So I am finally getting ready to do my first all grain brew and I think I understand mostly everything, but I had one question. When you vorlauf, do you have to use a jug/pitcher and pull from the top, or can you run a little from the spigot on your mash tun? I know you want the grain bed to stay settled, but if you run it through the spigot, will it disturb the bed? Thanks!
you want to run it through the spigot. the idea is to set the grain bed and start it working as a filter. you do that by slowly drawing liquid through it.
Yes, actually you have to go from the bottom when you vorlauf. You won’t really settle the grain bed if you pull from the top.
Excellent! Thank you for the quick response. Everything I kept reading kept giving the impression that you just drew liquid off the top into a jug, but that didn’t really make sense to me.
You’re going to pour the wort back over the top slowly, which may be what people are referring to. I run mine about 1/4 open in the valve and get it clear of most of the grain bits in about 2 quarts.
+1. Same here.
There are pictures and a description of vorlauf at www.dennybrew.com
+2 Exactly.
AHA has a pretty good tutorial with videos as well: How to Make Beer - American Homebrewers Association