Recent content by jamen46

Boom...in

Do it. Its usually referred to as a SMASH beer, Single Malt Single Hop (at least that's what I call it :)). Its a great way to learn the individual flavors.

I don't necessarily agree. It takes some time for the sugars to become dissolved. What that time is, I don't know, but I would imagine it is a little bit of time. And again, this is only batch sparging.

^ Yes, but why do you get higher efficiency? What is your efficiency like if you sparge faster?

I am a batch sparger and I am still a little foggy as to why it is so much better to drain the sparge so slowly. I've heard and read people saying it is to get more sugars off of the grain, but I don't think it has any effect. I feel like the longer you let the grain sit in the sparge water...

Great advice, folks. Thanks!!

Thanks...Stainless it is.

I'm not sure if this is the best place to put this thread, but here it goes. I had a super frustrating brew last night. I did an all zythos blend IPA and I could not get it to stop boiling over. As a result, I only got about 50% efficiency and missed my target OG by .016, and, with a 90...

I'm in the process of getting my new system up and running. I'm using a sanke for my HLT. Had the boys at work weld me some couplings on it, and I'm wondering... Would it be ok to use galvanized fittings on that bad boy? JB

I can not tell you how helpful these links were. Thanks again. I batch sparge. I usually do 2 sparges with 168F water, stir it really well and let it soak for 10 minutes each. Yes. This is another one of those gadgets that I intend to purchase. Its just that there are a bunch of...

Awesome. Thanks again!!

You know, I say I'm losing some in the mash tun, but I really don't know. I probably get a good bit out the way i have it. I just say that because, I know the spout in an ice chest is not all the way on the bottom and I'm not sure how much of a siphon it creates to actually draw the liquid out...

Bendbrewer- No, I use cpvc with holes drilled in it. That is probably a trouble spot also. I'm probably losing a lot of wort in the tun because of dead space in the bottom. But, this is all low efficiency problems, not erratic efficiency problems.

AZ- Let me phrase that differently, I don't see why the volume of water that you add into the mash tun for the mash has to be very precise. I mean, the key is to get the sugars converted, out of the mash tun and into the brew kettle. Whether you used 9 gallons or 12 gallons to get that out...

Wow, thanks everyone. 1. Thermometers - I usually use either a clip on dial thermometer and/or my digital meat thermometer in my kettle, then I use a mercury type floating thermometer in my mash tun. They seem to all read around the same, so I have to assume they are accurate. 2. Weights...