Dedicated Grainfather Guide, Problems and Solutions Thread

[mxd]

I would allow a little more liquid for the boil. grainfather should boil off 2.5l per half hour.

I was ignoring that part of the recipe

I put 25 ltrs in to start and now need 8 ltr sparge, I'm spargine at the moment and it dripping through nice and slow.

I'll take a reading when done.

got 27 @1.057 post sparge
the sparge was probably 3 pints (45 for those who use different time measurements )

finished with 21 in the fermenter @ 1.066

 

[SimoB]

hey all, using the grainfather this morning and my wort is not clearing up at all, been about 45 mins now, I'm thinking im not getting much flow through the grain bed as the overflow pipe is in full swing.

Anyone else had this issue? I'm thinking it has something to do with my crush size, maybe a but fine. I think the beer will be fine but it's a little frustrating.

cheers,
Simo

 

[Killer Brew]

hey all, using the grainfather this morning and my wort is not clearing up at all, been about 45 mins now, I'm thinking im not getting much flow through the grain bed as the overflow pipe is in full swing.

Anyone else had this issue? I'm thinking it has something to do with my crush size, maybe a but fine. I think the beer will be fine but it's a little frustrating.

cheers,
Simo

Using any wheat? Sometimes mine doesn't run clear until quite late or even mash out. If you arent getting enough flow you will hear the pump gurgling.

 

[Killer Brew]

Efficiency of 75-85% can be expected with the GF if everything falls into line. Following on from the discussion above ^^ the other factors that could potentially affect efficiency are mash pH too high or a too coarse grain crush. Given that you had a very quick sparge I suspect that grain crush may have been a little too coarse for the GF. My first brew I had too coarse a crush and probably too high mash pH and my efficiency was 53%. I have a friend with a 3V system who uses a far more coarse crush than I do with the GF but get similar efficiency. Try a finer crush, not much use recommending a mill setting as it differs depending upon the make.
Edit: N3MI beat me to it!

I changed supplier for my last 2 grain bills and the crush was a lot coarser than my normal LHBS (i dont own a mill). On average i dropped 20 points of efficiency so a huge difference. Both were only 4-5 kg bills. Had to use DME to bump it up for the first time ever. Changing back to my usual supplier.

 

[SimoB]

I changed supplier for my last 2 grain bills and the crush was a lot coarser than my normal LHBS (i dont own a mill). On average i dropped 20 points of efficiency so a huge difference. Both were only 4-5 kg bills. Had to use DME to bump it up for the first time ever. Changing back to my usual supplier.

not using wheat, I also have a mill, I'm putting it down to the crush being too fine and too much flour. all good, nxt time i'll change the setting

 

[btrots87]

Same thing happened to me last brew, sparging was a nightmare. The beer has fermented out just fine but it wasn't a fun brew day. I got the grain from a new supplier, still crushed at 1mm but I'm wondering if the different mill is the problem.

Going to add rice hulls to all my brews from now on, just in case.

 

[Coldspace]

Run for 90 mins, usually clears up if slow drainage.

 

[fishingbrad]

Yes this has happened to me from time to time, through the same LHBS, crush too fine, lots of flour = grey goop on top of grain bed = no water passing through the grain bed.

Solution; next purchase- Grain mill.

 

[carniebrew]

Brewing a hefeweizen today...can't find my little overflow inlet doover anywhere! Argh. $25 for a new one too...

 

[Killer Brew]

Brewing a hefeweizen today...can't find my little overflow inlet doover anywhere! Argh. $25 for a new one too...

Easy to lose when you are tipping spent grain. Retrieved mine from the chook shed once already.

 

[carniebrew]

I have dumped it into the bin with the grain before, but usually take it off since then. It's been 4 months since I've brewed so buggered if I can recall now.

Didn't make any difference to my brew though, no grain through to the wort, hit all my numbers spot on. I guess it's not all that important.

 

[woodwormm]

Hoping not to get too flamed for asking a possibly already covered topic. I have searched but to no avail.

(disregarding the brewing theory implications) would it be possible to mash in cold the night before, use a timer and have the grainfather turn on at say 4am, begin heating and recircing and be ready to sparge when i get up around 6am?

I guess what i'm asking is, once the values have been set on the unit, temp, element on, pump on. do they hold their position if the power goes out , and comes back on again? as essentially i'd turn it on, set it up, then turn off and let the timer turn it back on in the early early hours?

Cheers

 

[paulyman]

The only thing I can add is that on mine when I've finished the boil and had the pump off for an hour or so it usually requires repriming or it just cavitates slightly. So if that is not just an issue with mine then that could cause dramas when the timer kicks in. Once the new PID comes out it will no doubt prime the pump itself so this will work beautifully.

 

[MastersBrewery]

Hoping not to get too flamed for asking a possibly already covered topic. I have searched but to no avail.

(disregarding the brewing theory implications) would it be possible to mash in cold the night before, use a timer and have the grainfather turn on at say 4am, begin heating and recircing and be ready to sparge when i get up around 6am?

I guess what i'm asking is, once the values have been set on the unit, temp, element on, pump on. do they hold their position if the power goes out , and comes back on again? as essentially i'd turn it on, set it up, then turn off and let the timer turn it back on in the early early hours?

Cheers

If it doesnt out of the box (and I believe it should ) you have a few choices.

Upgrade to an STC1000.

Wait for the soon to be released (we hope) wiz bang GF controller with phone app.

Matho's controller.

This isn't something that would hold me back from purchasing, the new controller will be available to existing users once released.

 

[Killer Brew]

Hoping not to get too flamed for asking a possibly already covered topic. I have searched but to no avail.

(disregarding the brewing theory implications) would it be possible to mash in cold the night before, use a timer and have the grainfather turn on at say 4am, begin heating and recircing and be ready to sparge when i get up around 6am?

I guess what i'm asking is, once the values have been set on the unit, temp, element on, pump on. do they hold their position if the power goes out , and comes back on again? as essentially i'd turn it on, set it up, then turn off and let the timer turn it back on in the early early hours?

Cheers

I have done this to preheat and it works. Haven't mashed in the night before but can't see why not as long as the pump doesn't need priming as others suggested. My last 2 brews I have done the mash in the evening up to the point of into kettle and then set the timer to bring it up to just below boil the next morning. Wake up and bring it up a few degrees and I'm off and running. Not losing a full day to brewing keeps the wife happier.

 

[Coodgee]

I don't think I'd be able to stop myself finishing off the brew if I had 28 litres of sweet sweet wort ready to boil!!

 

[fishingbrad]

Interesting. so it would be possible, (on a school night) to mash one night, boil/ cube the next ?

 

[stuartf]

Only thing I can think of is possibly inadvertently making a sour? I'm sure I read somewhere that leaving the grains in cold water for several hours can lead to that but maybe I imagined it?

 

[Killer Brew]

Interesting. so it would be possible, (on a school night) to mash one night, boil/ cube the next ?

Absolutely!

 

[Killer Brew]

Only thing I can think of is possibly inadvertently making a sour? I'm sure I read somewhere that leaving the grains in cold water for several hours can lead to that but maybe I imagined it?

Not sure but to be clear im completing the mash then sparging before i cover the sweet wort for the night and firing up to boil the next morning.

 

[stuartf]

Oh ok, I read it as leaving the grains in cold the night before then firing up next morning to begin mash while you are sleeping. I'm sure someone has posted on this technique before something like time poor brewing or something.

 

[Killer Brew]

Yeah think i have read that. Also read a brewing mag article where the mash just ran the whole night!

 

[Goodbeer]

Hello all

Doing my first stepped mash tonight in the grainfather...Seems most think it probably isn't necessary with modern grains, but figured I will just coz I can.

Brewing a Hefeweizen

20 mins @ 43
30 mins @ 62
30 mins @ 72

Mash out @ 78

I'm pretty certain this is a stupid question but I would be right in recirculating the wort right from the start of the stepping process would I not?

Thanks

 

[nfragol]

Yes, start recirculating the wort from the very beginning.
It's a major step so the temperature will remain constant throughout the grain bed.

 

[Chridech]

Hello all
Doing my first stepped mash tonight in the grainfather...Seems most think it probably isn't necessary with modern grains, but figured I will just coz I can.
Brewing a Hefeweizen
20 mins @ 43
30 mins @ 62
30 mins @ 72
Mash out @ 78
I'm pretty certain this is a stupid question but I would be right in recirculating the wort right from the start of the stepping process would I not?
Thanks

Your mash schedule looks good to me. I studied all the hefe threads on this forum a few months ago and came up with pretty well exactly the same mash schedule. Ferulic acid rest, low sacc. rest and 72C to enhance body and mouthfeel. Some think 72C is too high and will denature enzymes? A Hefeweizen is my next planned brew so I would be interested to hear how this schedule works for you in the GF.

 

[Goodbeer]

Chridech it didn't go too well.

The process was easy enough, just took a bit of time.

Not sure why, still a fair novice, only my 3rd all grain. Previous 2 hit all my targets, all went to plan.

Was aiming for 1052 OG. Came out at 1040. Ended up with 2L extra wort than I was after, probably didn't help my cause...but wouldn't have thought would've made a difference of 12 points??

It was about 5 degrees whilst brewing. Had a couple of towels wrapped around gf as I brew outside.

Anyhow just had a taste. Granted only day 2, down to 1016, funnily enough tastes like light wheat beer!

Anyhow will post back once bottled

 

[Killer Brew]

Chridech it didn't go too well.
The process was easy enough, just took a bit of time.
Not sure why, still a fair novice, only my 3rd all grain. Previous 2 hit all my targets, all went to plan.
Was aiming for 1052 OG. Came out at 1040. Ended up with 2L extra wort than I was after, probably didn't help my cause...but wouldn't have thought would've made a difference of 12 points??
It was about 5 degrees whilst brewing. Had a couple of towels wrapped around gf as I brew outside.
Anyhow just had a taste. Granted only day 2, down to 1016, funnily enough tastes like light wheat beer!
Anyhow will post back once bottled

Without knowing your exact volumes it is hard to say but would expect a 2L dilution to have a 3 to 4 point effect on a GF. So you are right that this isn't the entire story. What efficiency were you targeting to hit your 1052? Grist with a high % of wheat is notorious for stuck sparges, did yours flow through ok? Was it flowing through ok during mash recirculation also?

 

[Goodbeer]

Have been working to 75%, and has been spot on, using beersmith.

Had 58% wheat.

Sparge water flowed fine...towards the end slowed a bit, just gave the bed a bit of a poke with paddle and continued as normal.

Recirculation seemed fine. Didn't have any overflow at 42, so was obviously flowing freely. Plenty at 62 and 72, but switched it off for a few secs during both, and wort level dropped quite quickly, so no probs there either.

I haven't used this brewshop for grain before...going to have to give it another go next brew.

 

[Killer Brew]

did they mill the grain for you or did you do it yourself?

 

[Goodbeer]

Got them pre milled