I really don't want to hijack this thread, but I'm having similar issues. I get my grain crushed at Northern Brewer in West Allis. They have there mill set to .040" which to me isn't a very fine crush for batch sparging, so I usually get an extra lb of base grain for what the recipe calls for. Do you think northern brewer would lower the mill setting for me temporarily?
Can someone look at my brew process? I use a 48 quart coleman cooler, SS braid filter, basically what Don Osborn and Denny use.
1. Heat mash water to 167*F
2. Dump 167*F mash water into tun, allow mash water to get to 164*F.
3. Slowly mix in crushed grain while stirring very WELL.
4. Stir until mash is stable at 152*F, close lid. Start 60 minute mash.
5. Stir mash at 15 minutes.
6. Stir mash at 25 minutes.
7. Prepare 185*F sparge water at 30 minutes.
8. At 60 minutes, vorlauf first runnings into bucket.
9. Add 185*F sparge water to mash, stir, allow to sit for 5 minutes.
10. Add first runnings from bucket to boil kettle.
11. Vorlauf second runnings to boil kettle.
12. Start boil 60 minutes boil.
Look okay? I get my temperatures and water volumes from CP's Brew Chart. I always end up with 6.5 gal in BK, and boil down to 5.5 gal.
Thanks - Justin