Avoiding mash channelling?

lasersnake · Joined: 23 Jan 2018 Posts: 10

Hey Team,

I have used my electric brewery maybe 5 times now and am having problems with channelling in my mash, due to recirculating the wort at full pump in to one position in the mash tun. It basically leaves a cone of grain.

How do people avoid this?

perogi · Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2018 1:25 am Post subject:

Funny you mention this, I took a video of it happening in my mash today:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/bt8e2b9g1x3qttj/20180714_102752.mp4?dl=0

I would stir it every 10 mins for so about 3-4" deep to break it up a bit.

That being said, according to the software that I used my mash efficiency was 79%. I have no idea if this is considered good or not but I hit my numbers so I'm pretty happy. (edit 2: put my numbers into another software application and got conversion of 89.9%)

edit: I sparged for 80 minutes after mashing out at 168 degrees for 20 minutes. (Yes my brew days are long Wink

)

701pilot · Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2018 2:42 am Post subject:

perogi,
I noticed that your sparge hose is at a very steep entry to the mash. Creating a big hole. I use a longer hose and coil it around the kettle at least a full circle so the outlet is somewhat level with the top of the mash. That way it just makes a whirlpool.

I usually get about 80% efficiency using that method. It still leaves the malt with a cone shape, so I started using the SS Brew Tech Mash Re-Circulation/ Manifold. Efficiency went up to 87%. The malt stays flat on top, no more holes or cone shapes.

perogi · Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2018 2:51 am Post subject:

Thanks 701pilot! I will give that a look. Any issues with grain getting stuck?

edit: I looked at the video again, the hose goes all the way around the outside of the kettle and comes out basically at 2 o'clock (so essentially one revolution around). It's laying pretty flat at that point. Did you think that it's going straight in where you can see the tube enter the water? Thanks again.

**kal** · Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2018 1:39 pm Post subject: Re: Avoiding mash channelling?

701pilot · Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2018 5:55 pm Post subject:

perogi · Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2018 5:57 pm Post subject:

Hey Mark - thank you for the reply. I will check out that manifold. Another thought is to maybe get a longer hose to bypass where it's coming down and getting disturbed like you mentioned. I am replacing my hoses before my next batch anyway so may as well see if your idea fixes the issue. Good brewing to you!

lasersnake · Joined: 23 Jan 2018 Posts: 10

Hi guys, just an update. I decided to make a makeshift sparge ring/mash recirculation manifold out of a tee and some silicone tube with some holes punched out of it. I am getting no channelling and my mash efficiency has gone up 8% as well!

**kal** · Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2018 1:13 pm Post subject:

Do you have any pictures of your setup?
What false bottom are you using? What kettle?
What is your mash (conversion) efficiency now?

Kal

Ozarks Mountain Brew · Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2018 1:58 pm Post subject:

I've had those issues and what I've done is just adjust my water to my grain after starting recirculation and not go with an exact grain/water ratio, it seems every batch can be a little different, I just make sure I have 2 or more inches of water on top of the grain bed to allow for even recirculation, now if you stir the grain floats to the top but will drop down shortly

lasersnake · Joined: 23 Jan 2018 Posts: 10

I am using a domed false bottom and I have attached some photos of the set up now, sorry I dont have any of it in action.

My mash efficiency is up around 78% when it was approximately 70% previously... I know it doesn't matter too much as long as you know what it is and its consistent so heres hoping it is consistent!

**kal** · Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2018 10:38 pm Post subject:

Hard to tell just from pictures, but my guess would be side-wall shunting due to gaps between your false bottom and the kettle. It seems to sit along the edge of the kettle base as it becomes narrower at the bottom and that position is haphazard. There is no shelf for the kettle bottom and false bottom to make good solid contact as in some designs like so:

More info: http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/kettles-overview?page=6

Nothing wrong with 78% mash efficiency. IMHO, consistent mash efficiency is more important than high mash efficiency. That said, depends on how much you brew. Using a higher mash efficiency setup that cost more that gets you into 90-95% range could pay off in the long run. It depends on your brewing rate. People are sometimes scared at the higher cost of certain equipment, but in some cases it's an upfront cost that pays off in the long run.

Good luck!

Kal