Question: Mash tun and False Bottom

[FleEsq]

So I tried my first all grain brew yesterday. The recipe call for 14.6 quarts of strike water. however I loose approximately 8 quarts under the false bottom, and the rest of the water does not cover my grains. should I leave it be or add more water to cover grains.

 

[BrewingAroundtheRrealm]

Yes. You need to add enough water to compensate for what is lost under the false bottom. Grain that is not in the water is not being converted.

2 gallons seems like a lot of mash tun loss. I have to think that would really bring your efficiency down. What was your target OG vs actual?

 

[FleEsq]

One reason is I'm doing a 5 gallon brew in a 10 gal mash tun. My target was 1.050 actual was 1.035. What can I do to compensate.

 

[stieg000]

What style?

 

[kh54s10]

2 gallons under your false bottom?? I think you need to look at changing that.

 

[BrewingAroundtheRrealm]

I would add the extra 2 gallons to the mash. Then subtract that much from your sparge. If you are doing a sparge.

You are going to have to recover the 2 gallons under the false bottom some how.

 

[burntchef]

Brewing to small a batch in large gear is as bad as brewing big batch in too small gear.
Eric

 

[FleEsq]

I have thought of two options and would like your input.
1. Remove the false bottom and replace it with a bazooka style screen.

2. recirculate the wort during the mash. that way I could reduce the sparge water or maybe not have all the grains covered by water.

 

[sillbeer]

I use a 30 gallon kettle for 10 gallon batches often and have no problems. I have accounted for all my loses though. I have it calculated in BeerSmith and can't remember how much right off. You have to take into account any liquid in your hoses and anything under your false bottom that doesn't get picked up.

 

[beermanpete]

The space under the false bottom needs to be accounted for when determining the volume for mash-in. This is called the foundation and is not the same as the volume that does not drain out when running off the wort.