Still prepping for my first BIAB brew....have my ingredients but looking at mills. I see a ton of people say Corona's work great...ton say they suck....25 bucks versus a Barley Crusher or CrankandStein....thoughts anyone? I also read somewhere that BIAB'ers sometimes double crush their grains to improve efficiency....thoughts on that?
can't wait to get this started...I am doing a Stone Ruination IPA clone as my first go...weather is getting nicer, i'm itching to brew :-)
Thanks for the help
Post #2 made 11 years ago
Personally I paid too much for a corona mill, howeever I'm pretty happy with it so far. I've heard a couple of times that Charlie Papazian still uses one so they can't be all that bad.
I think double crushing/double milling more refers to a roller mill and a 3 vessel system where a stuck sparge is a concern. With my Corona I just have it set to the point where its not grinding metal flakes off of itself and call it good. I've replaced the stock crank handle with a long bolt and a screw. I use my cordless drill or a socket wrench to drive it. I'm looking to buy a reliable drill that can drive the mill for 17 to 24 kg without dying.
If I had to do it over again, I would try to share the cost of a nicer mill with someone. I am pretty happy with the corona thus far though, and they are fairly inexpensive.
I think double crushing/double milling more refers to a roller mill and a 3 vessel system where a stuck sparge is a concern. With my Corona I just have it set to the point where its not grinding metal flakes off of itself and call it good. I've replaced the stock crank handle with a long bolt and a screw. I use my cordless drill or a socket wrench to drive it. I'm looking to buy a reliable drill that can drive the mill for 17 to 24 kg without dying.
If I had to do it over again, I would try to share the cost of a nicer mill with someone. I am pretty happy with the corona thus far though, and they are fairly inexpensive.
-
- SVA Brewer With Over 100 Brews From Canada
-
Re: Mill Question
Post #3 made 11 years ago
Here is my corrona mill set up. It's worked pretty good so far.
Sent from my SGH-I717M using Tapatalk
Last edited by Lumpy5oh on 12 Mar 2014, 13:10, edited 1 time in total.
Some people are like slinkies. Not good for much, but bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs.
Weehoosebrewing.ga
Weehoosebrewing.ga
-
- SVA Brewer With Over 20 Brews From Canada
-
Post #4 made 11 years ago
I've run out of steam for tonight so apologies to anyone in other threads that I haven't answered yet if I was meant to.
I have written somewhere here that, in hindsight, I probably would not have bought a mill. There are many problems associated with having a mill. Maybe if someone is relaxing and having a beer, they can find, copy and paste some of my posts on that point here?
My mill is excellent. And, powering and building it turned out to be really easy/lucky. You won't get that luck though with yours. Trust me, I have a whole room here full of unlucky stuff. Building my mill was luck personified but still was a big learning experience.
Anyway, if you have a local home brew shop that has a decent mill, a mill is the last thing you should consider buying. And, if you want to ignore my advice, make sure you at least buy an excellent mill. I've written here before on what makes an excellent mill so if you find anything I have written before here on this whole subject, please copy and paste it here.
PP
I have written somewhere here that, in hindsight, I probably would not have bought a mill. There are many problems associated with having a mill. Maybe if someone is relaxing and having a beer, they can find, copy and paste some of my posts on that point here?
My mill is excellent. And, powering and building it turned out to be really easy/lucky. You won't get that luck though with yours. Trust me, I have a whole room here full of unlucky stuff. Building my mill was luck personified but still was a big learning experience.
Anyway, if you have a local home brew shop that has a decent mill, a mill is the last thing you should consider buying. And, if you want to ignore my advice, make sure you at least buy an excellent mill. I've written here before on what makes an excellent mill so if you find anything I have written before here on this whole subject, please copy and paste it here.
PP
If you have found the above or anything else of value on BIABrewer.info, consider supporting us by getting some BIPs!
-
- SVA Brewer With Over 100 Brews From Australia
-
Post #5 made 11 years ago
Phog98,
I have the barley crusher with a 15 pound(6.8 Kilos) Hopper.
http://www.barleycrusher.com/view_image.php?img=bc_main
I use a old drill to run the mill. No cranking for me! I have no problems with it and would not brew without it. I buy my grain in bulk. 50 lbs. (22.6Kilos) at a time. I have 4 sacks of grain that I bought at the same time and saved 10%. It wasn't cheap but it is a lot cheaper over the long run. I use grain at a prestigious rate so the cold weather and my (drinking-brewing problem) Keeps my grain fresh as a daisy.
I mill it only once and do a 90 minute mash. I do stir every 30 minutes now. I didn't do it in the past. I just let it sit for 60 minutes. Now I do 90 min. mash with a few stirs. I find that extends my (brewing-drinking)
day just enough to get a extra beer! 
My local home brew supply shop (LHBSS) is a two hour drive (round trip) so I don't relish driving there every week (plus, I spend money on crap I don't need). So That's why I mill at home? Hope that helps?
I have the barley crusher with a 15 pound(6.8 Kilos) Hopper.
http://www.barleycrusher.com/view_image.php?img=bc_main
I use a old drill to run the mill. No cranking for me! I have no problems with it and would not brew without it. I buy my grain in bulk. 50 lbs. (22.6Kilos) at a time. I have 4 sacks of grain that I bought at the same time and saved 10%. It wasn't cheap but it is a lot cheaper over the long run. I use grain at a prestigious rate so the cold weather and my (drinking-brewing problem) Keeps my grain fresh as a daisy.
I mill it only once and do a 90 minute mash. I do stir every 30 minutes now. I didn't do it in the past. I just let it sit for 60 minutes. Now I do 90 min. mash with a few stirs. I find that extends my (brewing-drinking)
day just enough to get a extra beer! My local home brew supply shop (LHBSS) is a two hour drive (round trip) so I don't relish driving there every week (plus, I spend money on crap I don't need). So That's why I mill at home? Hope that helps?
Last edited by BobBrews on 12 Mar 2014, 21:51, edited 2 times in total.
tap 1 Raspberry wine
tap 2 Bourbon Barrel Porter
tap 3 Czech Pilsner
tap 4 Triple IPA 11% ABV
Pipeline: Mulled Cider 10% ABV
http://cheesestradamus.com/ Brewers challenge!
tap 2 Bourbon Barrel Porter
tap 3 Czech Pilsner
tap 4 Triple IPA 11% ABV
Pipeline: Mulled Cider 10% ABV
http://cheesestradamus.com/ Brewers challenge!
-
- SVA Brewer With Over 100 Brews From United States of America
-
Post #6 made 11 years ago
I've had 3 mills and my current one is a JSP gear driven adjustable malt mill [14 years old now] and I really like it, still going very well. I don't BIAB but have a full volume mash recirculating system so some of the principles are same. For me a double crush gave about 2% efficiency increase but greater stuck mash potential, beer flavour was the same. With a greater water to grain ratio water chemistry for mash and consequently boil pH became very important to avoid off flavours and down the line clarity issues. This [pH of the mash not the water you use]is very dependant on your local water and its alkalinity. On this site you will find excellent water profiles for English beer styles.
http://www.murphyandson.co.uk/BrewingAr ... ywhere.htm
Steve
http://www.murphyandson.co.uk/BrewingAr ... ywhere.htm
Steve
Post #7 made 11 years ago
I ended up ordering a $25.00 corona mill to buy some time. I've read a lot of very mixed reviews but it sounds like BIAB is a bit more forgiving on the crush since I don't have any tubes to get plugged. I was looking at the CrankandStein but I'm thinking my "happy wife = happy life" will be in jeopardy if I get an expensive roller mill right now. I just bought a 15 gallon Spike Brewing Kettle so I'll lay low a bit :-) I'm hoping I can do an occasional double batch with that 15g but not sure yet...that is what I'm looking up next :-)
Post #8 made 11 years ago
Thanks for posting this, this seems very simple and logical. I have a couple ideas for a setup either incorporating this and other corona mill set ups...but I also grew up on a farm and have a couple ideas...particular to a hopper component i want to try out. I don't have the corona yet, so i can't tell if what I'm thinking will work or not.
Lumpy5oh wrote:Here is my corrona mill set up. It's worked pretty good so far.Sent from my SGH-I717M using Tapatalk
Last edited by Phog98 on 13 Mar 2014, 06:53, edited 1 time in total.
Post #9 made 11 years ago
Here is a thread on another site discussing the corona.
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=90849
Sent from my SGH-I717M using Tapatalk
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=90849
Sent from my SGH-I717M using Tapatalk
Some people are like slinkies. Not good for much, but bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs.
Weehoosebrewing.ga
Weehoosebrewing.ga
-
- SVA Brewer With Over 20 Brews From Canada
-
Should I buy a grain mill?
Post #10 made 11 years ago
Phog98, I'm just going to make a few notes here for the next time this question come up. You have ordered your mill now and that is fine but here's a checklist I'd like to see anyone go through before they buy a mill...
1. Have you brewed enough to know how much base grain and specialty grain you need?
2. Do you know the price difference between buying base malts in bulk and specialty grains.
3. Do you have a LHBS that is close by and that will crush your grains for you?
4. If you have a LHBS close by, will you be visiting it anyway before each brew? In other words, will you need to go there anyway for a hop or special yeast or special grain?
5. How/where are you going to store the grain?
6. What is your climate like? Will grain last a long or short time in your storage?
7. How will you work out when you will run out of roasted barley versus crystal 20 versus pale ale malt? Do you re-order al at the same time? (It never works that way. I have a dozen specialty grains here and am always running out of something but to store all of them well enough would requie too much space or they would go off.)
8. Now you have the mill, do you know what can power it? If it is a hand cranking thing then you will only want to be doing stove-top brews or be very drunk when you mill.
9. If it is powered by a motor, this can end up being a very expensive and time-consuming process. Pulleys, gears, belts etc etc plus a motor.
10. Have you bought or built your hopper? If not, what is your plan there?
11. What is your mill table? (The mill has to sit on something stable.)
12. What will you be using to collect the grist?
13. Where will you store your mill, hopper, table and anything else you have had to attach to it?
So, there can be a hell of a lot more to a mill than meets the eye initially.
PP
1. Have you brewed enough to know how much base grain and specialty grain you need?
2. Do you know the price difference between buying base malts in bulk and specialty grains.
3. Do you have a LHBS that is close by and that will crush your grains for you?
4. If you have a LHBS close by, will you be visiting it anyway before each brew? In other words, will you need to go there anyway for a hop or special yeast or special grain?
5. How/where are you going to store the grain?
6. What is your climate like? Will grain last a long or short time in your storage?
7. How will you work out when you will run out of roasted barley versus crystal 20 versus pale ale malt? Do you re-order al at the same time? (It never works that way. I have a dozen specialty grains here and am always running out of something but to store all of them well enough would requie too much space or they would go off.)
8. Now you have the mill, do you know what can power it? If it is a hand cranking thing then you will only want to be doing stove-top brews or be very drunk when you mill.
9. If it is powered by a motor, this can end up being a very expensive and time-consuming process. Pulleys, gears, belts etc etc plus a motor.
10. Have you bought or built your hopper? If not, what is your plan there?
11. What is your mill table? (The mill has to sit on something stable.)
12. What will you be using to collect the grist?
13. Where will you store your mill, hopper, table and anything else you have had to attach to it?
So, there can be a hell of a lot more to a mill than meets the eye initially.
PP
If you have found the above or anything else of value on BIABrewer.info, consider supporting us by getting some BIPs!
-
- SVA Brewer With Over 100 Brews From Australia
-
Post #11 made 11 years ago
I see this thread is a couple of weeks old ... but...
I have a Corona mill and no matter how I adjust I seem to get 10% un-milled grain or flour....
Just a thought I had with pre-milled grain at least a solution for the UK and US ....
Pre-milled grain suppliers are plentiful on the web - (certainly here in the UK)
So my idea was to buy pre-milled and use These (hint for US read WallMart as ASDA ...
This will certainly prolong the life of shop milled grain (I hope!)
Martin aka Niimus
I have a Corona mill and no matter how I adjust I seem to get 10% un-milled grain or flour....
Just a thought I had with pre-milled grain at least a solution for the UK and US ....
Pre-milled grain suppliers are plentiful on the web - (certainly here in the UK)
So my idea was to buy pre-milled and use These (hint for US read WallMart as ASDA ...
This will certainly prolong the life of shop milled grain (I hope!)
Martin aka Niimus
Last edited by Niimus on 23 Mar 2014, 20:04, edited 1 time in total.
Post #12 made 11 years ago
I had a rig like LumpySoh that I used for years without a hitch, I finally "upgraded" to a nice roller mill. Guess what? The efficiency of the mash and the quality of the beer was the same with the $25.00 corona as it is with the $200 roller mill. You can learm from my mistake!
As to PP's list of questions, they make a good guideline for those considering the purchase of a mill. I buy my base grain in 55# bags, my specialty malt in 10# bags, and usually have a couple of hundred pounds of grain on-hand at any given time so having a mill makes sense for me. YMMV.
---Todd
As to PP's list of questions, they make a good guideline for those considering the purchase of a mill. I buy my base grain in 55# bags, my specialty malt in 10# bags, and usually have a couple of hundred pounds of grain on-hand at any given time so having a mill makes sense for me. YMMV.
---Todd
WWBBD?
-
- SVA Brewer With Over 100 Brews From United States of America
-
Post #13 made 11 years ago
Niimus
I buy bulk grain that has already been milled and divide up the 25Kg into 1Kg packs myself.
There is a thread about mills here. I mention in there too about vacuum sealing.
You can get bags like these from Ebay (not sure if these are big enough though) but are cheap at £2 for 50. You can get a vacuum sealer from Lidl for about £20 as well.
I buy bulk grain that has already been milled and divide up the 25Kg into 1Kg packs myself.
There is a thread about mills here. I mention in there too about vacuum sealing.
You can get bags like these from Ebay (not sure if these are big enough though) but are cheap at £2 for 50. You can get a vacuum sealer from Lidl for about £20 as well.
Last edited by mally on 24 Mar 2014, 16:31, edited 1 time in total.
G B
I spent lots of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I squandered
I've stopped drinking, but only when I'm asleep
I ONCE gave up women and alcohol - it was the worst 20 minutes of my life
I spent lots of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I squandered
I've stopped drinking, but only when I'm asleep
I ONCE gave up women and alcohol - it was the worst 20 minutes of my life
-
- SVA Brewer With Over 100 Brews From Great Britain
-
