Brewhouse performance problems - causes and remedies.

Lenz, S.H.

Abstract
The usual three problems arising with a new brewhouse are; poor brewhouse yield, long turn round time and hazy wort. To deal with these problems means starting from the beginning and checking all the relevant times, quantities and temperatures. Inspect the grist handling and dust extraction systems and make sure the weighing equipment is operating correctly. Make sure that exactly the specified quantities of the various grist components and mashing liquor are being used and that the mill is set to give a good grind without too much broken husk. One should achieve at least 50% of the total available extract with the first wort in not more than half the total volume of liquid and by half time in the lauter cycle. The running time for each of the three sparges is 1/6 of the total lauter time while the volume of each is 1/6, 2/6 and 3/6 of the total sparge. Having established the correct run-off curve for the lauter tun it is important to rake as soon as the flow rate falls behind the set figure. When raking one must ensure that the grain bed is really being raked and not just being pushed around en masse.
Keywords : brewhouse lauter tun mashing milling performance (technical) problem