Preparing Malted Barley for the Mash

Cracking the malted barley in preparation for the mash necessitates access to an efficient milling device, such as the one shown to the right. Your local brewing supply shop may permit you to crack the grain you purchase there with their mill, or you may want to purchase one on your own.

After acquiring all the grains needed for your recipe, crack them all into a food bucket lined with a plastic kitchen trash bag for easy removal. Be sure to smell each of the grains you crack -- try to get to know their aromas and their associated tastes later on when you drink them. This will help you make better recipes in the future.

Video Demonstration         "Preparing the Grain Bill"     Watch either: QuickTime | WMV

Watch Megan in the video for a full explanation of the process:

Equipment Checklist:

- Hand mill or grinder for cracking grain
- 6+-gallon food-grade bucket
- plastic trash bag
- All of the grain for your recipe

You don't want to grind the grain, only crack it. the husks serve as a natural filter during the sparging process.

Move on to the next step in the brewing process: the Mash

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