Initial runoff speed

[Brewer3401]

I did a search before writing this as to not duplicate a question.

Using a braided tube (Schmidiling product).

How many of you would pull hard to get about a gallon, shut down, then resume very slowly until wort runs clear.

Years ago, I would usually get clear wort pretty fast - can't remember if I started very slow or pulled hard to get the filter bed to set.

Last brew it took about 4 gallons to get what I call "clear" - only first 1/2 gallon had particles. Wort ran crystal clear after about 3 gallons into brew kettle.

But, with Katrina and work, I'm just getting back into brewing (been a little over 5 years)

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Pappers_]

Congrats on getting back to your hobby, 3401!

FWIW, I vorlauf slowly and usually about 1/2 gallon. It seems clear to me before then, usually, but I let it go. Then after vorlaufing, I still start it slow and gradually open it up, if there seem to be no stuck sparge problems. I've only had one stuck sparge (knock on wood).

 

[Brewer3401]

Congrats on getting back to your hobby, 3401!

FWIW, I vorlauf slowly and usually about 1/2 gallon. It seems clear to me before then, usually, but I let it go. Then after vorlaufing, I still start it slow and gradually open it up, if there seem to be no stuck sparge problems. I've only had one stuck sparge (knock on wood).

I get pretty clear after 2 quarts also.

I guess I'll stick with the "barely coming out", then slowly increase the flow rate.

Thanks for your input.

 

[Pappers_]

I forgot to mention - if I'm using more than a pound or two of wheat malt, I add a couple handfuls of rice hulls to the mash. The one stuck sparge I had was a mash with about 30% wheat malt and no rice hulls.

 

[Layne]

I vorlof nearly wide open.
I don't wait for it to clear, just till the particles stop.
But, I use a false bottom.

 

[Brewer3401]

I vorlof nearly wide open.
I don't wait for it to clear, just till the particles stop.
But, I use a false bottom.

I get very few particles when I run off - and my crush is excellent (Crankenstein 3 roller) - also, my efficiency is very high, usually 84%.

I use 1.50 qt/# water for 30 minutes, then top off my mash tun and mix again, wait 30 minutes and start the run off.

I guess I'm getting a good filter bed since I don't get many particles.

Also, once the water level in the mash tun is about 2" from the grain bed, I will start adding water and rake the bed.

I only goofed once and raked too deep and broke the filter bed.

It was the first time I did NOT drink while brewing - go figure.

 

[malkore]

Batch or fly sparging? Sounds like batch, but I wanna make sure because I don't fly sparge and have little to offer in that respect.

 

[Brewer3401]

Batch or fly sparging? Sounds like batch, but I wanna make sure because I don't fly sparge and have little to offer in that respect.

I do a fly sparge. I don't let the grain bed ever see air until I'm almost completed the runoff.