Bazooka tube - viable option to false bottom?

[scottvin]

I have a bazooka tube for my mash kettle and used it for the first time today versus biab. When vorlaufed, I did not notice the wort getting super clear. Yes I noticed a difference between the first pitcher I pulled out versus the last but I went threw about quarts before I figured out it wasn't getting any clearer.

Thanks,
Scott

 

[45_70sharps]

I can't speak for others, but I've had good luck with the bazooka tube.
Could it be the grain bill and maybe to much fine being produced in the milling?

 

[Rhetoric]

I'm with sharps, as I too use a bazooka screen in my MLT. I grind my grain via corona mill. I find that if I'm grinding too fine that it is very difficult to get a nice, clear wort out of the mash tun.

On the other hand, I have good efficiency and have no problems get my beer nice and clear, with regards to yeast and grain composition.

Grind your grain more coarsely, or toss in rice hulls, and see if that helps.

 

[Rev2010]

No problems here either with my bazooka screen and I get a consistent 81% efficiency. When I vorlauf I am not looking for the wort to run visually crystal clear, just clear of grain bits. Not even sure the first runnings would ever be see through clear, wouldn't it pretty much always be somewhat hazy? Anyhow, it hasn't really mattered at all in my end product.


Rev.

 

[scottvin]

Thanks for the input - the gap on my mill is set to the default of .045" (Crankandstein 2A). After a few runnings, it was free of grain bits. I will try it again next brew day! Thanks!

 

[msa8967]

I wrap my bazooka screen with either voile cloth or with a boilled piece of nude panty hose. I have never had a stuck sparge with this method and get clear runnings from the very start. I mostly use scrap pieces of voile that I secure with a clamp or zip tie. Panty hose works well but you need to boil them with 2-3 water changes to get the dye out.

 

[phoenixs4r]

I've been having second thoughts of even bothering to vorlauf recently as BIAB's certainly don't do it to no known ill effects and frankly when I was diagnosing my stuck sparge issue for months I would constantly forget to vorlauf after clearing with no ill effects. I wouldn't worry about the wort clearing up. All of my beer comes out crystal clear, but I do also keg which I'm sure helps.

 

[Rev2010]

Thanks for the input - the gap on my mill is set to the default of .045" (Crankandstein 2A). After a few runnings, it was free of grain bits. I will try it again next brew day! Thanks!

I use 0.030" for my barley crusher and barley based beers. For wheat though I go even tighter now since the grains are so small. Before tightening my mill for wheat my wheat based beers are the only ones that were all over the map efficiency wise. Since tightening my mill further for wheat beers my wheat efficiency is now also 81% as my barley based beers. You could probably go tighter. What is your current efficiency?


Rev.

 

[scottvin]

I generally get in the low 70's...