Successful Temperature Step Mash in a Cool Box?

[ChrisG]

I have been trying to carry out a temperature step mash too see if it will aid in controlling the chill haze a bit better in my beers. I understand that the haze could come from other things but that’s not the reason I’m asking this question.

I mashed in at 53 degrees C for 20 mins, being the protein rest then tried to raise the temperature to 66 degrees. I couldn’t hit this mark with boiling water and ended up doing a decoction mash where I boiled the first 3L and added this to the mash…..this seemed to work very well and I was close to the correct temperature.

Has anyone had this working using a cool box as their mash tun? I can see how this would work well if using a heat source within the mash, but adding kettle elements to the tun doesn’t seem a good idea due to burning of the grain?

What do you think? Should I be adding a lot more boiled water, which would have the effect of diluting the mash (I have read this can be a good thing tho)?

Thanks

Chris

[adm]

How about trying a wallpaper steamer? Injecting steam into the mash should raise the temperature without adding much liquid.

[196osh]

There is a rest calulator here, hope that helps.

Mabye start with a thicker mash.

[ChrisG]

There is a rest calulator here, hope that helps.

Mabye start with a thicker mash.

Thanks for that, very helpful.

I always use 2.5L to per 1kg of grain so maybe reduce that too 1.5L?

[196osh]

Not even sure if it matters if you do a thicker mash, I have seen people do mashes ranging from 2 to 3 litres per kg.

So you could just stick with the same mash thickness and just adjust one of the sparges if your doing a batch sparge.

[ChrisG]

Not even sure if it matters if you do a thicker mash, I have seen people do mashes ranging from 2 to 3 litres per kg.

So you could just stick with the same mash thickness and just adjust one of the sparges if your doing a batch sparge.

I started with batch sparging, but now only ever do fly sparging, find it easier.

[196osh]

Not even sure if it matters if you do a thicker mash, I have seen people do mashes ranging from 2 to 3 litres per kg.

So you could just stick with the same mash thickness and just adjust one of the sparges if your doing a batch sparge.

I started with batch sparging, but now only ever do fly sparging, find it easier.

Well I dont think it matters then so much 3 litres per kilo is totally fine. You could drop it to 2 litres per kilo before adding the boiling water, that would pretty much make 3 litres per kilo if you were using 4kg of grain.

[Mitchamitri]

I mashed at 3.5 to 1 on Saturdaya nd actually got an increased efficiency (OK, so there are many other factors)

[bromo]

Im playing around with some heaters that are used in electric towel rails, they fit in the pipe connection to allow it to be used in summer when the heating is off. They come in various wattages rom 200w upwards, not checked out the lengths yet to see if they fit
Bromo
Backyard brewery