Mash Thickness and Efficiency

[maxashton]

Hi folks,

Since i've been brewing i've heard a variety of different opinions about mash thickness etc, ranging from 1.5 l/kg to 3.7 l/kg

What do you chaps use? I've been using 2 l/kg, but the likes of Dave Line seem to think 3.75L per kg is the word of the day.

How does mash thickness affect efficiency?

Max

[russt1969]

Hi Max,
I've never bothered to look. Just fill up the MT to about half way. Bung in the grain. If it gets too thick then I add more water. Some brews I've done I was nearly running out of space in the MT so it had to go thick. Never "ruined" the taste of the beer and my efficiency was always about 75% until I re insulated it. Now its always between 85 - 94%.
I hope that helps, sort of

Russ

[mr bond]

3 litres per /kg here, and a 90 min mash = 75% efficiency for me.Anecdotally the finer the crush ,the better the efficiency too.

[hoppingMad]

I think between 1.5 and 2.5 litres per kilo is fine. I have not been able to establish any difference in my beers between using a thicker or a thinner mash. There may well be scientific differences, but unless those differences are detectable in my glass, I don't see the point.
I'm speaking of single infusion mashes and fly sparging which is what I do.

Step mashing may require a thicker mash to start.

Others may taste the benifit of a thicker or thinner mash, and if so I would like to hear about it. Still open to finding out.