Should I use Rice Hulls on first AG?
 

I have all of my equipment ready to go for my first AG (using Creme of Three Crops recipe) and I am uncertain of using rice hulls in the MLT cooler I have set up. I am using SS braid as a filter in the cooler and I want to avoid any problems.

Also, if recommending the use of the hulls, how much in a 5 gallon Gott style cooler should I use?

Thanks for the input!

Salute! :mug:

I throw 1/2lb in every grain bill. Its Cheap, Effective Insurance.

I brewed a wit last weekend with about 40% flaked wheat using a similar setup. It ran a little slow, but thats the worst I've had.

Theyre so cheap that I use 1/2 lb everytime too...

So, do I throw them into the MLT first then the rest of the grain bill?

After adding all the grain, I do stir a bit to get it all wet, correct?

Thanks again.

Salute! :mug:

I use rice hulls every time, too. I rinse them off first in a colander because they tend to have lots of dusty particles on them. Then just throw them in with the rest of the grain. And yes, you'll want to stir like a mad man for awhile to avoid dough balls.

Never thought of rinsing them of.....

Soak them first to
1) rinse them
2) pre-wet them so they don't absorb strike water
3) pre-warm them so you don't have to adjust strike water calcs for thermal mass

Also, you don't need them for everything. General rule of thumb is to use them when dealing with a significant amount of wheat (normal or flaked). I'm sure others have rules-of-thumb too.

I only use them with wheats and with 7lbs 2row/6lbs wheat I still don't think I needed the 1/2lb I put in. I will still use them on wheats just because i don't want to deal with it getting stuck.

I have never even seen a rice hull. Pretty sure I don't need them.