottle and put the grain in a tub and spray it while mixing it about then leave for about ten minutes. I think you want about 2 percent by weight, but it's not that exact a science. Should be damp not wet. It really makes a better crush and a better sparge and you have to buggr about with the rollers a lot less. Efficiency will be up a bit too if you do it right
I hope you have a good drill btw. Doing it by hand is loooooooooong.

I actually think I also did a smash with Belma although thinking back I think it was more of a single hopped cream ale type thing. It's very pleasant, not too bold.
Mosaic is obviously pretty boisterous, does well mellowed by other stuff but is characterful on its own too.
My only slight suspicion might be the waima. It sounds like Columbus which I probably wouldn't smash. That said, he who dares etc.
If you wanted to be clever sticking to the rules you could try boilling down a gallon of first runnings to a dark syrup and adding back. Still be a smash but with some caramel to balance the resinous dankness of the waima.
Crushing it.
It’s a Bulldog mill from Home-brew-online.

Thanks for the tips - interesting about Belma, the description made me think of AIPA type hops but sounds like it’s more subtle. It’s the one I’m looking forward to most and, subject to getting temp control sorted in the new house (short term solution is probably utility room worktop until the garage is sorted and I “inherit” my parents’ fridge when they get their kitchen done), will probably be my first.
 
Hi. I think that mill was from me no?
Anyway all sounds good. Ekg smash is great. Brings out the honey. Was just going to suggest that as a new miller you dampen the grains..
It provides a much better crush and the rollers on your cheap mill should work better if its anything like the one I have. It's also supposed to reduce astringency from the grain husks, and the lodo people are all about it.
Basically just get a spray mist bottle and put the grain in a tub and spray it while mixing it about then leave for about ten minutes. I think you want about 2 percent by weight, but it's not that exact a science. Should be damp not wet. It really makes a better crush and a better sparge and you have to buggr about with the rollers a lot less. Efficiency will be up a bit too if you do it right
I hope you have a good drill btw. Doing it by hand is loooooooooong.

I actually think I also did a smash with Belma although thinking back I think it was more of a single hopped cream ale type thing. It's very pleasant, not too bold.
Mosaic is obviously pretty boisterous, does well mellowed by other stuff but is characterful on its own too.
My only slight suspicion might be the waima. It sounds like Columbus which I probably wouldn't smash. That said, he who dares etc.
If you wanted to be clever sticking to the rules you could try boilling down a gallon of first runnings to a dark syrup and adding back. Still be a smash but with some caramel to balance the resinous dankness of the waima.
Crushing it.
It as me who bought the mill from you @divrack .
Used it for the first time on my last brew. Run the grain through the mill 3 times in the end to get a fine enough crush. Brewing again Thursday so I'll condition the grain and see how that goes.
It didn't take long with the drill though to be honest, even 3 times through. Efficiency was around 78% anyway, so it must have been OK.
 
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