Refractometer.

[vw addict]

I know a lot of you guys were saying it's your favorite all grain gadget, and I guess I found out why this weekend. I did my first 10 gallon batch, started with 12 gallons in the HLT. Was streesing a bit about how much to fly sparge with, so I figured on about 6 gallons(that's what was left in the HLT after mash in). I ended up being about 2 gallons low, and missed my target gravity. The crush of the grist was the same as when I hit the high 70's last time, but this time I fell under 70 I believe. Next brew I'm planning on hooking up the output on the MLT so I can pull it out of the kettle during lautering to check the gravity of the runoff. What do you guys usually lauter down to?

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by vw addict
What do you guys usually lauter down to?

my target kettle volume - I sparge until I have the right amount of wort.

I only worry about the runoff gravity on really low gravity beers, where tannins can become an issue.

[danno]

yeah, I love my refractometer. I like being able to just stick it under the runoff hose and take a reading instantaneously.

I run to either my target volume or to 1 brix. rarely do I get as low as 1 brix before hitting my volume...

[BrewDog]

Hmmm.... 1 brix-

I always thought to not drop below 2.5...

[HogieWan]

I stopped running a bitter at 2.5, then collected more runnings in a separate pot. I got another gallon with no haze (tannins will be visible) or odd taste.

[CiderJoe]

How does that work exactly? I saw a refactory tool in Beersmith, but never bothered with it. When working in England, I never heard of one of these. I've been doing what HogieOne does and jsut sparging until I get my boil volumn. I calculate my recipes to get the gravity I want. I usually it. Although I do have to recalculate my recipes because as I get better efficiency, I need less grain, or I just dilute my wort and get more beer.

HogieOne, nice avatar. I like that.

Cider

[HogieWan]

thanks - it's little brewery a couple hours from my house. It's an old warehouse with a MLT, a kettle and a bunch of fermenters lined up.

[CiderJoe]

Is that copper cladding? Looks nice. If my dream comes true, maybe one day I'll have something like that too. 5-10 barrel brewlength. I'm traveling to England for a week on Sunday to spend the week working in a brewery there. Same place I worked over the summer. It's hard work, but I like it. Beats the hell out of office work. Atleast for me.

[danno]

Originally posted by BrewDog
Hmmm.... 1 brix-

I always thought to not drop below 2.5... tannin production is also closely tied to pH, so since I adjust my sparge water pH I'm pretty much completely eliminating any chance of tannins at all...

[vw addict]

Thanks guys, next batch I'll just sparge with enough water to bring the kettle up to the level I'm aiming for and see what happens. I guess I was concerned with oversparging for no legitamate reason.