Rice Hulls are awesome

[DoWBrewer]

I am using BeerSmith. I initially had some problems with the accuracy of my thermometers. I bought several different kinds (floating, infrared, instant read etc.) and tried to determine the accuracy of each. I feel like I have a pretty good handle on that now. I have Coleman Extreme 70 qt for a mashtun. My last brew I was able to hold 152, but I was shooting for 154 on a robust porter. My last brew was the first with a pump. I think the pump transferred the strike water faster and had less heat loss. I am brewing Monday, so we shall see if I can hit my temp.

[brewinhard]

To better hit your mash temp when using rice hulls, be sure to include them in your grain amounts so your software will adjust it's strike water temps with the extra mass (rice hulls) in your cooler. I have always used John Palmers How to brew simple single infusion mash formula (instead of brewing software) to hit my mash temps with no problems. I preheat my mash tun and always say my grains are 2 Deg F cooler than they really are and I also say that I shoot for a higher mash temp by 2 deg F. (ie if I want a 152, I say I am shooting for a 154F). I then add pre chilled cold water to bring my initial temps down a degree or so if needed to the proper mash temp.

Don't ask me why I do this, but it seems to work best for my crappy system. Always seems easier to reduce mash temps (and use less water) with cold water than adding boiling water to raise a mash temp.

[Kbar]

God bless Beersmith and a RIMS system. Always get the the correct mash temps I need. Makes brewing day more enjoyable.

Was that a lot of bragging or what???