Batch sparge cloudy runoff.

Brewing Processes
1

I finally joined the “blue cooler” club.

Made a new mash tun based on Denny’s directions. Basically followed his directions to the letter, though obviously I had to tailor things to fit this particular cooler. I actually made use of the stock drain since it was threaded for a garden hose on the outside. Threaded a small piece of tubing through the drain to attach the screen to.

Anyway, the first brew with the new system went basically according to plan. Only issue was that the runoff was very milky. I vorlaffed, stopped once the wort in the tubing looked clear. However, what was collecting still seemed really milky. Not horribly so, about normal for my old BIAB setup.

I figured based on what I’ve been told that the runoff should be clearer than that. I rolled with it for toady’s brew, but I’d like to nail down the cause.

My theory is that I didn’t have enough grain in the cooler to make a decent filter bed, I mashed about 5 lbs of grain in a 50-quart cooler.

Flaked barley was a large part of the grist as well, 17%.

2

My runoff is never perfectly clear, but it is also never milky. I’d bet on the flaked barley being the culprit.

3

Since you bought a blue cooler, it will correct itself for your next brew!

lol… yeah, I’d bet on the flaked barely with that thin of a grain bed.

4

This is probably the culprit.

5

Yeah, between the small amount of grist and the flaked barley I’m getting the idea this wasn’t the best recipe to use as a trial run.

But on the bright side, on a bad day it still works at least as well as my old BIAB setup.

6

Most definitely.  What gravity did 5# of grain give you?

7

Preboil gravity was 1.016 I think? I’d have to check my notes. I was brewing a version of Patinson’s Tetley’s Mild recipe, OG 1.036 beer with a pound of sugar and a three hour boil.

Actually ended up boiling off more than I had intended, ended up with a OG 1.040 beer in the end.