Thanks for that. Any issues with wheat & rye (ie. rice hulls definitely required)?
Reason I'm asking is that I just bought a Robobrew (pump model) for use whilst I'm at work & need to know what I can get away-with.
I've done heaps of 150 lashes type ales, using upto 35% wheat, doing double batch, only issue was the wheat would sometimes coat the element base, causing the ramp up to boil to take awhile, easy fix was after mash out while the ramp up continues, I just use my long stainless mash paddle to scrap abit off the bottom been carefull as to not nock the pump filter off. This made the ramp up and less scorching better. This was only evident when going all out and doing a high grav mash using upto 3 kgs of wheat and 6 kgs of other grains.
Was no issue when say using 2.5 kgs of pilsener and 1.5 kgs of wheat for single batch.
Sparging was good for normal batch size, just about 10 mins slower when going all out and craming upto 9 kgs of grain into the unit. But then it had 9 kgs of grain to drain through.
My twin fluted mill has solved all my sparging issues when going 9 kgs of grain and my effiencey is up to 75 to 80% now for the big grav mashes.
Just going over my notes, and I'm only dropping less than 5% effiencey when doing say 4.5 kg mash single run to a 9 kg high grav mash, so alittle loss but for the time worth it for a standard type ale or lager it's fine with me.
Rice hulls would only be needed if trying to do say double batch with loads of grain , I don't need them as the fluted mill makes my grist perfect for my brew techniques anyway.
No rice hulls if just staying in the design parameters of these units as long as your crush is not like flour or too fine, you'll be ok.
I've bought many of crush from various brewshops around Brisbane , all have been ok for using upto 6 kgs of grain per mash, but suffer abit when pushing boundaries like 9 kgs, the fluted mill solved all these issues.
I only double batch when doing standard guzzling type pale ales and lagers all under 5.2% which seem to be the guzzlers around here.
For more specialty brews, or a nice fancy IPA or stout I just do single runs due to the higher grav required in the end product., and the sheer amount of hops required in the boil.
The rye, works good. I've only done a few rye beers and it was no issues. I milled the rye seperate to other grains due to the finer size required.
All rye beers have turned out great, I've only done single batch rye brews as I have not needed the volume of these brews to try a high grav mash. But will try it some time.
Cheers