Mash Bills

[DistillingChris]

Finally back and hopefully be more regular now after hectic Covid year, work changes and setting up a website, anyway I’ve took the plunge and finally bought a Grainfather after much research - think it was probably last year I was last on here asking about it, and alembic dome extra, still have the t500 and air still.

My question is regarding Mash bills obviously it’s quite easy to find the simple bills such as 51% corn, 9% rye, 40% wheat but how then do you convert that into a 23L wash ie how many grams of corn or at least how many grams of grain in total and then work out the percentages from there

I did do a whiskey along long time ago using grain and heater etc to covert to sugars, but I can’t remember what I used at the time to get measurements

Any help appreciated , hope all well, il have to have a catch up to see what I’ve missed and any new recipes to try

[Easydrinker]

Welcome back mate.
I am not going to do all your work, but when I do a whisky wash, I typically get 22 litres of wort at 1.050 from 4Kg of malt.
Have fun!

Robert.

[DistillingChris]

Sounds good to me, I can do the work that’s half the fun just need a ball park to start from cheers, hopefully be arriving by weekend so next week might have one on the go
Cheers

[Mash]

I recall the max workable for the gf being about 8kg. I would use 5 or 6kg.

Is the bigger question the water volume? You need to consider absorption but I guess not worry too much about evaporation at boil.

Imo you only need a breif boil until hot break.

[Easydrinker]

I don't mash whisky washes above 80°C.
But I do pour a couple of kettles of boiling water through the drained grain at the end.
To rinse out a litttle extra.
Distilleries don't boil or seek a hot break.

Robert.

[Mash]

But they have bigger stills that can easily deal with the snot.

Smaller stills bung up and can be a bit of a bugger to clean.

Breif boil seems much easier and safer.

[myles]

My question is regarding Mash bills obviously it’s quite easy to find the simple bills such as 51% corn, 9% rye, 40% wheat but how then do you convert that into a 23L wash ie how many grams of corn or at least how many grams of grain in total and then work out the percentages from there

Use a spreadsheet and it is easy.

I just put an example in the Resources section.

[Easydrinker]

But they have bigger stills that can easily deal with the snot.

Smaller stills bung up and can be a bit of a bugger to clean.

Breif boil seems much easier and safer.

I am going to agree to differ there.
IME, if you don't boil, then you don't significantly snot!
Not had a difficult snot problem to clean yet...

Robert.

[myles]

When you do the strip run you will be boiling for an extended period of time - dependent on the volumes involved and the power input.

I have not had a serious issue on a strip run for a long time. Power management and plenty of headspace in the boiler will fix most problems. During mashing is a different issue.

[DistillingChris]

Thanks, I feel like this could be a long learning curve but happy for that, Grainfather here now so going to first brew a beer on Wednesday and then Thursday hopefully get a whiskey/bourbon on the go
Thanks Myles for resource il check it out when on my computer

[Mash]

When the gf arrives, do a water only run. It will give it a wash through but importantly you will get to play with it, before the grain goes in and everything gets sticky.

Will make the real run much less stressful.

[Easydrinker]

When the gf arrives, do a water only run. It will give it a wash through but importantly you will get to play with it, before the grain goes in and everything gets sticky.

Will make the real run much less stressful.

+1
Make the first mash easy on yourself, you have much to think about the first few times, Knowing how your kit works is a good start.

Robert.