1st AG batch - very little debris in first runoff?

[cwheel]

I got to use my 10 gallon mash tun for the 1st time last night. It worked awesome - and AG is way easier than I thought it would be, if for no other reason than you basically just sparge to get your pre-boil volume, and it's tough to screw it up. My friend wanted to brew up a Starr Hill Dark Stout recipe, so we broke her in. Here are pictures of the mash tun (none in use, unfortunately).

However, I had a question: when we started the runoff, I opened the valve slowly, and increased it to full open within a few seconds. The wort that came out for the first runoff was clear almost immediately. Is this why people like the steel braid method so much, or are we doing something wrong? We drained out 2 qts just to be safe, but it didn't look like we need to do more than about 1 cup.

http://img225.imageshack.us/i/img0677b.jpg/

http://img716.imageshack.us/i/img0678xg.jpg/

Sorry for the links, but it looks like I'm a few posts short of being able to directly link pictures.

Oh, and we stirred about 3 times during initial 50 minute mash, once during the first 10 minute sparge, and once during the 30 minute repeat batch/sparge.

 

[rwmiscik]

Congrats on the first AG batch. Im pretty sure people like the ss baid so much, including myself, because it is easy to implement and easy to replace every once in a while. I doubt you were doing anything wrong from it sounds you were doing everything right. I just take a pitcher and open the valve and take about a quart at a time out of the mash tun and then pour it back on top until it is completely clear and then you can collect your first runnings. this process is called a vorlauf. Im pretty sure you got it down though. good job

 

[cwheel]

Thanks! So how long does it take for your batches to clear up? Does it completely depend on the grain used, and the level to which it was milled? Maybe this stuff was a courser mill.

 

[njschmidt]

I had the same experience with the stainless steel braid method with very little need for vorlaufing (but I still vorlaufed 2 quarts anyways). When I cleaned my MLT later, I noticed that very few (if any) particulate matter had made its way into the braid.

 

[Revvy]

So you're worried because something good is happening? It's a good thing, one less hassle if you don't get husks in your runnings. It means you've got a good crush and your braid doesn't have a lot of gaps in it. My braid is pretty well gapped as well, Some times I even forget to recirculate the the first half gallon or so.

 

[rwmiscik]

Yeah I forget sometimes too but I actually replace my braid about every ten brews because they tend to get stretched out and start letting stuff through and its not very expensive to do so why not.