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02-07-2012, 12:50 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 94
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Recirculating Mash Question
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Any downside to recirculating wort in the mash tun with a pump? I don't have a RIMS or HERMS system, as I use a single infusion mash and fly sparge. Currently, I vorlauf into a pitcher (and pour it carefully back into the MLT) until the wort is clear. I didn't know if there would be a lot of heat loss while recirculating or if it would be enough to do affect the beer. I'd have to throttle down the output of the pump a good bit.
Thoughts?
Eric
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02-07-2012, 01:00 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Piscataway, NJ
Posts: 19,415
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I don't think the benefit of wort clarity is worth the effort, power, and heat loss you'll experience in a non-heated system. Even if you wanted to start integrating a pump into your system for other reasons, I'd only use it in the last 5 minutes to vorlauf.
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02-07-2012, 01:27 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Florence, Alabama
Posts: 1,014
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Commercial systems don't heat their vorlauf lines, if you want to do it, go for it
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02-07-2012, 01:29 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Stow, MA
Posts: 2,566
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wailingguitar
Commercial systems don't heat their vorlauf lines, if you want to do it, go for it
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Commercial systems generally use heat jacketed tuns to maintain temperature, so any heat lost in the recirc plumbing can be accounted for...
Cheers! |
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02-07-2012, 02:14 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Columbia SC - Formerly, Montreal Canada
Posts: 1,627
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Quote:
Originally Posted by day_trippr
Commercial systems generally use heat jacketed tuns to maintain temperature, so any heat lost in the recirc plumbing can be accounted for...
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The brewpub I briefly worked at never used the steam jacket on the mash tun. 90 minute mash and no heat loss. Recirculate about 10-15 minutes.
This is what I got after 10-15 minutes of (pumped) recirculation while brewing a marzen this wk-end (home system):
MC
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Originally Posted by Unknown
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02-07-2012, 02:33 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Florence, Alabama
Posts: 1,014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by day_trippr
Commercial systems generally use heat jacketed tuns to maintain temperature, so any heat lost in the recirc plumbing can be accounted for...
Cheers!
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I have brewed on at least 11 commercial systems from 1bbl to 50 bbl, only 3 had steam jackets on the mash tun and they were never used. Misplaced Canuck's experience with the place he worked is typical. The tuns were insulated, yes, but then most home mash tuns are as well.
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"Why did you.... what was the point of... how drunk were you when you decided this was a good idea?" - DMartin
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02-07-2012, 03:09 PM
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#7
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Bungee'sJumpin'BrewingCo
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Walnut Creek, California
Posts: 89
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I recirculate during my entire mash. I use a keggle as my mash tun with a pico false bottom with a honeywell furnace valve and a PID to keep the mash right at the right temp. and recirculate the whole time. Never had an issue and really helps with clarity pre boil/hops, for post boil clarity I use a brewers hardware trub filter. So Go for it, try it out and see how you like it. It works well for me. Just my $0.02.
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02-07-2012, 04:21 PM
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#8
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BrewSteel Brew Stands
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Concord, CA
Posts: 1,351
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Well, look who came out of hiding... Hi RG!
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02-07-2012, 04:37 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Flourtown, PA
Posts: 620
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I recirc through out mine as well. While I have no automation, I monitor the temp and fire the MLT as needed.
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02-07-2012, 04:57 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 94
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My mash tun is a 10 gallon cooler and not fired. So, I couldn't re-heat when temps drop. I recently bought a pump and was going to try to expand its use into the mash steps. You know, gotta try to show a little ROI to SWBO.  I would only be using it for a few minutes to vorlauf, not recirc the entire mash.
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