cbird01

Recipes 

I just loaded Beersmith for my first AG batch. In helping me hit my target mash temps I have some confusion. Many people tell me to pre-heat my tun with some boiling water. I have configured my equipment in Beersmith and when I create the mash profile, it gives me the option to adjust temp for equipment. By checking that, my strike water goes up from 166 to 170. I would assume that if I pre-heat my tun, I should not adjust temps for equipment, otherwise I will end up too hot.

Seems easier to forget about pre-heating and just use the higher strike water temp.

Any comments?

BrewBob

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I like to prehead the tun. It makes hitting the temp easier and more accurate. I also like it because it rinses my mash tun out after it sits for a few weeks.

carnevoodoo

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I don't preheat. I hit my temps just fine. I am sure it just comes down to preference.

BigKahuna

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I use the calculator at Green Bay Rackers and it hits 100% if I don't pre-heat.

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wildwest450

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I used to pre-heat, but for me it's a waste of time and water. I just punch in 72f for grains and mash tun, and go up 2 to 3 degrees warmer on strike water. I hit my temps every time.

ShortSnoutBrewing

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It won't be a waste of water if you reuse that water for your sparge water, or even cleanup water. I personally preheat and when I haven't I've missed my mash temps by 4º or more. But like others have said, it's personal preference. Either preheat and use a lower temp strike water, or don't and up the strike water temp.

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cbird01

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Ok, cool. That calculator gives me the same result as checking the Adjust Temp for Equipment mark in Beersmith. Guess I should use that temp without pre-heating and I should be good.

flyangler18

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It all comes down to knowing your equipment and current brewing conditions. I use a Rubbermaid 5 gallon MLT and usually preheat with a gallon or two of 180-190 degree water to hedge my bets a little in hitting my temps. Using a strike calculator works out well- but I've brewed with people who just assume an average 15 degree buffer to meet their intended mash temp.

Do some testing with your equipment to see how much your MLT loses over a given period of time.

abracadabra

Recipes 

If I figure my strike water should be 170 I'd dump the water in at 178*F wait until it drops to 170*F to add my grain. That way I can check the MLT for leaks & heat the MLT up a little. I question the wisdom of dumping boiling water into plastic MLT because it could easily warp it at that temp. (I use a cooler) and because of the potential for chemicals to leach into the water/wort at that temp.

Adding 7-8 gal of hot or boiling water to "preheat" the MLT then dumping it out and adding another 7-8 gal. of 170*F strike water just seems like a waste resources to me.

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cbird01

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Do you mean you type it into Beersmith and go 2-3 degrees above the strikwater temp they give you?