SteveG
Active Member
So this past week I picked up one of the morebeer Heavy Duty 15g's and have brewed twice with it. Great kettle, and great fun!
I fly-sparged both batches after a mashout using the 15g kettle with a false bottom and both times my efficiency was around 65-68% My fly-sparge was done with a march pump delivering sparge water, I thought perhaps I sparged too quickly the first time so I slowed down yesterday, but my efficiency was only slightly better. I'm not using a sparge arm, rather I'm slowly draining into the top of the kettle onto a plastic dish to keep the 'drilling' to a minimum. I did notice the sparge water was around 168 leaving the hose, perhaps this was a little low? I don't have a dip tub that drains from the center of the kettle either, rather its a simple brass 90 degree thats screwed into the inside of the pot. I was told channeling would not be a problem with a false bottom?
I should also mention that my pH should be good, the first mash I forgot the 5.2 stabilizer, the second time I used it...
Any insight into this lower-then-wanted efficiency would be appreciated.
Either way it was a great learning experience and I have a steam beer and a dogfish head 60 clone bubbling away that I can't wait to drink!
I fly-sparged both batches after a mashout using the 15g kettle with a false bottom and both times my efficiency was around 65-68% My fly-sparge was done with a march pump delivering sparge water, I thought perhaps I sparged too quickly the first time so I slowed down yesterday, but my efficiency was only slightly better. I'm not using a sparge arm, rather I'm slowly draining into the top of the kettle onto a plastic dish to keep the 'drilling' to a minimum. I did notice the sparge water was around 168 leaving the hose, perhaps this was a little low? I don't have a dip tub that drains from the center of the kettle either, rather its a simple brass 90 degree thats screwed into the inside of the pot. I was told channeling would not be a problem with a false bottom?
I should also mention that my pH should be good, the first mash I forgot the 5.2 stabilizer, the second time I used it...
Any insight into this lower-then-wanted efficiency would be appreciated.
Either way it was a great learning experience and I have a steam beer and a dogfish head 60 clone bubbling away that I can't wait to drink!