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whirlfoc tabs

Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 9:32 am
by woody
I use whirlfoc tabs in my boil but I'm starting to wonder if I use too much or if I skip them, what the difference would be in the amount of trube I end up with after the boil/ cool down. I ask this because I get a lot of trube in most of my brews prior to transfer some are pushing 35% of the kettle volume and I feel like that is a lot, is it? . I do filter the trube though a fine screen to recover a lot of the wert but this filtered wert is not as clear as I would like. Anyone know if the amount of whirlfoc has a direct affect on the amount of trube?

Re: whirlfoc tabs

Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 9:53 am
by Gymrat
I third of your volume is a lot. I never get that when I use whirfloc.

Re: whirlfoc tabs

Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 10:28 am
by bucknut
You might want to look at whats contributing to the excessive trub, I know I tend to have alot drop out but that's only because I don't use any type of containment for my hop additions. What's your brewing process? If your doing biab you might want to get a finer mesh bag, or if you using a mash tun you may want to take a closer look at your equipment and you vorlof process.

Re: whirlfoc tabs

Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 10:39 am
by woody
I do ag and hops go in loose. I use fine crush about 30 gap. Ok so what I'm hearing is that my mash tun and vorlof process maybe the cause of excess trub. thanks.

Re: whirlfoc tabs

Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 1:25 pm
by Gymrat
I am amazed you don't have a lot of stuck sparges with that crush.

Re: whirlfoc tabs

Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 4:06 pm
by woody
stuck sparges is one thing I have never had in 34 batches now. I use a SS braid and its about 18" long. 3/4 the length of my Colman extreme.
I must say thought I have not always used that tight of a gap. had eff issues and went to a tighter gap, got 7-10% better eff. some mills are not =, they all need to be dialed in with the masher and the grain.
masher
masher
masher of grain and i'm going to make beer.
just a little take off of a song I herd once.
back to the mill, I made my own and it doesn't have vary aggressive groves to it. also I do adjust it while milling to get what I consider optimal crush so take the 30 gap I mentioned , with a grain of salt.

Re: whirlfoc tabs

Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 9:59 pm
by woody
Ok I have to admit I was wrong with the gap. lust went though my mill and I'm milling at 34 on the gap. must have been reading the numbers wrong.

Re: whirlfoc tabs

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 10:47 pm
by Kealia
woody wrote: masher
masher
masher of grain and i'm going to make beer.
Metallica?

And you never said how much whirfloc you are using.

Re: whirlfoc tabs

Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 9:18 am
by woody
Hi kealia, about the amount, its about 3/4 of a tablet to 5.5 gal boil. I try to not use a full tab since I shoot for 4 gal batches with 5.5-6 gal boils.
as far as the song go's, yes your right. I like their first 3 albums the best.

Re: whirlfoc tabs

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 8:12 am
by jimjohson
woody wrote:Hi kealia, about the amount, its about 3/4 of a tablet to 5.5 gal boil. I try to not use a full tab since I shoot for 4 gal batches with 5.5-6 gal boils.
as far as the song go's, yes your right. I like their first 3 albums the best.

fwiw I only use a half a tab in a fiver, 1 tab is for a 10 gal batch and I'm cheap...

Re: whirlfoc tabs

Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 2:35 pm
by Kealia
I think we would need to know your recipe, process, etc. to give any real help. 35% of your volume being trub is HIGH and I don't think it has anything to do with the amount of Whirfloc you are using.

Re: whirlfoc tabs

Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 8:54 pm
by jimjohson
I got to agree with Kealia from what I can find it is not additive, using more don't make a difference.

Re: whirlfoc tabs

Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 9:47 pm
by Gymrat
Another thing that should be pointed out. According to the manufacturer 15 minutes will denature the stuff. I add mine with 5 minutes left to go. 10 should be the maximum.

Re: whirlfoc tabs

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 2:23 pm
by woody
sorry for the long repost time but I had to do some experiments that required me to brew up another batch . I used a hop spider in steed of just throwing them in loose and low and behold my amount of trub was cut by 50%. I had no idea that the hops were contributing that much to the size of the cold brake. I guess I have to chalk it up as a brain fart. thanks for all the input.

Re: whirlfoc tabs

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 3:06 pm
by Gymrat
Hop pellets expand to several times their size in the boil. And probably when they are just wet too.