Moterbiker
Active Member
Ok, I am getting ready to try my first all grain kit, I m reading over the instructions and was hoping that someone could clarify a couple of items for me.
The instructions say:
"Heat 1.25 gallons of water per pound."
This seems normal for what I have read, next
"Mash grains in hot water for 60 minutes"
OK, I get that, I built a mash tun from a 70qt coleman extreme cooler someone posted a link to from Wallyworld a couple of weeks ago.
"Take temp readings every hour to ensure a stable starch conversion"
What am I looking for here? Is starch conversion efficiency?
"heat 5 gallons of sparge water to 175 and pour in hot liquor tank, Once mash is complete begin to recirculate the wort by drawing it off the bottom and returning it to the top of the mash tun, while not disturbing grain on the false bottom. Recirculate for 10-15 minutes until wort is clear, and free of grain husks. Begin the sparge and runoff into the kettle at the same rate. A rate of 12 minutes per gallon is ideal, be sure to keep 1-2 inches of water on top of the grain bed. Once sparge water is used or you have reached 6.25 gallons begin heating for boil. Don't run off more than 6.25 gallons"
OK, first I don't have a hot liquor tank. Does that matter?
So after the initial mash of 1 hour do I start drawing off my tun from the bottom and pour it back on top? I assume by clear they mean clear of foreign matter like husks, not clear like water.
Then I assume I slowly start to drain off into my kettle while adding the 175 degree water on top? 12 minutes per gallon is an awfully slow rate to try and do by hand, is there a simpler way to do this with my equipment, or lack there of:cross:
I understand the wort volumes and the reasons why.
I decised to try this after watching some youtube videos and reading a lot here, I guess I am having some trouble because the kit is set up for more fancy equipment. Any help would be appreciated.
John
Raleigh
The instructions say:
"Heat 1.25 gallons of water per pound."
This seems normal for what I have read, next
"Mash grains in hot water for 60 minutes"
OK, I get that, I built a mash tun from a 70qt coleman extreme cooler someone posted a link to from Wallyworld a couple of weeks ago.
"Take temp readings every hour to ensure a stable starch conversion"
What am I looking for here? Is starch conversion efficiency?
"heat 5 gallons of sparge water to 175 and pour in hot liquor tank, Once mash is complete begin to recirculate the wort by drawing it off the bottom and returning it to the top of the mash tun, while not disturbing grain on the false bottom. Recirculate for 10-15 minutes until wort is clear, and free of grain husks. Begin the sparge and runoff into the kettle at the same rate. A rate of 12 minutes per gallon is ideal, be sure to keep 1-2 inches of water on top of the grain bed. Once sparge water is used or you have reached 6.25 gallons begin heating for boil. Don't run off more than 6.25 gallons"
OK, first I don't have a hot liquor tank. Does that matter?
So after the initial mash of 1 hour do I start drawing off my tun from the bottom and pour it back on top? I assume by clear they mean clear of foreign matter like husks, not clear like water.
Then I assume I slowly start to drain off into my kettle while adding the 175 degree water on top? 12 minutes per gallon is an awfully slow rate to try and do by hand, is there a simpler way to do this with my equipment, or lack there of:cross:
I understand the wort volumes and the reasons why.
I decised to try this after watching some youtube videos and reading a lot here, I guess I am having some trouble because the kit is set up for more fancy equipment. Any help would be appreciated.
John
Raleigh