sparge method may also play a part in these results, no?
I capped the mash with midnight wheat for my latest Schwarz, but I fly sparge, which means that they'll be getting 45-55min contact time. whereas a batch sparger is much less time, perhaps?
just a thought.
That is a good point, Gordon's system is the same as my usual set up, so yes, he fly sparges.
I used to make dark beers that Mrs. R called acrid, "Ash Tray", beers. With measurement and control of pH to 5.5-5.6 for those, that unwanted charactoristic is gone.