Finnagann wrote:Thanks for puttin that down!
I'd love to start on a road to the dark side but there seems to be a few different ways of PMing and I'm a little confused
I've been reading Charlie Papazian's PM instructions (The Complete Joy Of Homebrewing 3rd ed) and he has a 4 stage mash process: 56 C for 30 min, 65-68 C for 45 min, 70C for 10 min and finally raise to 75C just before sparge.
Is this process dated? Unesessary?
No, it's not necessary.
It can be done, but there is no need to complicate the process.
A single infusion mash in the range of about 64ºC to 68ºC is fine.
Even those of us who brew AG will mostly do a single temperature rest infusion mash, rather than multiple rests or decoctions at differing temperatures.
For sparging, Trough Lolly's method works well and is easy.
Keep it simple for your first few, until you are familiar with your processes.
Multiple rests are OK if you understand why you wish to do them, but single infusion mashes turn out beer just fine!