So this question has been troubling me for some time now. I'm making the jump to Partial Mash on my next batch to give me a feel for the process before going AG. I have been using Beersmith to tweak my recipe calcs for the PM and have done a ton of research on HBT and concluded that I would do 3 runnings. I know that the efficiency won't increase significantly by doing three runnings, but my primary motivation was to extract more wort from the grist so that I wouldn't have to use more water in my keggle to come up with my pre-boil volume. With my current grain bill, I'm calculating ~4.5gallons of wort (after grain absorption) and I will add 3 more gallons to pre-boil (major evap rate on my system). I also read somewhere on the forum that a rule of thumb is to stay within 4 qts per pound of grain when sparging and that these volumes can pretty much be divided up aas necessary. Not sure if I misinterpreted the thread when I read it but either way here are my questions:
- How much sparge water should I use if I only do 2 runnings?
- If I use too much sparge water, won't that make my mash thin and consequently impact my beer profile?
- Can someone review my brew recipe below and advise how the mash profile should be tweaked?
Brew Type: Partial Mash
Style: Oatmeal Stout
Batch Size: 5.50 gal
Boil Volume: 7.50 gal Boil Time: 60 min
Brewhouse Efficiency: 75.00 %
Ingredients Amount Item Type % or IBU
3 lbs 4.7 oz Extra Light Dry Extract (3.0 SRM) Dry Extract 36.18 %
3 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 32.97 %
16.0 oz Roasted Barley (300.0 SRM) Grain 10.99 %
12.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt -120L (120.0 SRM) Grain 8.24 %
12.0 oz Oats, Flaked (1.0 SRM) Grain 8.22 %
5.0 oz Chocolate Malt (450.0 SRM) Grain 3.41 %
1.00 oz Fuggles [4.00 %] (60 min) Hops 13.8 IBU
1.00 oz Goldings, East Kent [4.50 %] (60 min) Hops 15.5 IBU
0.11 oz Pearle [7.80 %] (60 min) Hops 3.0 IBU
1 Pkgs Irish Ale (White Labs #WLP004) [Starter 1500 ml] Yeast-Ale
Estimated Original Gravity: 1.053 SG (1.048-1.065 SG)
Estimated Final Gravity: 1.015 SG (1.010-1.018 SG)
Estimated Color: 35.0 SRM (22.0-40.0 SRM) Color [Color]
Bitterness: 32.3 IBU (25.0-40.0 IBU) Alpha Acid Units: 9.4 AAU
Estimated Alcohol by Volume: 5.01 % (4.20-5.90 %)
Mash Profile Name: Single Infusion, Medium Body, Batch Sparge Mash Tun Weight: 0.00 lb
Mash Grain Weight: 5.81 lb Mash PH: 5.4 PH
Grain Temperature: 70.0 F Sparge Temperature: 168.0 F
Sparge Water: 3.07 gal Adjust Temp for Equipment: FALSE
Name Description Step Temp Step Time
Mash In Add 8.00 qt of water at 165.1 F 154.0 F 60 min
Mash Out Add 6.50 qt of water at 192.3 F 170.0 F 10 min
Mash Out Add 6.00 qt of water at 170.0 F 170.0 F 0 min
Mash Notes
Simple single infusion mash for use with most modern well modified grains (about 95% of the time).