The art of formulating with figures: take a game to your grains!
In this week, I will immerse myself in the fun and often misunderstanding world of proportions in the elaboration of beer. Do not worry if you are not an expert in numbers; Here we will learn to use percentages for your beer recipe to shine like a rock star.
Why counting in percentages is the most intelligent
The beer teachers are not only geniuses in the kitchen; They are also magicians of mathematics. Instead of talking about pounds and ounces, which sometimes sound like a recipe for fruit cakes, prefer the clear language of the percentages. Doing this facilitates the scalability of recipes according to the size of the lot or the available equipment.
Example: How about a bit of Pale Malt?
Imagine that in your miscellaneous grains you have a text saying that you used 9 pounds of pale malt. Without a context, that figure could be just a note in a notebook. But if I tell you that 90% of your mixture are pale grains, you already have a clearer idea of where the beer is heading.
Some rules that the beer teacher must remember
While I have talked about the foundations for the formulation of recipes in a previous article, I share here some practical tips that … what will make your life easier!
Malta base: the protagonist of the film
Most of your ingredients should be Malta Base, such as pale or pilsner, which must compose between 80% and 100% of the total. Keep in mind that classic styles are often simply a pure mixture of these grains.
With purpose, please!
Avoid throwing you into the adventure with specialty malts just because they were in the pantry. Each addition must follow your vision; A pinch here and there, but without overloading your mixture. It points to a range from 2% to 15% of those special ingredients.
Know your limits
Some grains can be more naughty than others. For example, malts that provide intense flavors should be used in moderation … a pinch here and another there! If you pass, you can end an unbalanced mixture.
Did you know that Beersmith can be your best friend?
Many do not realize that Beersmith incorporates the function of calculating percentages for a long time. Simply open a recipe in the desktop version and look for the “Grain PCT” button to access a dialogue that will allow you to customize the composition of your grains efficiently.
Conclusion: Make your real beer, not a puzzle
So there you have it, recipe after recipe, the intelligent use of percentages not only facilitates the elaboration of your beer, it also makes it an enjoyable and creative experience! So, if you ever feel lost among so many grains, you know that the numbers are your allies. Health and enjoy the homemade birra!
