Advice on use of combined vessels

[liammckenna]

Underlet to cover the lauter plates before transfer. This is after pre-heating the lauter tun prior to transfer.

Pax.

Liam

[rewerborp]

Thank you gentlemen,that is most help full .I think that I will try at first to add a quantity of sparge temperature liquor to the mash at the end,before pumping.
would you recommend under letting the lauter before the pump over?
I must admit I am relishing the thought of playing with step mashes.

[liammckenna]

I work on a similar system to what you describe. My thickest mash is my stout which is 1.05bbl liquor to 100 lbs grist. Pump has no problem with this. I could probably go thicker from the pumping perspective still but mash mixer would be my concern.

Pax.

Liam

[Ted Briggs]

I haven't finished my coffee so I'm not doing the conversion , but i found that when working on a mash-transfer system your standard thick British mash, at 1qt/pnd will not pump. You can mash in at that rate but will have to dilute to pump over- which is what i did for ales. For light ales and lagers i mashed in at 1/3qt/pnd. and that pumped fine. If you are adventurous, this kind of system is great for step mash or even decoctions...

Below is a standard efficiency for pellets Ive taken from brewing Lit. Note Ive never had the resources to test this, or the $$ to send multiple samples out.

Dry Hop, Whirlpool, 0.03
Aroma, End Boil, 0.05
Taste, -15, 0.15
Flavor, -30, 0.25
Bittering, -60, 0.33
First Wort, 0.33

If you like whole hops consider using a hop bag in the boil for aroma hops or adding a hop-back to the system. If you have never used pellets for dry-hopping in the fermentor, give it a try after primary, 4-5 days, at 1/2pnd per bbl-- great aroma! (Most funnel them in though the prv port.)

[rewerborp]

I am soon to start using a new brewing system,that has a combined mash/copper,and a separate lauter tun.it also utilizes hop pellets and a whirlpool. I am used to the traditional British style brew house with separate vessels and the use of whole hops.
I would very much appreciate any advice that can be offered,especially regarding grain to liquor ratios for pumping( will I still be able to mash and pump at say,2.2 lit/kg?) how much more efficiency should I allow for when using hop pellets? and any tips in general when using this type of continental system. Many thanks.