Mash Out

[Kevnlis]

Why do it? I know it stops enzyme activity, but what use is that to us? I do not bother but should I? Is it merely to control the exact amount of time the enzymes do their work?

[Chris]

You don't need to mash out necessarily, but it will help to stablise the maltose/dextrin levels in your wort.

[Kevnlis]

Thanks Chris, I really just wanted to be sure there was no other reason I was missing. I should be doing it but with a 25L esky tun it is a bit hard to make room! The extra 30 minutes of enzyme activity do not worry me all that much if that is all I am in for.

[JubJub]

I don't mash out and get consistant FGs of about 1.008 no matter what the OG. - within reason. From the start of mash to the end of sparge it may be 2 or more hours. Does that sound like too much enzyme activity?

Jub

[Fents]

I have just started mashing out using 10L of boiling water to get the grain bed up to say 75-78c.

The only reason i mash out is cause i was getting poor efficeny - by poor i mean 60-65% each brew (not so bad in some eyes). I use and esky with braid, Since i have started mashing out im getting 70-75% everytime.

[drsmurto]

G'day Fents

Is that the only change you made?

I havent been mashing out but have plenty of room to do it so am very tempted. My eff range 65-75 depending on grist and who crushes my grain. And how much attention i pay to temps! I have had a few 2 hour mashes when i got distracted doing something else. Or forgot to swithc the HLT on to heat up sparge water

[Chris]

I am SO sick of heating up a pot of hot water for sparging! I'm thinking about getting the G&G HLT set-up. Anyone know of a better one?

[drsmurto]

Mine is my Mums old preserving urn. Holds about 26-28L of water, its electric and the controls are in fahrenheit! You see them on evilbay on occasion, or garage sales. Brand new they are >$200 from what i have seen but as you said, it beats heating up pots of water.

[Chris]

$235 at G&G- and it doesn't have a tap. Might be my best option.

I'm looking to upgrade my entire AG setup soon anyway. Might start a new thread.

[brew.exe]

I batch sparge, and also started to mash out to help get my efficiency up.
I get an efficiency of about 74-78%

[Kevnlis]

I have been averaging 70% anyway, which is good, but I guess 75% would be better.

I only have a 25L esky so the mash out is a bit hard to do, but I guess I could run off some wort and boil that and add it back in to reach the mash out temp, though that will no doubt cause me to drop just as much or more than I gain in efficiency