bgrubb7
Well-Known Member
OK, my first AG batch is set for Sunday. I'd like for you guys to help me review a few things so I know that I'm not missing something here.
I've got a 36qt. El Cheapo mash tun (Braided SS hose type), along with a 7 gallon turkey fryer pot/burner
I'll be doing a single infusion mash with a batch sparge.
I'm using a the Mild Ale kit from Norther Brewer.
grain bill:
6 lbs. Pauls Mild Ale
0.125 lbs. Simpson's Chocolate
0.25 lbs. Crisp Amber Malt
0.25 lbs. Crisp Brown Malt
I was planning on using 1.5qts /lb, since my grain bill is relatively small.
So basically 2.5gal of Strike water (167 to give me a mash temp of 154)
Now I read somewhere that you lose .1 gal per lb of grain to absorption, so i figure I'll end up with around 1.85 gal of wort from the first running. That would leave me needing 3.9 gal of sparge water to give me 5.75 gal at pre boil. After a 60min boil, I should end up with 5 gallons.
OK, now for a few questions...
1. What kind of efficiency should I expect using these methods?
2. How do I figure my actual efficiency?
3. Do I not need to factor in absorption for the sparge, since the grains are already soaked?
4. If I come up short of my target gravity, I can just add a little DME to the boil to make up for it, correct?
With such a small grain bill, efficiency is going to be important. Should I do a thinner mash (2qt/per lb) in order to gain a little efficiency?
Sorry for all the questions at once, but I just want to make sure I'm on the right track.
I've got a 36qt. El Cheapo mash tun (Braided SS hose type), along with a 7 gallon turkey fryer pot/burner
I'll be doing a single infusion mash with a batch sparge.
I'm using a the Mild Ale kit from Norther Brewer.
grain bill:
6 lbs. Pauls Mild Ale
0.125 lbs. Simpson's Chocolate
0.25 lbs. Crisp Amber Malt
0.25 lbs. Crisp Brown Malt
I was planning on using 1.5qts /lb, since my grain bill is relatively small.
So basically 2.5gal of Strike water (167 to give me a mash temp of 154)
Now I read somewhere that you lose .1 gal per lb of grain to absorption, so i figure I'll end up with around 1.85 gal of wort from the first running. That would leave me needing 3.9 gal of sparge water to give me 5.75 gal at pre boil. After a 60min boil, I should end up with 5 gallons.
OK, now for a few questions...
1. What kind of efficiency should I expect using these methods?
2. How do I figure my actual efficiency?
3. Do I not need to factor in absorption for the sparge, since the grains are already soaked?
4. If I come up short of my target gravity, I can just add a little DME to the boil to make up for it, correct?
With such a small grain bill, efficiency is going to be important. Should I do a thinner mash (2qt/per lb) in order to gain a little efficiency?
Sorry for all the questions at once, but I just want to make sure I'm on the right track.