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Also known as "kettle souring", souring in the boil kettle is a simple process that is often used if the brewer wants to subsequently heat pasteurize the wort. Pasteurizing the wort has the advantage of allowing the brewer to rack the pasteurized wort into a fermenter and pitch brewer's yeast without fear of an ongoing ''Lactobacillus'' infection in their post-boil equipment.
The brewing process is the same for any all grain batch up until the first wort and sparge runnings are collected into the boil kettle. The temperatures that a typical mash out/sparge reach should be enough to pasteurize the wort <ref name="pasteurization">[http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/pasteurization4.htm Heat pasteurization]</ref>, however some advise to bring the wort to a boil in order to kill a greater degree (2-3 logs more) of thermotolerant microbes <ref name="Heit_boiling">[https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1180630378631841/?comment_id=1180634488631430&reply_comment_id=1180677581960454&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R2%22%7D Conversation with Bryan Heit of Sui Generis Blog regarding boiling versus lower temperature pasteurization. 11/18/2015.]</ref><ref>[http://sourbeerblog.com/lactobacillus-2-0-advanced-techniques-for-fast-souring-beer/ ''Lactobacillus'' 2.0 – Advanced Techniques for Fast Souring Beer. 11/18/2015. Retrieved 11/19/2015.]</ref>. Once all of the wort is collected in the boil kettle (and alternatively brought to a boil), the wort is chilled to around 80-120°F (37-48°C), depending on the ''[[Lactobacillus]]'' culture that is being used. Once chilled to the temperature that is appropriate, the wort in the kettle is inoculated with a culture of ''Lactobacillus''.
There are various ways of inoculating the wort. A reliable method is pitching a pure culture of ''Lactobacillus'', or a blend of ''Lactobacillus'' cultures. Alternatively, a handful of unmilled malted barley can be added to the kettle for inoculation instead of a pure culture, since the husks of grain carry many microorganisms. If unmilled grain is added, it is recommended to fill the head space of the kettle with CO2 because oxygen can encourage off flavors such as rancid cheese from [[Butyric Acid]] and/or [[Isovaleric Acid]], which are produced by microbes that are naturally present on the grain. Keeping the temperature between 113-120°F (45-48.8°C) will encourage the ''Lactobacillus'' resident on the grain and will discourage other bacteria. Lowering the pH of the [[Sour_Worting#How_to_Pre-Acidify|wort to 4.5]] will also discourage many other bacteria from thriving in the wort during the incubation period. Consider [[Alternative Bacteria Sources]] for more reliable approaches to using "wild" ''Lactobacillus'', or ''Lactobacillus'' from sources other than yeast labs.
===External Resources===
* [http://suigenerisbrewing.blogspot.com/2015/07/how-i-sour-mash-recipe.html "How I Sour Mash & A Recipe"; Sui Generis Blog by Bryan Heit (includes Sour Worting and microbiology information).]
* [http://www.fivebladesbrewing.com/year-sour-mash/ "Year of the Sour Mash" by Derek Springer. This series of articles were written for his NHC 2015 presentation.]
* [http://sourbeerblog.com/lactobacillus-2-0-advanced-techniques-for-fast-souring-beer/ "Lactobacillus 2.0 - Advanced Techniques for Fast Souring Beer", by Matt Miller of Sour Beer Blog.]