Mash ratio limits?

[dean_wales]

I know that 2.6l/k is the recommended ratio and is quite popular on here.

However I am looking to stretch my batch size as my boiler can take 46 or so litres. I am using a five gallon bucket with a OXO splatter guard false bottom.

What are the boundaries in terms of affecting efficiency, flavour etc? In my calculations 2.5l/k helps a bit but I would like to go lower if possible. Anyone got any links to people experiementing or have some personal experience about stretching the limits?

Thanks,

Dean,

[boingy]

I tried a 2l /kg mash once. Technically it should be fine but in practice is was very difficult (=stiff) to mix properly and I struggled to get a uniform temperature across the mash so there were hot spots and cold spots. Consequently, efficiency suffered. Also bear in mind if you are struggling to fit in the grain then you will probably have to fly sparge rather than batch sparge.

Having said that, you should be able to brew 40 litres of a normal strength beer with a 5 gallon mash tun without too much difficulty. Just remember you still need a bit of head space for mixing, sparging and maybe for adding a bit of hot/cold water to tweak the temperature.

[dean_wales]

I fly sparge so head space for batch sparging isnt an issue.

I have been thinking recently about using a (clean and new) plaster mixing attatchment on a cordless drill to thoroughly mix the mash. That might help with getting an even mix and temperature.

Recipes that arent very strong and include sugar or honey are OK but recipes that have a higher OG and/or dont include any simple sugar require me to either brew a regular 5 gallon batch or push the ratio down a bit.

So if I throughly mixed a 2l/k mash would my efficiency and flavour output be the same or different?

Thanks,

Dean.

[boingy]

They should be predominantly the same. I've read stuff about "less mobile enzymes" but at 2l/kg you should be fine if you can mix it properly and hit the target temperature. A thick mash is better at retaining the heat than a thin one so that is in its favour.

Sounds like you just need to try it.

[Kev888]

I have a similar problem (albeit at bigger brew lengths). Like Boingy suggests, I'll quite often go down to 2L/kg with no great issues, maybe at a very slight drop in efficiency but nothing at all noteworthy. Though in these cases I use a plaster mixing paddle in a (very slow) cordless drill so the extra thickness is bearable (its definitely harder to mix manually) and the grain gets evenly wetted.

I don't like to go much below 2L/kg as its not nice to work with and efficiency has suffered in some of my past attempts. On rare occasions I've done a step at about 1L/kg for reasons of infusion-step mashing. I'd never want to do the main infusion/mash at that - its incredibly stiff and isn't suspended. The strike temperature has to be high at such a dry ratio too, to achieve the infusion temperature with less water.