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So if I can fit all my grain in my tun, there is no real point of reiterated mashing, correct?

I think I really do need to dig into the water calcs more for sure. I did increase the water for this beer, but it was just a guess. I did leave some wort in the sparge tun, maybe a quart or two. So that was clearly a mistake. I still question If I am getting close to 100% conversion...

I'll have to do a bit more thinking on the runoff volumes. I have never written down the totals, though the info is right in front of me as the kettle fills. For now I think I will shoot for 60% mash water and 40% sparge. I might add a touch more mash water to get my thickness to 1.50 or...

So just two batch sparges then? 50-25-25 for the water?

This is really great stuff - thank you! It may take me a while to digest all the charts, but this is excellent learning for me. As I digest it all, could I ask if this sentence you wrote is accurate? I've read it a few times and I'm still processing it: "The effect can be calculated with...

When you say that's the process you use, do you really use a mash thickness of 1.0 qt/lb? That's really getting low... Could I ask your opinion about the reiterated mash? Maybe it's not really necessary if I do the 50-25-25 with the double batch sparge?

This is excellent info - thanks! For the Quad I actually did do 60% water for the mash and 40% for the sparge. Why do the big beers often have lower efficiency? I am now thinking anytime I am shooting for 1.080 OG or higher I'd better change my process... The next time I brew a big beer, I...

For the reiterated, I just watched a few videos... Some people also sparge a bit and use that water too for the second mash. But others just use the mash wort only for the second mash. That seems easier... Is one method better? I also see people removing the spent grains before putting in...

It's possible.. But my target was 5.5 and my final reading at the end of the mash was 5.52. It was 5.4 after 10 minutes, but interestingly, I had an online chat with Denny Conn and he said mash pH readings should be taken at the end of the mash to be most accurate.

Can't you adjust in the water calculator? Baking soda should do the trick I'd think...

Thanks Man, this is good stuff! If I understand.... For your process you are using twice as much sparge water as mash water, then collecting a larger pre-boil volume and boiling longer. It does provide good context for your thoughts about a thicker mash. I'm still not sure if thick or thin...

I had about 19 pounds of grain and 2.5 pounds of sugar. Software is now showing OG 1.081, FG 1.014, for abv of 8.8%. I originally wanted OG of 1.088 to get to 9.5%. A bit on the low side for a quad, but within BJCP guidelines. I have found that sugar sometimes throws off the software, so it...

That's pretty cool! I will give it a try. It actually sounds pretty simple. Even easier than checking the pH, with all the calibration and such...

I've done overnight too, but I worry about the temp getting too low. No worries for the beers I want dry, but could mess up the ones I want a bit sweeter/fuller. I bet what we are really talking about is potential fermentable extract based on mash temp.

I have not done an iodine test. Will it tell me when conversion is complete? Sure would be better than guessing. I actually use kettle efficiency for my recipes, and I have the software fairly dialed in to hit my numbers regularly. It was just this big beer that messed everything up...

That's a great idea! Have you done it? I bet even 30 minutes would do the trick? Or do you think I should do another full hour... My brew day is getting pretty long!

Point well taken... I could be leaving some sugar on/in the grains after lautering the sparge grains. I do usually hit my targets, though. In this case what was different was the huge amount of grain. I have read that efficiency drops with the big beers... so I need to change my processes...

If it does hit a wall, then I'd think I want to mash thinner, so it all converts. Once I am sparging the conversion is over, and I am just rinsing the remaining sugar off the grains. Or that is how I understand it. I would end up with higher SG mash water, then I would use more sparge water...

That all makes sense... I guess it's lauter efficiency, since it's both the mash and sparge. I think next time I will increase the pre-boil target to 7.5 gallons and plan to boil for 2 hours. I do think I will increase the mash water to 1.75 qt/lb. I have a guess that fly sparging is more...

So I likely left the sugar in the sparge grain, when I stopped sparging at my target of 7 gallons. Do you have any thoughts on mash thickness?