I've recently overhauled my equipment and have been thinking a lot about my process. I use a 15.5 gallon Bayou Classic pot with turkey fryer basket and a custom voile bag that fits the basket. I've only brewed on it once but really like this setup.
After the mash I hoist the basket above the water, turn the heat on, and stir to drain the water from the mash. I can get the grain much drier than I was ever able to squeezing. I didn't rinse the grain (suedo-sparge) last time but it would be really easy.
My plan is to take a gravity reading using my refractometer after the grains are dry. If I know volume, gravity, and boil rate I can figure out what original gravity will be based on what the pre-boil gravity is. If its a little low I can sparge, stir, and take another reading.
Let's say I want an OG of 1.050 with a 5 gallon batch (50*5=250 gravity "points") and assume my boil rate is 2 gph (round numbers for simplicity). If I have 6 gallons after the mash my gravity reading should be 1.042 (250/6). If I come up a little short I can spare with 1/2 gallon and take another reading which should be 1.038 (250/6.5=38). Once I get the pre-boil gravity I need I can just dump the rest of the sparge water in the kettle and wait for the boil. I could even go above the water I need and just add hops when I get to the level I need.
Does this make sense? Is my thinking sound? Does anyone else do this?
After the mash I hoist the basket above the water, turn the heat on, and stir to drain the water from the mash. I can get the grain much drier than I was ever able to squeezing. I didn't rinse the grain (suedo-sparge) last time but it would be really easy.
My plan is to take a gravity reading using my refractometer after the grains are dry. If I know volume, gravity, and boil rate I can figure out what original gravity will be based on what the pre-boil gravity is. If its a little low I can sparge, stir, and take another reading.
Let's say I want an OG of 1.050 with a 5 gallon batch (50*5=250 gravity "points") and assume my boil rate is 2 gph (round numbers for simplicity). If I have 6 gallons after the mash my gravity reading should be 1.042 (250/6). If I come up a little short I can spare with 1/2 gallon and take another reading which should be 1.038 (250/6.5=38). Once I get the pre-boil gravity I need I can just dump the rest of the sparge water in the kettle and wait for the boil. I could even go above the water I need and just add hops when I get to the level I need.
Does this make sense? Is my thinking sound? Does anyone else do this?