efreem01
Well-Known Member
Hi All,
This weekend i brewed the Can't Lager Oktoberfest from the Recipe Database for the second time. The first, i used basically a stove-top steeping process to mash the grains at 153 for 60 minutes. This time around, with the new equipment i acquired, i used a bucket MLT from morebeer and mashed the grain for 60 minutes.
First, as soon as i put the hot water into the bucket, the seal around the spigot started to leak. So to alleviate some pressure i tipped the bucket backwards away from the spigot. After doing this, i don't think i lost even 8 oz of liquid through this leak. I checked and the grain was still entirely covered.
After the 60 minutes, i checked the temperature of the mash and it was 150 degrees. I figure a 3 degree drop was good and started to run off the 1.5 gallons into the brew kettle. Then i sparged with 5 gallons of water at 168 degrees. The last runnings from the MLT into the kettle were still slightly brown, but i didn't want to water down the brew kettle too much?
My efficiency using the first steeping method was just under 50%. Using the MLT Kettle, i calculated it to 60% which is a full percent stronger (my friends shouldn't mind). How do i increase the efficiency and do a more efficient sparge? I know the last runnings had to have had more sugar in them.
This weekend i brewed the Can't Lager Oktoberfest from the Recipe Database for the second time. The first, i used basically a stove-top steeping process to mash the grains at 153 for 60 minutes. This time around, with the new equipment i acquired, i used a bucket MLT from morebeer and mashed the grain for 60 minutes.
First, as soon as i put the hot water into the bucket, the seal around the spigot started to leak. So to alleviate some pressure i tipped the bucket backwards away from the spigot. After doing this, i don't think i lost even 8 oz of liquid through this leak. I checked and the grain was still entirely covered.
After the 60 minutes, i checked the temperature of the mash and it was 150 degrees. I figure a 3 degree drop was good and started to run off the 1.5 gallons into the brew kettle. Then i sparged with 5 gallons of water at 168 degrees. The last runnings from the MLT into the kettle were still slightly brown, but i didn't want to water down the brew kettle too much?
My efficiency using the first steeping method was just under 50%. Using the MLT Kettle, i calculated it to 60% which is a full percent stronger (my friends shouldn't mind). How do i increase the efficiency and do a more efficient sparge? I know the last runnings had to have had more sugar in them.