Rice hulls versus wheat hulls?

[Climb]

I have never seen wheat hulls listed in online retailers or at my LHBS. I am wondering if anyone has any insight as to why rice hulls instead of wheat hulls are commonly suggested to help lautering? I believe wheat is more common than rice, in home brewing. I would think that there would be plenty of wheat hulls that need to be used. Maybe this is not the case when considering macro breweries. Is there a difference in tanins; not that I am aware of? What happens to all the wheat hulls?

 

[mabrungard]

I'm not sure that wheat hulls make it through the harvesting process, but apparently rice hulls do. One thing that could influence why rice hulls are commercially available is that they are used as a source for silica and are therefore a part of the harvest. I'm guessing that rice hulls are pretty secure to the kernel and the milling operation enables the separation and collection.

 

[camonick]

Martin is correct.
Farmers get docked (penalized) for excessive chaff when they deliver their wheat to the elevators. If their combine is adjusted correctly, nearly all the chaff should be left in the field.

 

[Climb]

That's interesting and good to know. Thanks guys!

 

[RM-MN]

Now you should ask about oat hulls which also stay attached to the grain until the oats are ready to be made into rolled oats (oatmeal). I've never seen them for sale either.

 

[hungupdown]

Maybe try looking for oat husks, that's the name used in the UK.
It's much less dense than regular grain, so expect a large bag for the weight.

 

[MaxStout]

I don't know how wheat or oat hulls would compare, but rice hulls have a stiffness that holds up in the mash, keeping those voids open to allow water to pass during lautering. Due to their many other uses, rice hulls are a commodity, thus their availability.

 

[day_trippr]

Oat husks are more similar to rice husks than not. About the same length, in the ballpark wrt thickness, and at least coming out of my two roller mill, about the same stiffness. And an amazing amount of husks per pound of malted oats - the first time I milled malted oats it wasn't obvious there were any kernels in that pile of husks....

Cheers!

 

[Climb]

I have brewed with wheat and rice hulls. They are very similar in texture and both do an excellent job in aiding the lautering process. I have no experience with oat hulls.