Weird day.. Stuck Sparge

[mac2k]

Weird one this weekend during my 3rd AG brew day. First 2 went really well, Golden Ale and a stout. I was looking forward to doing this Altbier & using liquid yeast for the first time. I had stepped up the yeast and overbuilt so I could save some for another brew day and was rearing to go.  All was going well, had a visit form Blueshed for a cuppa and a chat. As I started the Vorlauf, I noticed that the run off was very slow and after about 500ml, it stopped...   a dreaded stuck sparge I had read so much about. I am using a rectangular cooler with a bazooka mesh type filter. The grain bill was very simple and did not include oats, wheat or rye, so I was struggling for a reason for the lack of runoff.
I managed to push some grain off the bazooka with my paddle and got another 500 ml before it stopped again.
After some debate we though I might have a blockage, so we tipped the mash into a FV and proceeded to look at the bazooka. Both of us were really surprised to see that it was clear and clean no problems at all........
After a bit of a chat we both felt that the wort might be a bit to sweet & viscous, and for some reason was not filtering through the bazooka. I decided to add the sparge water to the MT and do a batch runoff. Thankfully this worked well and I had no issues getting the 26l into the Kettle for the boil. My numbers were impacted. 1.045 instead of 1.052, but I was just glad to get the brew day finished.

I am just wondering if anyone had encountered or heard of this type of issue with a bazooka filter before. I didn't find anything with a quick Google search. Mash thickness, I think, was the standard Beersmith setting. I had 13 Liters to 4.8kg of grain.

[Hingo]

Are you using anything particular in the grist? (Eg rye or oatmeal or that)
I still use a bazooka screen in my tun but probably should make a manifold. Never have many stuck mashes. Try adding some grain husks to your mash, most HBS will have them. Try batch sparge too if you get stuck again, might help thin out the wort a bit and reset your grain bed

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[mac2k]

Are you using anything particular in the grist? (Eg rye or oatmeal or that)

Nothing. Marris Otter and some Crystal for this brew.

I still use a bazooka screen in my tun but probably should make a manifold. Never have many stuck mashes.

Me either, until yesterday Turned out that it wasn't stuck, just too viscous / thick to flow through the bazooka. really weird. I am thinking of upping my water to grain ratio for the mash.

Try adding some grain husks to your mash, most HBS will have them. Try batch sparge too if you get stuck again, might help thin out the wort a bit and reset your grain bed

I ended up adding the sparge water, but wasn't able to perform this at higher temp. I think this is why I lost some efficiency. I don't really want to be adding husks to really simple grain bills. If it comes to this I'll move to another filter, but would like to stick with the bazooka for now.

[nigel_c]

If that ever happens again, blow up the drain tube and it should clear any blockage. Used to happen the odd time with my old mash tun. Recirculate a few L to re set the grain beg and good to go again.

[mac2k]

If that ever happens again, blow up the drain tube and it should clear any blockage. Used to happen the odd time with my old mash tun. Recirculate a few L to re set the grain beg and good to go again.

It wasn't blocked, thought it was as first, but when I inspected it, everything was clean.  Good tip though!

[Qs]

Do you do your own crushing or buy crushed? Could be too fine a crush.

I find the bazooka very hit and miss though. Some days I could have oats, wheat, rye in large quantities and run off fine, other days with none of (like today with just pilsner and melanoidin) I can get stuck. Recircing a lot for clarity get me sometimes.

[mac2k]

Do you do your own crushing or buy crushed? Could be too fine a crush.

I find the bazooka very hit and miss though. Some days I could have oats, wheat, rye in large quantities and run off fine, other days with none of (like today with just pilsner and melanoidin) I can get stuck. Recircing a lot for clarity get me sometimes.

I was thinking this as well. I buy my grain crushed. In the end I went for "the brew bag" custom made bag for my rectangle mash tun.  Used it last week for a 40 litre batch of blond ale. Large grain bill. no hassle at all. Vorlauf was clear really quick as well. I think the bazooka is retired

[Qs]

I've been considering a brew bag too. Did your efficiency change with it at all? How much was it with delivery?

[mac2k]

I've been considering a brew bag too. Did your efficiency change with it at all? How much was it with delivery?

I'm very new to AG brewing, but I believe that my efficiency stayed the same (72% - 74%), but I didn't change my process at all. I just mash in, with a batch sparge in my cooler mash tun. I didn't squeeze the bag or anything similar that might yield some extra efficiency, so maybe I might consider that in the future. The Vorlauf is clear from the start and clean up is a doddle.

The charge $15 for postage and I think my bag 24" x 12" x 13" (Coleman Extreme cooler) was $40 ish. I wasn't too sure about the price, so I put all my data in the fields and didn't purchase. The next day I got an email with a 10% discount code. It made a little difference, so I pushed the button and to be honest I am glad I did. Have done 2 x brews with it, and the mash on both was easy with no issues. Once was a 40l batch, so lots of grain. Really clear Vorlauf and able to drain quickly.

That one stuck sparge was enough to put me of the braided bazooka and If I were to buy or make a copper manifold, it would have had a similar cost.

Best of luck with the decision.

Kevin