1st stuck mash, any tips?

[ChrisG]

Last week I made a lager (15L batch) using a lot of rice as adjuncts, which stuck my mash. I managed to get it going again by stirring the mash as a last resort but does anyone else have tips on using large amounts of adjuncts and being able to mash correctly.

So far I have found out a few things that may work.

1. Use rice hulls / barley hulls in the mash (haven’t a clue where to get these)
2. reduce the amount of adjuncts
3. Sparge at correct temperature and ensure a floating water bed over the mash

What else can I do, as this beer seems really good and would like to make a bigger quantity at a later date.

Does running off the mash slower help, as I usually open the tap fully. Although quite a bit of trub and hops got into the FV it seems to have dropped out of suspension well and I bottled last night.

Since I used two packs of Nottingham yeast at low temperatures it went down to 1.007 which was a good result, making the beer 4.8%

My grain filter works very well with low adjunct grains and I cant see what modifications I could make to it, which might assist in running off the sweet wort.

[adm]

You can get oat husks from Hope & Grope - they definitely work to keep the mash from setting solid - although I've only ever used 'em with wheat beers.

[TidalPete]

I can vouch for the rice "gulls". I do quite a few Wheat & Rye beers & if those adjuncts total more than 500g, add 10% (Of the total grain bill) in rice hulls.
Although I batch sparge I've found that a slow runoff of around 1\3 litre a minute helps with both sparging & efficiency.
Another way to help against stuck sparges is to put the manifold or false bottom inside a grain bag & tighten the drawstring securely around the exit tube thus allowing only the sweet wort entry & sparge slowwwwly.
Hope this helps.

TP

[ChrisG]

Thanks for the tips, i'll give it a go.

[vacant]

Line a FV with a net curtain and secure around the top with rope. Empty mash into FV. Untie rope, gather net curtain and lift out your mash.