Ball ache of a brew day from something simple

[Leann ull]

First rule of thumb,if it ain't broke  don't fix it.

Oh how could you say such a thing coming from the guy that makes this fiddler look like amateur hour
https://youtu.be/k_tQk25pR60

[mr hoppy]

Isn't there a little anecdote at the start of the mash efficiency chapter in good ole "how to brew" about a multi award winning homebrewer getting into pretty much the same predicament?

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[hassettbrew]

Ch you use beersmith right  how do you adjust water grist ratio in the software or do you bother. Your mesh bag might be adding to the problem as in effect you have two screens?
I brewed a saison on fri and the mash was thick as bejasus,  took a while to run clear but the trick was slow trickle then recirc as usual

[Leann ull]

Oh I know what I did wrong 

Too much crush and not enough water, more water wouldn't have made a difference for recirc as I had already made cement

Normal static Mash 2-3L, Herms 4-5, Teabaggers 6-7

I'm sure throttling the Chugger will make a huge difference as well

[molc]

For my germs I've been using 3l/kg but def thinking of going to 4 or 5 and see how that works. The improved extraction should hopefully help with the lower level of sparging.

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[imark]

I keep it to between 2.6 and 3L/kg and haven't had any problems so far. My mill doesn't make it too fine though. Think most likely suspect was the fine mill setting.

[Leann ull]

Happy to report back to 100% normal operation the pump throttling helped as did the proper grain crush and 4l/Kg but it stuck again and as soon as I removed that poxy bag all systems back to normal

[Leann ull]

Minch Malt flat white anybody?

[molc]

Happy to report back to 100% normal operation the pump throttling helped as did the proper grain crush and 4l/Kg but it stuck again and as soon as I removed that poxy bag all systems back to normal

Did a 4L/kg mash today, with a bag, and it went very smoothly. Granted, was just a 1.045 stout, but felt like the way to do things in future. Full brewday took 5 hours as well, which includes an hour of cleanup. Was well happy.

Also, underletting, when your mash isn't stupidly thick, is a dream!

The minch malt is damn fresh. Was using some and it was lovely and crisp. Really looking forward to making some beers with it now.

[Leann ull]

Hit my numbers getting 50l at 80% efficiency using the Minch so well happy

[molc]

Hit my numbers getting 50l at 80% efficiency using the Minch so well happy

Only aiming for 23L @ 75%, got 24L @ 80%.  happy++

[nigel_c]

I find the efficiency im getting back when using the minch malt much better then Weyermann or any of the others.

[Leann ull]

It's certainly up there and I haven't seen creamy preboil that clean in years, let's see how my hooker clone tastes in 4 weeks.
Just really glad I was able to jump back on the horse so quickly.

[SkiBeagle]

CH & molc, delighted to hear that the mashes went well. I'd be very interested in your opinions of the final beer, as to whether a thinner mash has any effect on flavour. I've always mashed thin and have no point of comparison. Fear of a stuck mash, I suppose.
I tried underletting this time too, and I'm very pleased with how it went. It's very calm compared to dumping in the grist and stirring like a madman.

[Leann ull]

Have a read of this.
https://byo.com/hops/item/1086-make-those-enzymes-dance