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Author Topic: Does it matter?  (Read 9523 times)

Offline therealmccoy

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Does it matter?
« on: July 11, 2012, 07:11:16 pm »
Does it matter if i add my grain to the water or the water to my grain?

Thanks

Offline gmac

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Re: Does it matter?
« Reply #1 on: July 11, 2012, 07:19:26 pm »
I found water to grain made for nasty dough balls. Grain to water seems to let you stir better.

Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: Does it matter?
« Reply #2 on: July 11, 2012, 07:21:42 pm »
I have added water to grain, grain and water together, and grain to water.

Grain to water is much easier on the homebrew scale.
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Offline narcout

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Re: Does it matter?
« Reply #3 on: July 11, 2012, 09:52:14 pm »
I've never noticed it to make any difference.  Whichever way is easiest on your system will be fine.
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Offline garc_mall

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Re: Does it matter?
« Reply #4 on: July 11, 2012, 11:41:36 pm »
I don't think it matters that much, but I add the water to my cooler first to pre-heat the cooler. That way my mash temperatures are right on.

Offline ajk

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Does it matter?
« Reply #5 on: July 12, 2012, 03:49:51 am »
My favorite way is to "underlet" the grain bed—put the grain in the cooler first, then pump- or gravity-feed water in from the spigot.  Never had a doughball that way!

Offline brushvalleybrewer

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Does it matter?
« Reply #6 on: July 12, 2012, 05:18:29 am »
I find if I do grain to water it gives me an extra chance to adjust my mash temp. In single infusion in an unheated vessel (igloo cooler) you have to account for the temp loss to the vessel and the grain. If you add the water by itself first, you can make sure you have precisely accounted for the vessel temp before adding the grain.

I also agree with the other posters that I find I have fewer grain balls this way as well.


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Offline nateo

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Re: Does it matter?
« Reply #7 on: July 12, 2012, 05:49:54 am »
Adding wet to dry ingredients cuts down on dust, but you're more likely to get dough balls. Dry to wet makes doughballs less likely.
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Offline davidgzach

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Re: Does it matter?
« Reply #8 on: July 12, 2012, 05:52:30 am »
Add me to the grain to water list.....
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Offline bwana

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Re: Does it matter?
« Reply #9 on: July 12, 2012, 06:05:46 am »
I let my strike water run freely then after it is above my false bottom I start scouping in my grain and stiring along the way.

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Re: Does it matter?
« Reply #10 on: July 12, 2012, 06:09:08 am »
Doesn't matter, do whatever is easier for your system.  I pump water in to a tun already full of grain, and I've never had doughballs that a little stirring didn't take care of.

Offline theDarkSide

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Re: Does it matter?
« Reply #11 on: July 12, 2012, 06:25:30 am »
Doesn't matter as long as your cooler is blue  ;)

I add a couple gallons of water, some grain and stir.  Add more water, grains, stir...repeat until I'm doughed in.  This method works well for me with no dough balls.
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Offline weithman5

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Re: Does it matter?
« Reply #12 on: July 12, 2012, 06:59:26 am »
i recently have been adding my grain to a bag first then putting this in the tun then adding water.  had not been a problem until recently i realized my temperature was way too hot. then i tried to cool it down, thought i had but due to poor mixing went back an hour later and my temp actually had gone up due to equilibrium. end result poor efficiency.  low og. new session beer. 
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Offline Delo

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Re: Does it matter?
« Reply #13 on: July 12, 2012, 07:10:28 am »
I've done both without problems. If you do water to grain make sure the mash tun is heated.   I started off mashing in a cooler(blue of course) and I did water to grain.  The first few times I did it without warming the cooler and I had to play catchup to get it to mash temp. Warming the cooler first made a big difference.
Mark

Offline ajk

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Does it matter?
« Reply #14 on: July 12, 2012, 07:30:23 am »
Adding wet to dry ingredients cuts down on dust, but you're more likely to get dough balls. Dry to wet makes doughballs less likely.

I don't like the bacteria-laden dust floating around, so I fill the tun with grain in another room before wheeling it into the brewery. Then I underlet.