Wheat Crush Size BIAB

[byronyasgur]

thanks again for all the ideas

 

[stever1000]

As said already, your sucky efficiency is due to your LHBS' mill having a gap way too wide to crush the narrow wheat (or rye) kernels. Many will drop right through without being crushed/milled.

What size gap should wheat/rye be crushed vs barley? I have my barley crusher set to 0.035" but I don't want to crush too fine because I recirculate

Thanks

 

[IslandLizard]

What size gap should wheat/rye be crushed vs barley? I have my barley crusher set to 0.035" but I don't want to crush too fine because I recirculate

Thanks

I mill Barley at a 0.032-0.034" gap (regular credit card). All small kernel grain, like rye, wheat, oats, as well as all flaked goods separately from barley using a 0.024-0.026" gap (American Express junk mail card) on my 2 roller Monster Mill. So every milling session I typically have to adjust the gap once, either up or down from the last setting. But efficiency is great (80%+).

I milled Triticale, really small skinny kernels, and buckwheat groats on 0.008-0.010" (feeler gauge). The knurl was very close to touching. Haven't tried millet yet. Not sure if it needs milling.

I batch sparge in a rectangular cooler with a manifold, so grist composition is not that critical. I'd say if you use at least 70% barley, you should still have a decent permeable grist for circulation. Add some rice hulls for lower barley %s.

 

[stever1000]

I mill Barley at a 0.032-0.034" gap (regular credit card). All small kernel grain, like rye, wheat, oats, as well as all flaked goods separately from barley using a 0.024-0.026" gap (American Express junk mail card) on my 2 roller Monster Mill. So every milling session I typically have to adjust the gap once, either up or down from the last setting. But efficiency is great (80%+).

I milled Triticale, really small skinny kernels, and buckwheat groats on 0.008-0.010" (feeler gauge). The knurl was very close to touching. Haven't tried millet yet. Not sure if it needs milling.

I batch sparge in a rectangular cooler with a manifold, so grist composition is not that critical. I'd say if you use at least 70% barley, you should still have a decent permeable grist for circulation. Add some rice hulls for lower barley %s.

Excellent info, I didn't think of this earlier when milling 3 lbs of wheat this week at 0.035"... it finally occurred to me when some wheat fell right through the rollers I'm surprised I still got great results from the mash

 

[IslandLizard]

Excellent info, I didn't think of this earlier when milling 3 lbs of wheat this week at 0.035"... it finally occurred to me when some wheat fell right through the rollers I'm surprised I still got great results from the mash

Yeah, that's surprising. Maybe quite a bit more than half got cracked.

Re-adjusting the mill for the 2 different gaps is a bit of a nuisance, but given the time it takes to brew and what else is involved, it's really insignificant while the return is well worth it. The only thing I hope for is not to wear out the set screw locking threads prematurely. I do have them well-greased for that reason.

Try it on your next batch and I'm quite confident you'll like the extra wheaty-ness or rye-ness it gives you.

 

[stever1000]

Yeah, that's surprising. Maybe quite a bit more than half got cracked.

Re-adjusting the mill for the 2 different gaps is a bit of a nuisance, but given the time it takes to brew and what else is involved, it's really insignificant while the return is well worth it. The only thing I hope for is not to wear out the set screw locking threads prematurely. I do have them well-greased for that reason.

Try it on your next batch and I'm quite confident you'll like the extra wheaty-ness or rye-ness it gives you.

I assume I can condition the grain the same way as barley, before crushing?

Thanks

 

[IslandLizard]

I assume I can condition the grain the same way as barley, before crushing?

Thanks

For rye it would work, but there's not much conditioning you can do with wheat, it has no hulls. The wheat kernels are also much harder than barley.

I combine all the weighed small kernel grains and flaked goods in a separate bucket and mill them on the narrow gap. Even flaked grains benefit from a crush, as they pulverize and are thus quicker hydrated in the mash.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Some run wheat and rye thru a corona mill, and roller mill the barley to avoid having to reset the roller mill.

A burr type mill will put a good hurt (crush) on wheat and rye.

 

[stever1000]

For rye it would work, but there's not much conditioning you can do with wheat, it has no hulls. The wheat kernels are also much harder than barley.

I combine all the weighed small kernel grains and flaked goods in a separate bucket and mill them on the narrow gap. Even flaked grains benefit from a crush, as they pulverize and are thus quicker hydrated in the mash.

Excellent I will try this soon

 

[C-Rider]

Stuck mash is not really a problem with BIAB. Crush finer and your efficiency will jump back up to 70-80%. No husks required. A rolling pin is a PITA. If you can't get your own mill, ask the shop to mill your grains twice, or consider using a kitchen blender, 1 cup at a time for about 10 seconds each to "crush" the grains finer. I did this for many years. It can burn out a bad blender but if you have a good one it will work great.

The blender must be round. If it has flat sides and corners grain will stick there and not crush. I found this out the hard way. Check your local Goodwill store. I bought a really good blender there for 10 bucks.

 

[byronyasgur]

The blender must be round. If it has flat sides and corners grain will stick there and not crush. I found this out the hard way. Check your local Goodwill store. I bought a really good blender there for 10 bucks.

Will remember this one - thanks

 

[stever1000]

Some run wheat and rye thru a corona mill, and roller mill the barley to avoid having to reset the roller mill.

A burr type mill will put a good hurt (crush) on wheat and rye.

I can't easily find a corona type mill here, and it's quite expensive to ship. I am fine adjusting the mill, it only takes an extra minute if I plan ahead

 

[soccerdad]

I'm pretty sure that this is the same mill as what they have at discount tommy. It appears to ship free.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Premium-...or-Wheat-Grains-Or-Use-As-A-Nut-Mill/29688114

 

[stever1000]

That mill is not available in Canada

 

[TorMag]

Does Amazon ship to Canada?

http://amzn.to/2gZzDIl

 

[soccerdad]

Yikes - what is the Loony worth right now against USD?
http://homebrewsupplies.ca/product/1447-victoria-mill-with-hopper/

Oh - there's a better price .. http://canadahomebrewsupplies.com