Brewers Edge Mash and Boil all grain!

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by Fenderbender12, Mar 23, 2018.

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  1. Fenderbender12

    Fenderbender12 Initiate (0) Jun 20, 2017 Ohio

    Hi all,

    I am fairly new to brewing and you guys have bailed me out a couple of times already, so I come to you seeking knowledge once again!

    I want to do an all grain recipe using this

    https://www.williamsbrewing.com/BREWERS-EDGE-MASH-BOIL--P4216.aspx

    For the first time. I'e only done solo extract brews. I can't figure out how much water to use for strike or sparge! My grain bill will likely be 16 lb (max capacity). The instructions recommend 3 gallons for sparge. I'm planning on a 5 gallon batch, although my fermenter can handle 6 or 7 if it comes down to it.

    The recipe I had in mind is

    http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2017/08/1837-reid-dbst.html?m=1

    This is a 6 gallon batch, so I plan on scaling ingredients accordingly.

    Would anyone with experience with this system care to share or elaborate on your process? I am also curious as to whether or not a 5 gal igloo cooler would suffice for sparge water (I'd have to heat prior to my mash and then pour over while heating up to boil temp).

    Once again, I come humbly seeking knowledge and appreciate all your help in advance!
     
    #1 Fenderbender12, Mar 23, 2018
  2. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    Lots of on-line calculators out there...pick one...as far as strike water, add quality water until mash is consistency of baby shit oatmeal :grin: (~2 qts./litres per lb. of grain)...others may disagree on the ratio...only ballpark :grimacing::grimacing:...sparge water quantities will come with time.
     
    #2 GreenKrusty101, Mar 24, 2018
    NorCalKid likes this.
  3. NorCalKid

    NorCalKid Initiate (0) Jan 10, 2018 California

    Brewers friend.com. I use 1.5 qts/per pound ratio with good results.
     
    #3 NorCalKid, Mar 24, 2018
    GreenKrusty101 likes this.
  4. Fenderbender12

    Fenderbender12 Initiate (0) Jun 20, 2017 Ohio

    So I saw a lot of those calculators etc. I guess I'm not understanding how it works. It looks I'm using like 9 or 10 gallons of water for a 5 gallon batch? I know there is some water loss (i am expecting an 80% efficiency) so I assume that is how I can put in way more water than my target and come out close to right?

    Also, do you stir the grains at all whole mashing? Are there any serious "do not do" items I should know? Example: I did an extract NEIPA lately, and I brewed lid on to try and limit water loss only to later find out about DME hahaha
     
    #4 Fenderbender12, Mar 24, 2018
  5. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    You mean DMS

    How many gallons of wort you need to get out of your mash tun/vessel will depend on your recipe...more grain...more water...typically you are looking at 7.5 gals. for a 5 gal. average gravity batch...but that will also depend on things like boil-off rate, form of hops used, your individual system, etc.
     
    #5 GreenKrusty101, Mar 24, 2018
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  6. minderbender

    minderbender Initiate (0) Jan 18, 2009 New York

    The good news on your extract NEIPA is that DMS is not a big concern when you are using extract, since the DMS (and its precursors) should already have been driven off when the extract was made. I still normally wouldn't advise covering your boil, but it's very likely that this won't cause any problems for your batch.
     
    #6 minderbender, Mar 24, 2018
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  7. Fenderbender12

    Fenderbender12 Initiate (0) Jun 20, 2017 Ohio

    Awesome,

    Thanks for the help guys!
     
    #7 Fenderbender12, Mar 24, 2018
  8. JayDubTrub

    JayDubTrub Crusader (413) Feb 17, 2017 California

    I've been using the Mash & Boil for about 6 batches now, and still feel I'm learning how to adapt the system. Definitely recirculate water during the mash - depending on your strike ratio the top can start drying out, plus the perhaps more necessary effect of distributing temperature. The mash temps do fluctuate on this system and the temp control tends to drive me batty during the mash (you put in 152, mash can be down to 146 before kicks on). So, a lot of recirculation and lately I've been doing longer mashes, recirculating, and given a stir now and again, and then long slow sparges. Williamsbrewing has a brief Mash&Boil blog and they indicate around 1.3qts per lb grain for best extraction I think (I'm using about 1.33qt/lb).
     
    #8 JayDubTrub, Mar 25, 2018
  9. Gibbo_xv

    Gibbo_xv Initiate (0) Apr 9, 2018 Maryland

    This is all super helpful to me, as I just got a mash and boil. Can you offer advice on the sparge process? I have reviewed numerous YouTube videos and the feeble instructions in the box and not seen anything substantial to work with.
     
    #9 Gibbo_xv, Apr 9, 2018
  10. JayDubTrub

    JayDubTrub Crusader (413) Feb 17, 2017 California

    Honestly I'm still working on that - I've had variable results but tend to hit a little low in extraction when sparging any quicker than 1 hour (so go slow if you have time and recirculate a bit)...I do find averaging an additional ~3+ gallons is typical to reach target volume (6 - 6.5g pre-boil).
    I think the next upgrade is to add a pump to recirculate the mash for better extraction, then maybe sparge/rinse can be quicker/less important. I watched some youtubes recently and people were Mashing with ~5 gallons, which seems like way too much, but who knows?
    One useful tip worth trying on mash to keep temps from swinging too high (I just brewed an overly sweet Belg Golden Ale, assuming mash got too hot) - switch the voltage from 1600w to 1000w during mash once you hit your strike temp...
     
    #10 JayDubTrub, Apr 28, 2018
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