Newest Threads

Beer Snob · 06-29-2006, 09:54 PM

Hmmm... my 2 cents...

Well I have to disagree about what was said about the bag or colander. Not that I have used them, but that I dont see much difference. The false bottom I use is nothing but a bit flatter colander. You would have to get the right colander though. Some would be pretty useless. And a steep bag..... really can't see anything wrong with them... some use them in AG and many just opt for them in PMs because of the amount of grain being used.

jcarson83 · 06-29-2006, 11:11 PM

Why wouldn't some sort of a screen on the spout to the cooler work just as well if you batch sparging? I mean thats essentially whats going on with the SS braid anyway. As long as an adequate amount of water can pass through the screen closer to the spigot then there will be no negative pressure in the rest of the braid.

Blender · 06-30-2006, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcarson83

Why wouldn't some sort of a screen on the spout to the cooler work just as well if you batch sparging? I mean thats essentially whats going on with the SS braid anyway. As long as an adequate amount of water can pass through the screen closer to the spigot then there will be no negative pressure in the rest of the braid.

Actually the grain bed does a lot of the filtering once you run clear on the wort. You know the husks and all.

NEPABREWER · 06-30-2006, 11:25 AM

anyone using pex tubing for their manifolds yet? I know mist new construction uses this for water supply and it even comes in pretty colors (red, white, blue) I am thinking about the switch to AG using a manifold and a gigantor square cooler, but the kettle and burner cost along with having to cook outside is keeping me at bay just for now.

**Bernie Brewer** · 06-30-2006, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lost

edit: bags are for steeping. I wouldn't call it a partial mash if it's done in a bag or colander (no offense to you colander users). And I don't want to start a debate about steeping vs. PM... yeah, I know it's technically a PM if you hold a mash temp and expect starch conversion from your grains.

No offense taken, but that simply isn't true about the colander. My first AG system was a 7 gallon bucket (my old primary fermenter) with a plastic colander. I cut the lip off with a utility knife and stuffed it down to the bottom of the bucket, just above the spigot. Instant false bottom .Then I threw an old blanket around it to hold temp. It worked great until I raised enough scratch for a cooler. Once I got a cooler, I couldn't find a colander the right size, so I used a SS braid.

Monster Mash · 06-30-2006, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcarson83

Why wouldn't some sort of a screen on the spout to the cooler work just as well if you batch sparging? I mean thats essentially whats going on with the SS braid anyway. As long as an adequate amount of water can pass through the screen closer to the spigot then there will be no negative pressure in the rest of the braid.

The stainless braid has more surface area so it is less likely to get clogged. If you just put a screen over the end of the spout you will probably get a stuck sparge at some time.

In 12 years I have used everything, false bottom, copper and stainless braid. The braid and the copper work the best but the braid has the advantage of being stainless. False bottoms do give you stuck sparges more often then manifolds.

sudsmonkey · 07-02-2006, 01:28 AM

I've made a manifold out of sch.40 PVC with roughly a million holes drilled in it. Anyone else used this? Can PVC stand up to the heat? I didn't glue the joints so that it can come apart for cleaning. Gonna do a test run with water tomorrow to try it and my cobbled up brewkettle out. Going for mt first AG on Tuesday. Drinking my last extract now. Forty dollars vs, twenty two dollars per batch.......hope this works!

Lost · 07-02-2006, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sudsmonkey

I've made a manifold out of sch.40 PVC with roughly a million holes drilled in it. Anyone else used this? Can PVC stand up to the heat? I didn't glue the joints so that it can come apart for cleaning. Gonna do a test run with water tomorrow to try it and my cobbled up brewkettle out. Going for mt first AG on Tuesday. Drinking my last extract now. Forty dollars vs, twenty two dollars per batch.......hope this works!

There have actually been a couple threads about this and the answer from the resident experts (myself not included) is "no". If you plan to use plastic then use CPVC, it's rated to withstand mash temps. PVC may leach unwanted chemicals and/or off flavors into your beer. I use copper without any problems.

jaymack · 01-19-2007, 04:14 AM

Hi

Going to the link provided, http://cruisenews.net/brewing/infusion/page1.php this seems very simple. What makes this a Partial mash vs an All grain?
I've been Exract w Grains for a year and a half and want to make the leap. Looking for the best (and not necessarily the cheapest) way to make the move

Cheers
J

**Bobby_M** · 01-19-2007, 02:19 PM

That link is all grain. Partial mash is where you follow the all grain process on a smaller amount of grains and then malt extract is later added to make the total gravity for the batch.