Generations

[Pottsy1985]

G'day all,

I've been looking around on the forum for a post explaining generations, how to do them, advantages, how many can you do, how do you know when you have to start again.

could someone please point me in the right direction

[bluc]

Generations "Sour mashing" is done by adding backset to both lower the ph to ward of bacteria and it also improves intensify's flavour. If using large amounts of backset an alkaline agent like calcium carbonate may be needed to balance ph. When doing all grain sour mashing the grain bed is changed for fresh each gen as new grain is needed to get the sugar content. Yeast is normally added fresh each gen so no mutated yeast cells are present and flavour remains constant.
With sugar heads alcohol content comes from table sugar rather than grain. The grain bed is reused as is the yeast. Two popular ways of doing it is doing 5 gens on a single grain bed. Not nessacary to change grain if only doing 5 gens ( some people scoop floating grain off and replacing with fresh grain) the other method is a continuous ferment. 1/4 to 1/3rd of the grain bed is replaced with each gen. The amounts replaced really is personall taste as is the amount of grain used in the recipe.the amount of grain in all grain recipes is more critical as the grain is needed for sugar content..

[Minpac]

Consistency in flavour between generations is an additional factor on top of all the good stuff bluc mentions.

From what I've seen, the accepted range of backset addition seems to be around 15-20%, though some rums may use dunder up to 40%, but may require pH correction for a good ferment.

When to stop is a little bit up for debate. Some stop at 5 gens, others ramp down the backset addition to be 5 or 10% so that ph and other levels reset to a degree, and some seem to keep it rolling indefinitely. If your ferments stall, it's a good sign to restart.

[bluc]

Also dont get sour acidic mixed up with sour rotton. I am sure no one likes the taste of rotton corn...

[Pottsy1985]

Thanks fellas