Edit: Step Mashing

[crookedeyeboy]

Can someone point me in the right direction of a good source of info for trying a stepped mash using one of the Lidl jam sterilisers?

Is it JMC on here thats done it?

Im a bit bored of reading about the method now, what im after is a bullet pointed list of what to do and what temps/steps to do.

Ta!

[NOZ]

I would be interested to find out as well.
Ive also got a lidl jam boiler that I would like to use for this purpose.
I'm thinking you could just heat the mash directly and well insulate the boiler (prob have to stir constantly to avoid scorching).
I would probably just dump the finished mash into my mashtun and then sparge as normal.

[Morten]

Are you considering step mashing or decoction?

Step mash is raising the temperature in steps.
Decoction is taking a part of the mash, boiling it shortly and then back in the main mash.

[NOZ]

Stepped mash for me! Im not sure the jam boiler will get up to temp without the mod doing the decoction.
On a decoction doesnt a thicker portion of the mash need heating to boiling point?
Im thinking this has a good chance of burning on the element.
Maybe a thinner mash would be better for direct heating.

[crookedeyeboy]

Sorry I meant step mashing. Whats the harm in making the mash quite watery enabling easier stirring?

The liquor would get to all parts of the grain so I cant see it being a case of less contact with the enzymes/malt?

[jaroporter]

no problem. in fact it'll help the enzymes work as well. it is apparently common for the german breweries to use a consistency of 3,5-4,5L/kg when doing directly heated step mashes.

[crookedeyeboy]

Ill give it a go later on!

[NOZ]

How did you get on with the step mash?

[barneey]

I do stepped mashing quite abit, but more in the traditional manner of added hot liquid to raise the temp, downsides of this it requires a large mash tun. When I finally get the RIMMs system up and running the size of the pot wouldnt be a problem.

All my calculation are done using beersmith2 and chosing the stepped mash profile.

Cheers

[crookedeyeboy]

Havent tried it yet, I think ill try it tomorrow on a small scale brew.

Barney have you got any tips? And what ratios of water do you use?

I was thinking about just making the mash watery so i can stir it whilst heating with the jam boiler?

[jmc]

Sorry - missed this post somehow.

I mainly use LIDL boiler for wheat beers and saisons. I think its a very handy extra MT, relatively cheap and fun to play with.
I've insulated it with a couple of layers of camping mat. The polystyrene packing was used for lid insulation, just the job when rounded off & covered.


I use a copper manifold with slits every 1 cm. Its round so that it doesn't rest on annular element ring.

upside-down:


I do recirculate after giving it all a big stir at each step, but thats not essential.


I've also made a hop filter for use when boiling but I've only used this once. (Shown upside own. It only has holes on bottom half)

I've got a slightly larger 33L boiler that's easier to work with and has a better boil due to its 3Kw element
The LIDL boiler will boil OK AFTER insulation.

Step mashing with LIDL boiler
With the LIDL boiler I've found that max ratio I can get in with 22.5L brew length is 3:5.1 and really fills it up to within a couple of cm of lip. The boiler/MT size limits the temp you can get by water addition alone.

I've compromised on doing 3 steps by water addition and then 2 steps with addition of heat from LIDL element

Steps using water additions for my Weiss beer
Temp & Ratio water:grain
40C, 1.9:1
50C, 2.4:1
62C, 3.5:1

Steps using heat from MT
69C
76C - Mash out

I then sparge with 80C sparge water
I use the 'Brewzor Calculator' mobile app from Brewzor to do calculate initial strike and mash infusion step temps and volumes.
eg example below
Step Target Temp Grain Kg Target ratio Start Ratio L/kg Liquid to Add L Water Addition Temp C
1 40 4.62 1.9 0 8.8 45.4
2 50 4.62 2.4 1.9 2.3 96.3
3 62 4.62 3.5 2.4 5.1 92.7
( Clearly above calcs affected by grain temp and weight)

Recommendations - based on past problems
- Don't apply heat without stirring as otherwise you can get scorching
- Don't recirculate while stirring as it clogs up pump.
- Think twice before drilling holes as its enameled mild-steel. It will rust unless you've very careful to seal/cover any exposed steel.

Have fun with your step mashing!

[barneey]

My best advice would be to have a look at beersmith2 and enter your recipe and just choose the Mash profile you want ie stepped mashing. I think the problem you might have with the Lidl jam boiler is getting the thing heat quickly enough.

For a suggestion, use BS2, heat all the required water in the lidl boiler, when you have reached the 1st temp pour off that amount of liquid into another vessel, heat the remaining liquid up to say near boiling point, pour that off into another vessel. Add the first liquid & grain and mash away for the required time (30mins or whatever BS2 says) afterthat raise the temp by pouring in the second batch of water etc and mash for say another 30mins.

You can set the lidl boiler to the required mash temp at any stage to keep it constant.

Using that method you wont be waiting for the temp to rise by say 10c in the pot risk burning anything but will beable to keep the temp required as the lidl boilers arent exactly insulated, just becareful you have enough capacity in the pot.

So you end up with a more traditional style stepped mash but with the added benefit of keeping the required temp.

On mash out due to the limitation of the pot size, you may have to fully drain, added the mashout liquor stir, settle then finally drain.

I`ll be interested to see how you get on.

Cheers

EDIT was writting this while JMC was posting the above.

[crookedeyeboy]

Thanks loads guys ill give it a go and report back!

[jmc]

My best advice would be to have a look at beersmith2 and enter your recipe and just choose the Mash profile you want ie stepped mashing. I think the problem you might have with the Lidl jam boiler is getting the thing heat quickly enough.

For a suggestion, use BS2, heat all the required water in the lidl boiler, when you have reached the 1st temp pour off that amount of liquid into another vessel, heat the remaining liquid up to say near boiling point, pour that off into another vessel. Add the first liquid & grain and mash away for the required time (30mins or whatever BS2 says) afterthat raise the temp by pouring in the second batch of water etc and mash for say another 30mins.

You can set the lidl boiler to the required mash temp at any stage to keep it constant.

Using that method you wont be waiting for the temp to rise by say 10c in the pot risk burning anything but will beable to keep the temp required as the lidl boilers arent exactly insulated, just becareful you have enough capacity in the pot.

So you end up with a more traditional style stepped mash but with the added benefit of keeping the required temp.

On mash out due to the limitation of the pot size, you may have to fully drain, added the mashout liquor stir, settle then finally drain.

I`ll be interested to see how you get on.

Cheers

EDIT was writting this while JMC was posting the above.

Good plan barneey.

I should have mentioned that my method above assumes strike water heated to strike temp in LIDL boiler, but other water additions (at near boiling point) come from a separate HLT.

Another recommendation is to be careful when setting temp/ heating with LIDL as it can overshoot by a few degrees.
I now 'pulse' heat to allow time to stabilise.
I also check temp with a separate thermometer in mash.