Using Rice Hulls (?)

[BM1]

Is there some kind of rule or guideline as to how much rice hulls to use in a batch?My 1st experiment with them was not that great but I think there were other factors involved.My 2nd time(today) went very well,considering the outcome, and I can't think of anything else to conribute the results to,although I did use far less rice hulls / grains than before.I acheived 80% BHE on a single infusion batch sparge and even though the unexpected BHE boost set me back a bit,re scheduling my hops and figuring out how to fix my wort so my SG,OG & IBU would jibe with my intentions,I was very happy with the results(I ended up with a extra gallon of wort ).
This was most certainly a ruined beer but not in a way that I'm used to.I didn't know wether to cry in my hands or go out and celebrate.Generally,my mistakes are not in my favor .

[Don]

I use rice hulls as a filter aid in my sparge. The hulls add no taste to the wort. Since I went from a homemade braided drain to a false bottom, I've added hulls when using wheat malt or large portions of adjunct.
I also have a fairly tight setting on my mill, so my grain husks aren't as intact as they should be. Using a pump even make it easier to get a stuck sparge if I'm not careful so I double the amount of hulls that I really need.
If I'm not using a pump or adjunct grains I don't usually use them.

Some people just throw in a couple of handfuls at mash time. (5 handfuls is @ 1/2#) for me.....
I've seen chats dealing with the % of hulls you need by the amount of adjuncts you use......
I have just experimented until I get the running I want.

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After milling, crushed grains should contain intact husk pieces and small chunks of meal. Fines are the smallest particles produced from malt crushing and have the consistency of flour. Fines can form impermeable layers within the grain bed and impede the flow.

You can add one-half cup rice hulls or unmalted barley husks per pound of grain at mash-in when using wheat malt or a large portion of adjunct. The hulls or unmalted husks will play a similar roll in the filter bed as the malted barley husks, allowing for a smooth run-off. Whenever adjunct grains, wheat malt, or rice hulls are used, they should be mixed thoroughly with the malt. Mixing the crushed malt and the adjunct while they are dry ensures that no clumps of adjunct will block flow.

[BM1]

Good comentary,Don.I did get stuck once on that 80% batch,but was it on the mash out;the 1st run went smoothly.I do,however,remember not getting a thorough mixing of my dry goods.I used 6#MO,1#Caraviene,12oz.Wheat and a X Large handfull of rice hulls.I may mix better next time and use more hulls,although a stuck mash out isn't a all that bad,assuming it's found before too much heat is lost,it is frustrating to go check on the flow and find it halted.

[msjulian]

Good post...I am working on my first wheat and picked up some hulls and was a little in the dark. The recipe I was going to alter was for an 11 gallon batch and called for 1 pound of hulls for 22 pounds of grain @ 68% eff. My grain bill is only 11 pounds and I run at 75% to 80%. Do I just cut the hulls in half or use more??

[john mills]

Do I just cut the hulls in half or use more??

you could still use the entire pound or cut it in half if you wish. Rice hull usage isn't a precise thing that needs carefull measurements. I've ran off many 50% wheat batches without using rice hulls. Every once in a while though a batch will get stuck. No rhime or reason. If I just want to make sure everything runs smooth, I throw in a pound or so of hulls.
The nastiest, gummiest sparge was a 50% rye grist. By the time I got it flowing smooth, I had used 4# of rice hulls.
Good luck!

[Don]

Depends on your system
Start with 1/2# and go from there.
If it doesn't flow free enough throw in a couple more handfuls, stir and try it again.

Good luck
Don

[BM1]

Don't forget to compensate for water aborption.I'm not sure how much they absorb per lb but I overcompensated both ways the 2 times I used them .I should,probably,just soak a lb. and see what happens.

[msjulian]

Gonna give it a shot this weekend..I didn't count on the water absorption..Do you think Beersmith counts for this??

[BM1]

Gonna give it a shot this weekend..I didn't count on the water absorption..Do you think Beersmith counts for this??

I don't know 'bout brewsmith.I plan to try a xperiment to find out how much water it will soak up under mashlike conditions.I'll post it when I know.I haven't officially used beersmith.I got the free trial t'other day.

[Don]

BeerSmith will calculate them just as malt.
If you set 1.25qt/# and add 1/2# Rice Hulls it will update your required mash water by .625 qts.
I personally find it too much and there are 2 easy ways to calculate the water needed.

Put the Rice Hulls in a colander and dip it in a bucket, the excess water will drain out, then just add them to the mash tun with your grains.

Or my way, just put in what you want and add a little extra water if your mash looks to thick..

[msjulian]

Or my way, just put in what you want and add a little extra water if your mash looks to thick..

That sounds like good advice....

[john mills]

I calculate rice hulls as grain when calculating strike water.
How much residual sparge water they retain, I don't care. I fly sparge, and always have more sparge water than I use. I sparge until I collect my required volume for boil. I would estimate that rice hulls don't retain as much water as grain, so if you plan that they do, you just might have an extra pint of water to deal with in the boil. (10 min extra??).