[hopfenundmalz]

+1 to adding rice hulls to the mash - they really do work well. 

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Try conditioning the barley malt portion by lightly spraying the malt with water (distilled or RO to avoid chlorine). Just enough that some sticks to your hand when you run your hand through the grain. Let it set overnight. The husks will be more elastic, and come through the mill more intact, which helps the latter.

I have done this many times, and it helps. Rice hulls are always on hand, just in case.

[a10t2]

you could switch to a lauter setup that's less prone to sticking.

Elaborate, please.

A false bottom is the most efficient design for a gravity lauter, as it drains the entire tun evenly (in principle, anyway). That also makes it the design that's most prone to sticking, because it's compacting the entire grain bed evenly.

Since in batch sparging, lauter design doesn't matter, you could switch to a manifold or toilet-braid setup and would probably have fewer issues with sticking the mash.

[euge]

For me, simply slowing the lauter down helped tremendously. And sometimes raking the top of the bed if it has a layer of flour compacted on it.

[HoosierBrew]

For me, simply slowing the lauter down helped tremendously. And sometimes raking the top of the bed if it has a layer of flour compacted on it.

+1

[Joe Sr.]

you could switch to a lauter setup that's less prone to sticking.

Elaborate, please.

A false bottom is the most efficient design for a gravity lauter, as it drains the entire tun evenly (in principle, anyway). That also makes it the design that's most prone to sticking, because it's compacting the entire grain bed evenly.

Since in batch sparging, lauter design doesn't matter, you could switch to a manifold or toilet-braid setup and would probably have fewer issues with sticking the mash.

Thanks.  Now I see what you were saying.  I'm using braided lines already.

For me, simply slowing the lauter down helped tremendously. And sometimes raking the top of the bed if it has a layer of flour compacted on it.

+1

I'll give this a try, too.  I went right to WOT to drain.

[a10t2]

Thanks.  Now I see what you were saying.  I'm using braided lines already.

I'll give this a try, too.  I went right to WOT to drain.

Oh, I get it now. I thought screen meant… window screen, I guess.

How do you vorlauf?

Since it seems like viscosity is at least part of the issue, you could try holding back some liquor for a mash out.

[Joe Sr.]

How do you vorlauf?

Since it seems like viscosity is at least part of the issue, you could try holding back some liquor for a mash out.

I've been running the mash into a pitcher and pouring it back in on top.

[chinaski]

If you are batch sparging, the speed of the runoff shouldn't affect your efficiency if you are still draining all, or almost all, of the wort.  That said, the psychological benefits of having a nice easy runoff are good.  I recommend rice hulls.

If you find your efficiency is consistent, then you could decide to not worry about it & have the ability to design recipes or adjust existing ones to hit your target gravity consistently.  Otherwise you can have variable results on each batch until you find a system that consistently gives you the efficiency you seek.  Either way consistency should be your goal.

[Derek]

If you find your efficiency is consistent, then you could decide to not worry about it & have the ability to design recipes or adjust existing ones to hit your target gravity consistently. 

Grain is so cheap. Unless it's a point of pride for you too have a high efficiency, I would just add more grain and call it a day.

Efficiency aside, you'll have beer at the end.

[mainebrewer]

I don't get the kind of mash efficiencies that I see mentioned in some of the posts on the forum. I also don't care. My interest is in getting the same efficiency each time.

[HoosierBrew]

I don't get the kind of mash efficiencies that I see mentioned in some of the posts on the forum. I also don't care. My interest is in getting the same efficiency each time.

That's what's really important. If you're dialed in enough to get the same efficiency each time, then you can hit your target OGs consistently - what it's all about. Truthfully, I'd rather not get 60% efficiency because I know things can be dialed in better, but I could care less if I ever get 90% either. Doesn't make the beer taste any better.

[Iliff Ave]

I get different efficiencies for every batch which bugs me. When I do batches again I usually get the same efficiency. So basically, my first time brewing a recipe is a crapshoot...

[Derek]

I don't get the kind of mash efficiencies that I see mentioned in some of the posts on the forum. I also don't care. My interest is in getting the same efficiency each time.

That's what's really important. If you're dialed in enough to get the same efficiency each time, then you can hit your target OGs consistently - what it's all about. Truthfully, I'd rather not get 60% efficiency because I know things can be dialed in better, but I could care less if I ever get 90% either. Doesn't make the beer taste any better.

Amen.

[a10t2]

I get different efficiencies for every batch which bugs me. When I do batches again I usually get the same efficiency.

Unless all your beers are the same gravity, that's to be expected. Efficiency will necessarily scale with the ratio of grist mass to kettle volume, unless you have a mash press.

So basically, my first time brewing a recipe is a crapshoot...

I think I already plugged it in this thread, but it does't have to be:
http://seanterrill.com/batchsparge

[chinaski]

I get different efficiencies for every batch which bugs me. When I do batches again I usually get the same efficiency.

Unless all your beers are the same gravity, that's to be expected. Efficiency will necessarily scale with the ratio of grist mass to kettle volume, unless you have a mash press.

I disagree based upon my own experience batch sparging a very large number of different recipes from 1.032 mild ales to 1.068 IPAs.  My efficiency is super-consistent at 78%.  I do have to adjust somewhat lower for gravities above 1.070 or so.  I'm sure other experienced batch spargers would agree.