Herms newb questions

[bigmike86]

Hey guys, been reading up on herms and want to make the leap to a rudimentary setup using immersion chiller as hex, propane on hlt (will eventually go electric), and temp controller. Have been reading a lot but still have some questions.

1. When moving to recirculating mash, do recirculate entire wort volume the whole time or do you still sparge at the end?

2. When I do go electric, how the heck do you get a temp probe inline? Some type of t fitting and thermowell?

3. With propane on hlt could I put temp controller on the pump so it stops/starts recirculating based on programmed temp? Seems like a good idea to me but worried about accidentally boiling wort left in HEX coil. Reason for this would be to reduce number of time i turn gas off and on, could just leave it on low..?

Thanks guys!

 

[microbusbrewery]

1. It's not really an 'or' scenario. I recirculate my entire mash volume during the mash, then I fly sparge to get to the desired volume.
2. I have a tee fitting as it exits the HEX with the temp probe inserted in the flow of the wort as it heads back to the mash tun.
3. I know others use the controller to switch the pump that way. As I indicated above, I recirc during the entire mash. It might take a little trial and error, but I bet you'd be able to reduce the flame to a certain level and maintain temps.

 

[heckels]

1. You still only want your typical water-to-grain ratio. I use 1.25 qts/lb. modt folks are between 1-1 to 1.5-1. So you still need to sparge at the end.

2. All based on preference. I use a thermoelectric but many people have success putting it inline.

3. When using gas, most will cut the flame rather than the pump. You want to recirculate the entire time if possible. I remember seeing people using Honeywell controllers to control the gas and ignition.

 

[bigmike86]

Great answers so far! Do you use the very water in your hlt that was heating the mash to sparge?

 

[chumney]

In my herms system the hot water in the HLT is used to sparge the mash. I also step the temp up and circulate the wort to the mash out temperature before beginning the sparge.

 

[bigmike86]

Mind...blown!

 

[microbusbrewery]

Great answers so far! Do you use the very water in your hlt that was heating the mash to sparge?

I use a standalone heat exchanger, separate from my HLT.

 

[day_trippr]

fwiw...

My HEX sits in my HLT. I heat strike water in my BK while bringing the HLT up to mash temperature.
After pumping the strike water from the BK to underlet the mash for dough-in I let things rest for five minutes before recirculating the full mash volume for the duration of the mash.

Finally, I generally fly sparge, so I bring the HLT up to 168°F then run the sparge liquor through the hex and the autosparge valve while drawing off the wort to the BK.

Love the autosparge, btw. Makes fly sparging cake...

Cheers!

 

[bigmike86]

fwiw...

My HEX sits in my HLT. I heat strike water in my BK while bringing the HLT up to mash temperature.
After pumping the strike water from the BK to underlet the mash for dough-in I let things rest for five minutes before recirculating the full mash volume for the duration of the mash.

Finally, I generally fly sparge, so I bring the HLT up to 168°F then run the sparge liquor through the hex and the autosparge valve while drawing off the wort to the BK.

Love the autosparge, btw. Makes fly sparging cake...

Cheers!

Thanks! I guess im seeing that people all do it a little different. I was too focused on their being one set process. Good to have some different options to try out and see what works for me.