To kettle mash or not?

[David20Hersch]

really want to kettle mash!!!

The only bad thing about it is that I have heard that the temperature dissipates and creates the need to heat up mash during the rest period. I heard someone say that this direct heat makes for a lower yeild.

Is that really true??

If so would a bunch of blankets around the kettle be sufficient in insulating and keeping the temp? So that I wouldn't need to reheat it??

 

[ong]

Yeah, that's what I do with BIAB. With some insulation, mash temp will drop only 1-1.5 degrees over 75 minutes.

But I've never heard that direct heat during mash hurts efficiency. Stirring continuously while heating helps to avoid hot spots.

 

[dogslapbrewery]

I have a big old kettle 20g megapot 2.0 and I tried doing a mash with biab and even wrapped up with sleeping bags on a summers day I lost about 5 degrees within the first 15 mins. I think this was to do with my mash ratio of 2.0lb/qt and my kettle being so large in comparison. Future I would keep the mash ratio 1.5 to help retain heat being thicker and make sure the kettle isn't too large. I've also read that most conversion happens within the first 20 mins.

 

[pricelessbrewing]

The only way direct heating might produce a lower yield is if it's not stirred during the mash and you overheat some portion of it before it comes to equilibrium.

I just use some blankets though, and a sleeping bag. Usually lose 1-2 degrees. no big deal, you'll be fine.