Beer Brewing Guide - Step 1: Malt Milling
Milling malt grains plays a crucial role in the brewing process, as it allows the inner endosperm to be exposed and as much sugar as possible to be extracted from the malt. In this article, we will shed light on why it is an option worth considering to purchase your own malt mill and which mill options are available for home brewers.
Limited shelf life of pre-ground malt
Pre-ground malt loses quality over time and has a limited shelf life. Although pre-ground malt can usually be consumed for at least three months, the enzymatic activity decreases and oxidation processes can become noticeable, which affects the flavour.
Economic advantages of purchasing malt in bags
There are financial advantages to purchasing base malt in bags and storing it yourself. If you have the option of storing malt at home, you will need a cool, dry and dark place and airtight containers to keep out pests.
Improved brewing flexibility
With your own malt mill, you have the freedom to brew spontaneously whenever you want, without having to rely on the delivery of pre-ground malt.
Customisation of the grind
With a good malt mill, you can customise the grind, for example by adjusting the distance between the rollers. Coarse grist achieves fast speeds when separating the liquid wort from the solid spent grains (lautering). Fine grist allows more sugar to be extracted as the malt flour can dissolve better. There is always a trade-off between better yield and thus malt savings versus faster lautering and time savings.
Optional: Conditioning malt - light moistening before milling
Conditioning the malt by slightly moistening it before malting improves the elasticity of the husks and makes it easier for the wort to permeate during lautering.
Setting the degree of grinding
Determining the correct grist size is of crucial importance. This can vary between 0.7 mm and 1.3 mm. It is advisable to coarsely grind about 100 g of malt and check the result to ensure that the endosperm is visible but the husks remain intact.
Milling malt independently is a worthwhile decision for serious homebrewers, as unground malt has a longer shelf life than ground malt. Invest in the right malt mill to improve the quality of your beer and increase your brewing flexibility.
| Malt Mill Basic 2 rollers | Malt Mill | MatMill Classic Complete | Grainfather electric grainmill | Sommer MaltMan 110 |
Stainless steel rollers | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Adjustable rollers | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Electrical operation | X | X |
✓ With Cordless Screwdriver | ✓ | ✓ |
Hopper Volume | 7L | 8L | 5L |
| 12,5L |
Capacity | 1kg/min | 1kg/min | 3-4kg/min | 1,7kg/min | 3,3-5kg/min |
Price | 89,95€ | 139,95€ | 329,95€ | 349,95€ | 2.289€ |
SKU | 5011825 | 5015275 | 5010999 | 5016459 | 5012215 |
Malt Mill Basic with Stainless Steel Rollers
€79.95*
The adjustable rollers and the hopper are made from stainless steel, while the main block and the body are made of 6061 Aluminium. The rollers are embedded in brass bearings.
The malt mill is capable of handling high loads and require very little maintenance. Comes with two carriers.
Specifications:
Suitable to be driven by a drill, a concrete mixer or a motor.
Adjustable rollers for consistent milling on both sides (Range: 0.2 – 3 mm).
Rollers are provided with a 12 TPI rib for efficient milling of the malt.
Manual included
Dimensions: 76 x 150 x 50 mm
Rollers: ø28 x 127 mm
Length handle: 200 mm
Capacity: 2.72 kg/min
Attention: The metal work of the mill may have streaks and smudges. This is a result of the production process and does not have any effect on the correct operation of the mill.
Available
Malt Mill with 3 Stainless Steel Rollers
€139.95*
Ideal malt mill for the novice and advanced brewer. Mill up to 50 kg of malt per hour. Adjustable stainless steel rollers.
Adjustable rollers between 0.6mm and 2.5mm
SS/INOX rolls
Large aluminum funnel for 8 KG malt2 Stainless steel carriersWooden base plate (350x250x12mm)
Handcrank
Capacity +/- 1 KG per minute in manual use
Capacity +/- 1.5-2 KG per minute when using a drill (200 RPM)
Sturdy and compact, easy to assemble
3 year warranty
DIRECTLY connectable to a drill. Result: An excellent and flawless drive. We recommend a drill with adjustable speed to grind your malt at 150-200 rpm. The wooden mounting base fits well over a 25 liter brewing bucket.Attention: The metal work of the mill may have streaks and smudges. This is a result of the production process and does not have any effect on the correct operation of the mill.
Available
MattMill Malt Mill Classic Complete Roller Mill
€329.95*
Specifications:
Hardened rollers Ø 35 mm x 171 mm
Durable and maintenance-free
Handmade in Germany
Drive with drill or optional hand crank
Infinitely adjustable from 0-2 mm
Capacity: +/- 3 kg malt per minute (motorized)
2 years warranty
few Available
Grainfather Electric Grainmill and mounting board
€369.95*
The Grainfather electric malt mill is motorised, compact and easy to use at home. It is equipped with large rollers that crack the outer shell of the grain lengthwise, creating an optimal surface for mashing and a better filter bed for rinsing.
The removable grain hopper can hold up to 1 kg of grain at a time, and with 10 easily adjustable openings ranging from 0.8 mm to 2 mm, this mill is designed to handle different types of grain. Grind different base malts and special grains, and even change the speed at which your grain is ground with the variable speed knob.
The malt mill is easy to mount on a workbench or bucket, but works best with the included Grain Mill Bamboo Mounting Board. Moreover, the mill is easy to assemble thanks to its built-in motor and compact design. Simply attach the grain hopper. Set the desired opening by pulling the spring-loaded pin and turning the dial. Put the grain in the hopper and press the switch to start grinding.
Specifications:
Voltage: 220-240V
Power: 400W
Rollers: 58mm diameter, made of hardened stainless steel.
10 grinding positions from 0.8mm-2mm
Grinds 1.7kg of malt per minute
Hopper capacity: 1kg
few Available
