Rice hulls - needed for Wheat Malt, or just flaked grains?

Hey all,

I'm planning my first wheat beer, and am wondering about using rice hulls.

Grain bill is:
5 lbs German wheat malt
3 lbs Pilsner (2 row)
2 lbs Crystal 80

Would you recommend using rice hulls with this to prevent the bed from sticking? I'm not doing BIAB, but a traditional mash/sparge.

Thanks!
binkley.

 

Depends. Are you planning on a single-infusion mash? Then yes. But if you're planning on a step mash with a beta rest, then you don't need them.

 

Single infusion, so I will get some.

Is there a rule of thumb about how much to use per pound of grain?

 

Not sure, honestly if i think ill need them i just throw a pound in.

They are cheap here like 70 cents or something per lb so its worth the cost regardless if it keeps my sparge from sticking even if its overkill.

 

I heard a good handful is sufficient. not the kind of thing people actually measure out

 

Awesome - thanks all!

 

A handful or two typically does the trick for a wheat beer depending on your setup. If you are using a cooler tun with SS braid and the braid is in good shape you may not need any but a handful is good insurance. Stuck sparges blow.

 

Doing the cooler, but I have a true false bottom on it, so I think I'm a bit safer than the braid... But I have heard that the stuck spurge is a royal pain in the tukus, so I'm trying to hedge my bets.