I just read where in general Carapils and Carafoam should be between 5%-10% of the total grain bill. I’m assuming this means to add up the weight of fermentable ingredients and take the percentage from there. This would naturally include DME/LME, grains, sugar, et al. But I’d like to avoid the assume proverb, so I figured I should ask.
Include any extract, sugars, base malt, special malt (crystal , roast, etc) and other adjuncts (wheat, rye, oats, corn, rice, etc). Use the total weight to determine the percentage weight of each component.
Basically, anything but hops, water (to include minerals, acids, etc), clarifying agents, and yeast (to include yeast nutrients).
Disclaimer: Any comment I add is simply the way I brew beer. There are certainly other ways that can be equally effective which other brewers may contribute. This is what I’ve found that works for me using my equipment and processes so I offer this for your consideration. YMMV
If you are looking for improved foam and body in the finish beer, Carapils and Carafoam won’t actually do that for you, believe it or not. Personally, I would not go through the hassle and would skip them. But of course, run experiments with and without and find out for yourself.
Assuming you are brewing a standard 5 gallon batch, each percent of grain amounts to roughly 0.1 pounds. So, 5 to 10% equates to approximately 0.5-1 pounds of the grain, assuming a 5-gallon batch.
Thanks BrewBama and dmtaylor
THIS
[quote=“David Jones, post:1, topic:32395, username:David_Jones”]
I just read where in general Carapils and Carafoam should be between 5%-10% of the total grain bill.
Grain Bill
6 lbs Vienna = 6 div by 8.5 = 70.59 %
2 lbs Munich= 2 div by 8.5 = 23.53 %
.5 lbs Wheat = .5 div by 8.5 = 5.88 %
TOTAL GRAIN BILL = 8.5 lbs
This is what I use for all grain, take notes, and adjust based on taste.
I always brew 4.5 gallon batches (volume in fermenter).
Top off with water to hit the 4.5 mark.
No longer mess with calculations for grain absorption and water evaporation.