Mashing & Sparging

[grapat]

Hi all.

I am moving to all grain soon and I have a few questions about Mashing & Sparging.

1. As the grain will cool the mash liquor what temperature should I use for the strike temperature?

2.I am looking at batch sparging what temperature should the sparge water be?


Thanks Graeme

 

[tazuk]

1-norm 66 deg
2-norm 80 deg
graham wheeler book is good :thumb:

Hi all.

I am moving to all grain soon and I have a few questions about Mashing & Sparging.

1. As the grain will cool the mash liquor what temperature should I use for the strike temperature?

2.I am looking at batch sparging what temperature should the sparge water be?


Thanks Graeme

 

[craigite]

For a 5gallon brew I'd be using about 10l of water in the mash. My garage is quite cool so the equipment and grain will pinch some of the heat. I prewarm my mash tun so that helps. So I heat the water to about 75 then check the temp after about 5mins after I mix the mash and adjust to around 66.
I don't batch sparge but I would have thought the sparge water would be about 80 to raise the temp of the mash to stop the mash and make the sugars dissolve easy.

 

[oz11]

1-norm 66 deg

That's a good mash temperature, but you need to allow for the cooling effect that the grain will have on the licquor, so I tend to strike at about 73c and after mashing in that will give me a mash temperature of around 66c.

 

[grapat]

Thanks guys this is the info i was after.

Graeme

 

[oz11]

There's a calculator somewhere, I think it's over on Jim's forum. Not sure if I am allowed to post a link to it but if you look over on there you won't go far wrong.

All I'd say when following advice on fora is to make sure the person replying has read your question properly. If you were to follow Tazuk's advice you'd end up mashing at around 59/60 degrees which would be less than perfect.

Good luck!

 

[pittsy]

here's a link to a cal for strike water etc http://www.brewblogger.net/index.php?pa ... ion=strike :thumb:

 

[Mark1964]

it depends on your equipment as we use a thermobox for mashing we have to heat the water for mashing to 80 degrees c but when we were using plastic it was only 74 degrees c. Also depends on how you transfer the hot water to the mash tun. Copper pipe will hold heat better then pvc or plastic and the legnth makes a difference too. Its best if you just experiment with your mashing techniques and you will learn as you go

 

[Dieseljockey]

The correct temp takes some doing, you'll pick it up when you get to know your kit, there are a few factors to think about. The temp of the grain, where do you keep it. mine is in the outhouse this time of the year it's smegging cold, so the grain for the brew is put in a bag and sits in the kitchen the night before warming up.
Then the tun, I pour hot water into my thermobox for say 10 mins to warm then drain. Take a temp reading of the grain and use a calculator (see Pittsy) to work out the temp for your strike water. Another point is all recipes do not have the same strike temp.

Job done.. :pray:

 

[grapat]

Thanks for the help

I have had a look at the calculators hopefully these will help.

Graeme

 

[loady]

hmmm..im starting to build my equioment and reading these threads as good pick ups...im thinking a good tool that i already have is one of those digital probe thermometers which i got off ebay for £3.95..i could just poke it into the grainand other liquids and work out correct temperatures

 

[Baz Chaz]

im thinking a good tool that i already have is one of those digital probe thermometers which i got off ebay for £3.95..i could just poke it into the grainand other liquids and work out correct temperatures

Probably one of the most important bits of kit IMO :thumb:

It certainly gets used at practically every stage :geek:

 

[Dieseljockey]

A digital probe thermometer is exactly what I use, it gives a rough temp, it helps but check it against a glass one just to be sure. I've seen posts about the digital ones being out as much as a couple of degrees.

 

[Mark1964]

We use a glass thermometer its reliable

 

[jonnymorris]

I bought a digital probe thermometer from ebay. It measures freezing water at 1.4 degC and boiling water at 94 degC. I've lost all confidence in it.

 

[Dieseljockey]

Mine's not that bad.. :hmm: but as I said it's a good idea to check. I also use a large glass one that I've had for years. The digital one is good for a quick temp check, it's easy to see but be aware of their short comings.

 

[BeerEagle]

I have a digital probe type which I bought from the thermometer hypermarket website thingy.

Not as cheap as some of the eBay chinese stuff, but it does allow you to calibrate it at 0 and 100 degrees. (now if only I could remember where I left the instruction sheet)

 

[Mark1964]

I bought a digital probe thermometer from ebay. It measures freezing water at 1.4 degC and boiling water at 94 degC. I've lost all confidence in it.

Can it not be calibrated somehow. Ours is from ebay and there is a tiny reset button on the back of it.

 

[jonnymorris]

Can it not be calibrated somehow. Ours is from ebay and there is a tiny reset button on the back of it.

Nope. No button. It was cheap as chips mind.

I have a digital probe ones type which I bought from the thermometer hypermarket website thingy.

Mind me asking which model? I do find the digital probe easier to read than the traditional glass ones and am prepared to spend a bit if it's going to be relaiable.

 

[LeicesterLad]

Yep just done the same thing bought a digi thermometer from ebay..

First thing I did after fitting to the MT was use my old trusty glass thermometer to see how far out it was ..3 degrees ...at least i know now that 69deg is 66 etc so I just go on that basis..