Oops I forgot the vorlauf on my 1st AG

[wildwest450]

Well with all this scientific proof im done vorlaufing. I'll throw away my mash tun and mash in the brew kettle. After 60 minutes i'll dump in sparge water and stir.

Then i'll remove the bulk of the grains with a strainer and begin boil.

 

[bob1852]

Well with all this scientific proof im done vorlaufing. I'll throw away my mash tun and mash in the brew kettle. After 60 minutes i'll dump in sparge water and stir.

Then i'll remove the bulk of the grains with a strainer and begin boil.

why even remove the grains? just boil 'em all

 

[Orangevango]

Im just saying, in a traditional decoction mash, you pull a thick portion of the mash and boil it for 20+ minutes, I really doubt that a hand full of husks is going to make any detectable "astringency" in your beer.

 

[dantodd]

I forgot to vorlauf an IPA - tasted great to me; but in a contest all 3 BJCP judge noted astringency. I couldn't detect it, but they could -- not saying that it was the result of not vorlaufing, but it could have been.

oh, extreme Coleman MLT with SS braid....

Excellent example of the reason competitions (and clubs with lots of good feedback) are so valuable.

I also think that a lot of people increase their efficiency by recirculating which is essentially the same as a heavy vorlauf.

 

[Richabt]

why even remove the grains? just boil 'em all

That way I could really make a meal out of my beer. Texture and Taste, it's what's for dinner!

 

[Freddy57]

There is no doubt in my mind that forgetting to vorlauf will result in an infection, possibly even HIV, although it may just end up being staph.

The best solution is to dump your beer while humming a dirge.

I haven't figured out how to hum while dumping 5 gallons of beer down my throat...

 

[Vuarra]

I haven't figured out how to hum while dumping 5 gallons of beer down my throat...

The last time I had a 5 Gallon dump was... oh, wait, that was Scotch, not beer.



I'm wondering if using a wine filter with the 10um ultra-fine filter would work.

 

[joety]

Although I've never tried decoction mashing, my understanding is that you remove the thickest part of the mash and boil it. This thickness reduces the danger of removing tannins from the grains as it acts as a buffer. From everything I've read and others have said on here, vorlaufing is not so much to clarify as to prevent tannin extraction. I personally hate this part of the process as I'm terrified of channeling so I end up burning my fingers trying to gently pour the wort back into my mash tun.

 

[IrregularPulse]

Although I've never tried decoction mashing, my understanding is that you remove the thickest part of the mash and boil it. This thickness reduces the danger of removing tannins from the grains as it acts as a buffer. From everything I've read and others have said on here, vorlaufing is not so much to clarify as to prevent tannin extraction. I personally hate this part of the process as I'm terrified of channeling so I end up burning my fingers trying to gently pour the wort back into my mash tun.

Do you pour it with your hands????

I put a plate on the top of the gran bed and gently pour my vorlauf runnings back n top of the plate. The plate surface spreads the liquid out.

 

[joety]

Do you pour it with your hands????

I put a plate on the top of the gran bed and gently pour my vorlauf runnings back n top of the plate. The plate surface spreads the liquid out.

That's exactly how I do it, except I hold the plate with my hand, thus the burns. If I let go of the plate wouldn't it sink into the mash?

 

[passedpawn]

This thickness reduces the danger of removing tannins from the grains as it acts as a buffer. From everything I've read and others have said on here, vorlaufing is not so much to clarify as to prevent tannin extraction.

The very low pH of the first runnings prevent problems with tannin extraction.

You're right, clarification is not the purpose. The goal is to NOT introduce any of the husk into the boil. I really can't say how useful vorlauf is, but I do believe that there is some advantage to keeping solid grain material out of the boil.

 

[Orangevango]

Ok, perhaps Im missing something. I don't see how there being more grain husks/liter could possibly slow down tannin extraction in a decoction V.S. the boil.