Millet Grind and Sparge Question

[Michaelinwa]

I know I'm asking questions already discussed, but I can never seem to find the answers in the forum.

I'm gearing up for my first millet mash and have two questions:

1. Just how fine does it need to be ground. I have a Corona mill, or whatever they call the new version of it now. I'll be using that. Would this be sort of a course flour?

2. I'm a little worried about how the sparge will go since this stuff is so fine (will be 7 lbs of millet, some rice hulls, a little rice). I have a false bottom lauter tun, but it was made with barley in mind, so the holes are sort of big for sparging millet. I also don't want to leave behind a lot of the sugar, stuck in a thick mush. I was thinking of just mixing the mash around some as I sparge (in the false bottom lauter tun) and running the wort through a screen then a nylon grain bag for brewing, as it come out. Am I overlooking something with that approach? Think I'd be ok with a regular sparge instead?

Thanks.

 

[Legume]

Its true that the fine grind needed for millet and rice may walk the line between efficency and causing a stuck sparge in many systems.

I use a zap pap style tun, 2 nested 6 gal buckets, the inner bucket having many holes drilled in the bottom. I line the inner bucket with a BIAB bag. The outer bucket has a spigot. Using the bag is my insurance against a stuck sparge. If it sticks, I can lift the bag, move things around, and break it up as needed. With this set up I can grind as fine as I want without fear.

You might try lining the inside of your lauter tun with a BIAB bag.
If things stick, you can lift the bag and get them moving without any hassle.

 

[Michaelinwa]

Its true that the fine grind needed for millet and rice may walk the line between efficency and causing a stuck sparge in many systems.

I use a zap pap style tun, 2 nested 6 gal buckets, the inner bucket having many holes drilled in the bottom. I line the inner bucket with a BIAB bag. The outer bucket has a spigot. Using the bag is my insurance against a stuck sparge. If it sticks, I can lift the bag, move things around, and break it up as needed. With this set up I can grind as fine as I want without fear.

You might try lining the inside of your lauter tun with a BIAB bag.
If things stick, you can lift the bag and get them moving without any hassle.

Thanks for the feedback, Legume. Seems like using a bag in the process, at least during this first mash, is good insurance in case the sparge doesn't go smoothly.

 

[glutarded-chris]

One option to consider for 10 lb or smaller grain bill is to just use a simple bag method until you really figure out what you want. I have been mashing in a metal kettle where i can add heat if needed and for the final rest transfer to a cooler lined with the mesh bag. You can then just pull the bag and do a teabag sparge. This works for small grain bill without throwing your back out. For my 14 lb AG batch i had to use two coolers and two bags for final rest.