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Author Topic: How do you handle the very last of the runnings?  (Read 6000 times)

Offline narcout

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How do you handle the very last of the runnings?
« on: March 08, 2010, 04:13:20 pm »
I find that during sparging, the very last of the runoff (maybe the last 1-2 quarts) get very cloudy and full of grain particulate. I think this is because the liquid level is now well below the level of the grainbed and therefore is not being well filtered.

At this point, I stop the flow into the kettle, prop one side of the tun up with a large book, and drain the last of the runoff through a fine mesh hop bag into a pitcher. The hop bag catches all of the little grain particules but there is some white fluffy stuff that it does not filter out. This stuff is very fine and looks a lot like cold break. It does eventually settle out to the bottom of the pitcher, but it takes a while.

My questions are (1) what is this stuff (protein?) and (2) is it a bad idea to add it to the boil kettle? It's nice to be able to drain pretty much all of the wort out of the tun and add it to the boil but if this stuff is detrimental to the beer I'll start discarding it. My guess is that it's harmless and probably settles out with the break material during chilling, but I want to know what you all think.
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Offline babalu87

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Re: How do you handle the very last of the runnings?
« Reply #1 on: March 08, 2010, 08:32:20 pm »
Starter wort
Jeff

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Offline tom

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Re: How do you handle the very last of the runnings?
« Reply #2 on: March 08, 2010, 08:53:21 pm »
Discard.
Brew on

Offline bluesman

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Re: How do you handle the very last of the runnings?
« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2010, 09:00:13 pm »
Starter wort

+1

Good to the last drop.
Ron Price

Offline dean

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Re: How do you handle the very last of the runnings?
« Reply #4 on: March 09, 2010, 06:38:37 am »
Another +1 for starter wort if its high enough gravity, I don't like to boil starter wort for an hour since all I'm going to be doing with it is growing yeast. 

I've never had a problem with the last runnings being cloudy...    ???

Offline tygo

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Re: How do you handle the very last of the runnings?
« Reply #5 on: March 09, 2010, 07:20:10 am »
I've never had a problem with the last runnings being cloudy...    ???

Me either, and I'm usually stretching the runoff to the point where it's just trickling out to hit my volume.
Clint
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Offline denny

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Re: How do you handle the very last of the runnings?
« Reply #6 on: March 09, 2010, 09:22:42 am »
I've never had a problem with the last runnings being cloudy...    ???

Me either, and I'm usually stretching the runoff to the point where it's just trickling out to hit my volume.


Same here, and I've even taken to tilting my cooler to make sure I get it all out.
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Offline redbeerman

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Re: How do you handle the very last of the runnings?
« Reply #7 on: March 09, 2010, 11:33:27 am »
I've never had a problem with the last runnings being cloudy...    ???

Me either, and I'm usually stretching the runoff to the point where it's just trickling out to hit my volume.


Same here, and I've even taken to tilting my cooler to make sure I get it all out.

Me too, must be the braid. ;)
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Offline narcout

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Re: How do you handle the very last of the runnings?
« Reply #8 on: March 09, 2010, 11:49:35 am »
Me too, must be the braid. ;)

Fine, I'm switching and will report back...
Sometimes you just can't get enough - JAMC

Offline tygo

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Re: How do you handle the very last of the runnings?
« Reply #9 on: March 09, 2010, 12:25:29 pm »
I'm using a bazooka screen in mine and it works fine.
Clint
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Offline ndcube

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Re: How do you handle the very last of the runnings?
« Reply #10 on: March 09, 2010, 02:17:46 pm »
I've never had a problem with the last runnings being cloudy...    ???

Me either, and I'm usually stretching the runoff to the point where it's just trickling out to hit my volume.


Same here, and I've even taken to tilting my cooler to make sure I get it all out.

Me too, must be the braid. ;)

I'll add another level to the quote.  No cloudiness for me either.

Offline CASK1

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Re: How do you handle the very last of the runnings?
« Reply #11 on: March 11, 2010, 11:26:00 am »
You really shouldn't collect runnings once the gravity is below 1.010. Doing so greatly increases the extraction of tannins from the grain husks, potentially leading to astingency in the finished beer. If I'm too lazy to take a reading, I always stop collecting wort as soon as the first particles show up in the runoff.

Offline denny

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Re: How do you handle the very last of the runnings?
« Reply #12 on: March 11, 2010, 11:36:13 am »
I don't think my final runnings have ever been that low.  But, in general I agree with the theory.  That does assume, however, that the gravity of the final runnings is an indicator of a rising pH.  As long as the pH stays in range, it shouldn't matter what the gravity of the runnings is, should it?
« Last Edit: March 11, 2010, 11:37:46 am by denny »
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Offline Thirsty_Monk

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Re: How do you handle the very last of the runnings?
« Reply #13 on: March 11, 2010, 01:16:12 pm »
You really shouldn't collect runnings once the gravity is below 1.010. Doing so greatly increases the extraction of tannins from the grain husks, potentially leading to astingency in the finished beer.

I wonder how much is a truth in this statement.
Is this just just like HSA issue?

After listening brewing network episode with Alaska Brewing Co. I am not sure.
They are using Mash press and they try to get as much sugars out of mash as possible.
They claimed that they brew side by side with Mash Press and with out with no difference in taste.

I guess I am more confused then I was a week ago  ???
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Offline narcout

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Re: How do you handle the very last of the runnings?
« Reply #14 on: April 02, 2010, 02:00:43 pm »
Me too, must be the braid. ;)

Fine, I'm switching and will report back...

I just tried the braid for the first time. The wort cleared much more quickly, I was able to run it off faster than before (without chunks of grain coming through), and it stayed clear until the end.

I know other people have had great success with the bazooka tube, but, at least for my setup, the braid seems to work much better.
Sometimes you just can't get enough - JAMC