37 replies to this topic

[zymot]

Hmmm.. Anyone else with input or experience with rice hulls cutting into eff. if put in dry?I brewed a 45% wheat beer a couple of weeks ago, and used rice hulls (1/2 a lb for a 13 or 14 lb grain bill).My eff. is usually in the mid-60's. However, this batch was at 56%. Would those rice hulls change the eff. that much?

Between wet or dry, I do not think it would make much difference. Rice hulls absorb wort. Wort contains sugar. Sugars that are in you rice hulls is less sugar in your brew kettle. Less sugar in your brew kettle equals lower efficiency.How much lower efficiency? Depends on how much rice hulls you put in.I mentioned it as warning that rice hulls affect your beer and you might want to consider that affect. Trying to help put the whole thing together and point out some of the variables.zymot

[Deerslyr]

All of this is great advice. The plan is to use 1 pound(ish) of rice hulls that are pre-soaked and to watch the mash to skim anything that would prevent a good sparge.

[Deerslyr]

Dude, please tell me that you have created a beer and have incorporated the goat theme into it... I can see a "Raging Goat IPA" or an "Old Black Goat Stout" or some crazy ass shit like that.

[Deerslyr]

No but you gave me a great idea....goats are a laugh a minute.

Laughing Goat Lager?

[ColdAssHonky]

Goat Scrotum Ale

[ChefLamont]

I cant believe we are two pages in and nobody has mentioned rinsing them. This solves the absorption problems and gets all of the dirty nastiness off of them.

[Deerslyr]

I cant believe we are two pages in and nobody has mentioned rinsing them. This solves the absorption problems and gets all of the dirty nastiness off of them.

It seemed to be split on the "soaking" which I assumed would cover this issue.

[Stout_fan]

... and gets all of the dirty nastiness off of them.

I've never had a problem with dirty nastiness on my rice hulls.Perchance are you getting used rice hulls from hophead?

[davelew]

I don't use rice hulls, but I would think that soaking them wouldn't affect the absoroption problem. If I soak a wet spong in clean water, then dunk that sponge in dirty water, the sponge will get dirty. It might not absorb the dirty water instantly, but over time the water in the sponge and the dirty water outside of the sponge will trade places in a dynamic equilibrium, and the sponge will get dirty.For something as small as a rice hull with wort flowing over it, I would expect the "over time" to be a few seconds.

[Stout_fan]

OK: Experiment--1. Into a container measure 1 cup of 150 °F water.2. Add to this container a measured 1/8 cup of rice hulls.3. Mix to hydrate rice hulls.4. Obtain a second container, preferably clear.5. Place a fine mesh strainer on top of the second container6. After a 5 minute standing period, or time of your choice transfer to the second container.7. Let drain for 5 minutes.8. Describe color of liquid.9. Measure volume in second container.10. Taste liquid in second container for off or induced flavors.I'm busy tonight, and the following several..Who volunteers to do this for the sake of knowledge and world wide (web) fame?

[Mya]

I cant believe we are two pages in and nobody has mentioned rinsing them. This solves the absorption problems and gets all of the dirty nastiness off of them.

Zymot mentioned it earlier

[ChefLamont]

OK: Experiment--1. Into a container measure 1 cup of 150 °F water.2. Add to this container a measured 1/8 cup of rice hulls.3. Mix to hydrate rice hulls.4. Obtain a second container, preferably clear.5. Place a fine mesh strainer on top of the second container6. After a 5 minute standing period, or time of your choice transfer to the second container.7. Let drain for 5 minutes.8. Describe color of liquid.9. Measure volume in second container.10. Taste liquid in second container for off or induced flavors.I'm busy tonight, and the following several..Who volunteers to do this for the sake of knowledge and world wide (web) fame?

This would be interesting. I dont have any on hand otherwise I would try it.I also wondered, since grain is pretty dusty, if the "nastiness" from the rice hulls is analogous to just the normal grain dist that is filtered out (or maybe not) in laudering.

[Deerslyr]

This would be interesting. I dont have any on hand otherwise I would try it.I also wondered, since grain is pretty dusty, if the "nastiness" from the rice hulls is analogous to just the normal grain dist that is filtered out (or maybe not) in laudering.

Setting aside the "nastiness" of the rice hulls... if I hydrate them, then I don't have to account for any water absorption. Although I keep more sparge water on hand than I actually need, so it's no "really" a problem.

[cbbrown40]

I never wash them. I put them in my pot as I start to heat up the water and they absorb what little water they are going to. Then I add my grains when I reach my desired temp. Never had any efficiency problems. I also agree with above that rinsing them would be like rinsing grain before you milled it.

[djinkc]

I never wash them. I put them in my pot as I start to heat up the water and they absorb what little water they are going to. Then I add my grains when I reach my desired temp. Never had any efficiency problems. I also agree with above that rinsing them would be like rinsing grain before you milled it.

That's been how I've handled it. Maybe a little extra water for the initial infusion and that's it. I don't see why they would be any dirtier than whole malted barley.

[ncbeerbrewer]

I have never seen any issues with the rice hulls being dirty either. I normally just soak whatever amount a use no more than .5lb most of the time in a half gallon of water just to take away from absorption of strike water. Never effected my efficiency that I can tell. They worked great Fri night for the Hefeweizen. Anyone know what the process is to create these things?