20 replies to this topic

[shaggaroo]

Man what a pain in the arse today... mashed with 2 qts per pound, hit my mash temp at 152... argggggg, stuck sparge.... 8 lb Golden Promise, 1 pound of home-toasted Oat Malt (30 mins at 300 deg) and an ounce of UK Chocolate malt... next time, rice hulls in there too I think... 1 oz Northdown at 60 mins and 1/4 oz Northdown at 10 mins. I had to use a strainer to do the "sparge", got it done, just took a long time... pitched WYeast Scottish Ale yeast...OK done complaining now, thanks for listening...

[DaBearSox]

I am actually pretty surprised you got a stuck sparge with only a pound of oats.

[ColdAssHonky]

Yeah, I've used 1 pound or more in 5 gallons without issue. Maybe the crush on the rest of the grains contributed?

[Genesee Ted]

Pretty sure I told you that before On the other hand, you probably got more sugar out than anticipated. Rice hulls are always a good idea when using anything other than barley. I never seem to have much of a problem, but the rice hulls help.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

Man what a pain in the arse today... mashed with 2 qts per pound, hit my mash temp at 152... argggggg, stuck sparge.... 8 lb Golden Promise, 1 pound of home-toasted Oat Malt (30 mins at 300 deg) and an ounce of UK Chocolate malt... next time, rice hulls in there too I think... 1 oz Northdown at 60 mins and 1/4 oz Northdown at 10 mins. I had to use a strainer to do the "sparge", got it done, just took a long time... pitched WYeast Scottish Ale yeast...OK done complaining now, thanks for listening...

Oh btw, sometimes oats can cause stuck sparges

[shaggaroo]

Hey thanks for telling me guys! I feel better now And to top it off, I went down to the room where I keep all of the fermenting goodies and of course the spigot in the bucket was leaking... so I sanitized another bucket and transferred... ugh... I think I need to call it Cluster F Ale, except for the fact there are no Cluster hops in there lol

[dondewey]

I'll try to provide more helpful advice: rye is really bad, too.I'm not sure if I've ever used oat malt; is it commonly available?

[drewseslu]

Oat malt usually has one helluva husk...are you sure it was Oat malt? or was it Golden naked oats?

[shaggaroo]

Oat malt usually has one helluva husk...are you sure it was Oat malt? or was it Golden naked oats?

Drew: No it was definitely oat malt... and yes lots of husk but also the tiny little oat kernels and lots of starch particles.... maybe it was just all coinky-dink and I just got a stuck sparge??Ben: yes oat malt is readily available... I got mine from Northern Brewer... Thomas Fawcett Oat Malt.

[earthtone]

crizazy I've used up to 3 lbs of rolled oats in a 6 gallon batch no problem....streeeeange. well better brew again soon to set things straight

[shaggaroo]

crizazy I've used up to 3 lbs of rolled oats in a 6 gallon batch no problem....streeeeange. well better brew again soon to set things straight

Yes indeedy... of course my wife says "honey it will probably be the best beer you've ever made" bless her heart

[chadm75]

I've brewed probably a half dozen batches that call for either flaked wheat or oats and have always been concerned about stuck sparges. Knock on wood, it's never happened to me. But in reading all these posts about folks being frustrated by the stuck sparge and relieving this problem with rice hulls, I have to ask...what do rice hulls do that cures the stuck sparge? And when someone suggests adding rice hulls to the mash, are we talking about just good ole' Uncle Ben's rice out of a box?Thanks!

[ncbeerbrewer]

The Rice Hulls act as a filter bed for the water to pass through and keep the sticky grains away from your manifold or false bottom. You buy rice hulls from your LHBS. Link shows what they look like, cheap a dirt. I used than all the time on wheats Link

[chadm75]

The Rice Hulls act as a filter bed for the water to pass through and keep the sticky grains away from your manifold or false bottom. You buy rice hulls from your LHBS. Link shows what they look like, cheap a dirt. I used than all the time on wheats Link

Thanks, that's interesting. Might try it on my upcoming Belgian Wit. From a process standpoint, do you pitch the rulls hulls in first so they're resting on the bottom of the mash tun and on top of the (in my case) SS braid? Or do you just toss them in with your crushed grains?

[shaggaroo]

Ive never had a stuck sparge using Oat Malt either. I do know its a bitch to mill and may need to be run thru twice. I also add it to the top of my mash. But as husky as it is, im surprised you got stuck and only using the amount you did. By adding sticky grains, its always advisable to add it to the top of the mash. I use a manifold and have never been stuck using this technique. Never needed to use rice hulls.

Ahhhhh... I just mixed it all together... so just add to the top of the mash and don't mix them in too much is what you're saying?

[ncbeerbrewer]

I wet them as they will absorb some of your mash water. I just mix them in as I am mashing in. Throw in rice hullsThrow in some grainsThrow in rice hullsThrow in some grainMix it well and seal it up for mashing.

[3rd party JKor]

Hey thanks for telling me guys! I feel better now And to top it off, I went down to the room where I keep all of the fermenting goodies and of course the spigot in the bucket was leaking... so I sanitized another bucket and transferred... ugh... I think I need to call it Cluster F Ale, except for the fact there are no Cluster hops in there lol

Dry hop it with cluster and fuggles, then call it Cluster Fugg Ale.