Grainfather 30L

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joe1002
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Re: Grainfather 30L

Post by joe1002 » Fri Mar 10, 2017 4:41 pm

f00b4r wrote:You could try double mashing, it lets me get a 50L batch comfortably with my 20L Braumeister.
Could you explain your process please? I'm guessing you liquor back?

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Grainfather 30L

Post by f00b4r » Fri Mar 10, 2017 5:32 pm

If you check out this on the Braumeister forum it walks you through it with pictures.
It does make for a slightly longer brew day because of the double mash but it worked really well for me (I did end up diluting back in the fv by 10 L to hit bang on target; week truth be told I did with my halls and Demig took the extra gravity points but the targets were bang on).
Useful for me as I always split my beers with my brew partner Demig and it's a Helles that only gets better with age and is good to have on tap fairly regularly (his wife is a big fan).

EDIT: it has also shown me that big beers are no hassle at all in the Braumeister if you double mash. I am assuming something similar could be done in the GF for those occasions when you want a bigger batch.

Rad

Re: Grainfather 30L

Post by Rad » Tue Mar 14, 2017 11:00 am

I'll cogitate double mashing in the future. I've done one really big beer in the past (1.110) by adding LME to the boil. It was no picnic. GF's pump struggled with getting the wort out. Once the filter got some thrub around it, it was game over. I ended up siphoning the rest of the wort out.

Jules T

Re: Grainfather 30L

Post by Jules T » Thu Apr 13, 2017 10:19 pm

Well, it arrived yesterday, now I need to get my brewing mojo back...


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Fil
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Re: Grainfather 30L

Post by Fil » Thu Apr 13, 2017 11:41 pm

Jules T wrote:Well, it arrived yesterday, now I need to get my brewing mojo back...


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IM sure you never really lost it ;)
ist update for months n months..
Fermnting: not a lot..
Conditioning: nowt
Maturing: Challenger smash, and a kit lager
Drinking: dry one minikeg left in the store
Coming Soon Lots planned for the near future nowt for the immediate :(

Jules T

Re: Grainfather 30L

Post by Jules T » Sat Apr 15, 2017 8:13 am

Ha ha, probably not, just seems that life has got in the way recently.


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Re: Grainfather 30L

Post by Hairybiker » Sat Apr 15, 2017 1:42 pm

To avoid the clogged filter on the GF. Whirlpool at the end of the boil. A couple of min spent whirlpooling the wort will pay vast dividends. I use a short paint stirrer on a cordless drill to do mine. Then leave for a min or so to settle.
You can then run the pump to sanitise the chiller.

Been doing this for past few brews and it has made a big difference.

Jules T

Re: Grainfather 30L

Post by Jules T » Sun Apr 16, 2017 8:10 am

Hairybiker wrote:To avoid the clogged filter on the GF. Whirlpool at the end of the boil. A couple of min spent whirlpooling the wort will pay vast dividends. I use a short paint stirrer on a cordless drill to do mine. Then leave for a min or so to settle.
You can then run the pump to sanitise the chiller.

Been doing this for past few brews and it has made a big difference.
Do you wait until the boil has completely finished?


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Re: Grainfather 30L

Post by Hairybiker » Sun Apr 16, 2017 11:32 am

Yes otherwise the boil will just move the hops about again. At "flameout" I start whirlpooling only takes a min or so using the drill. Leave for another few min to settle then start the pump.

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Re: Grainfather 30L

Post by Dave S » Sun Apr 16, 2017 3:11 pm

DethApostle wrote:
Jules T wrote:
Hairybiker wrote:I DON'T, I cold water sparge these days.
After a 75C mashout I just use cold tap water.
That works ok then? I suppose the grain has already given up its sugar and just means the wort starts at a lower temperature for the boil?
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I also do this with my GF. You can also use water from the hot tab if you have a combi boiler? I find that hot water, topped up with a boiling kettle full, then it'll be around the temp I need to sparge with.
As Jules says, the only real downside is that it takes longer to get back to the boil.

DA
How do you manage water treatment with those methods? Alkalinity of sparge water needs to be in the region of 20-25 ppm in order not to allow the pH of the runnings to rise to excessive levels or to draw tannins from the grain. It sounds as if you are delivering the Sparge straight from the tap.

Regarding brew lengths, I usually do 27L batches with my GF. I find I need to hold back about 4L of sparge water and liquor back with it during the boil. I almost always hit my target gravities
Best wishes

Dave

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Re: Grainfather 30L

Post by Hairybiker » Sun Apr 16, 2017 4:37 pm

I treat the mash water not the sparge water, never have in over 20 years of AG brewing.

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Re: Grainfather 30L

Post by Dave S » Sun Apr 16, 2017 5:33 pm

Do you already have low alkaline water?
Best wishes

Dave

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Re: Grainfather 30L

Post by Hairybiker » Mon Apr 17, 2017 10:49 am

Yes soft water here.

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Re: Grainfather 30L

Post by Dave S » Mon Apr 17, 2017 12:11 pm

Well there you go then :)
Best wishes

Dave

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Re: Grainfather 30L

Post by Hairybiker » Mon Apr 17, 2017 1:56 pm

Just proves that no "this is the way to do it" works for everyone.
My system works for me, it may work for the OP it may not. Worst case he needs to fill a FV with the sparge water and treat it there, can still use COLD water.

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