Bryce
Active Member
I did my first all grain batch on my new system which is a single tier RIMS and Honeywell controlled HLT. I was only able to get 66% efficiency and I think it was somehting to do with my batch sparge process.
I'm using a PICO style false bottom in my mash tun see link below:
http://www.homebrewing.org/Stainless-Steel-PICO-style-keg-kettle-false-bottom_p_1010.html
With this false bottom I have 3 gallons of foundation water. Which is really putting me off in my calculation. This was my process for my batch sparging that day.
Used a 1.25 to 1lb grain ratio
Filled the mash tun with 3.25 gallons of foundation water to cover the false bottom
Then added 3.75 gallons on top of that to achieve my water to grain ratio
o This totaled out to be 7 gallons
Heated the 7 gallons to 154F
Doughed in and stirred so no dough balls were there
o Let sit for 10 minutes
Began to re-circulate at a slow rate controlling the flow back into the tun via a ball value on the outside of the RIMS Tube.
Stirred at 30 minutes
Stirred at 50 minutes
Stirred at 60 minutes
Batched out at 1 hour 10 minutes
Drained completely including all foundation water
NEED HELP ON THIS STEP
SECOND BATCH SPARGE
Next I filled the Mash Tun back up but only with 4.5 gallons. So not all the grains were covered. My issue here was because of the false bottom I basically need to fill again with an extra three gallons to get coverage but I didnt. I was confused about how this would effect the overall dilution of the sugars left in MLT in turn bringing the gravity down and giving me way more water then I needed. So my grains were fully covered with water.
I stirred and let sit for 10 minutes
Began re-circulating again about 10-15 minutes
Pulled the amount needed to fill the boil kettle
I should have hit 1052 for my OG instead hit 1044. I my pre-boil gravity was 1031.
I think I have to switch to fly sparging because of the false bottom.PLEASE HELP!!!!
I'm using a PICO style false bottom in my mash tun see link below:
http://www.homebrewing.org/Stainless-Steel-PICO-style-keg-kettle-false-bottom_p_1010.html
With this false bottom I have 3 gallons of foundation water. Which is really putting me off in my calculation. This was my process for my batch sparging that day.
Used a 1.25 to 1lb grain ratio
Filled the mash tun with 3.25 gallons of foundation water to cover the false bottom
Then added 3.75 gallons on top of that to achieve my water to grain ratio
o This totaled out to be 7 gallons
Heated the 7 gallons to 154F
Doughed in and stirred so no dough balls were there
o Let sit for 10 minutes
Began to re-circulate at a slow rate controlling the flow back into the tun via a ball value on the outside of the RIMS Tube.
Stirred at 30 minutes
Stirred at 50 minutes
Stirred at 60 minutes
Batched out at 1 hour 10 minutes
Drained completely including all foundation water
NEED HELP ON THIS STEP
SECOND BATCH SPARGE
Next I filled the Mash Tun back up but only with 4.5 gallons. So not all the grains were covered. My issue here was because of the false bottom I basically need to fill again with an extra three gallons to get coverage but I didnt. I was confused about how this would effect the overall dilution of the sugars left in MLT in turn bringing the gravity down and giving me way more water then I needed. So my grains were fully covered with water.
I stirred and let sit for 10 minutes
Began re-circulating again about 10-15 minutes
Pulled the amount needed to fill the boil kettle
I should have hit 1052 for my OG instead hit 1044. I my pre-boil gravity was 1031.
I think I have to switch to fly sparging because of the false bottom.PLEASE HELP!!!!