On Mon, 10 Nov 1997 12:52:42 -0500, "Todd Bracken"
Quote:
>Thanks for the reply.
>Any idea which method results in the greatest brewing efficiency (False
>Bottom, Slotted Manifold or Easymasher)?
This question will generate a LOT of flack and personal information
from everybody here...
My personal experience:
I've used a homemade easy masher in the past, and I would get a
consistent 75% extraction. Not too bad. This was used in a 5-gal Gott
cooler.
I then upgraded to a 12-gal picnic cooler, fitted with a homemade
copper manifold. My extraction rate immediately jumped to 80%. After
some tweaking, I've reached my upper plateau at 84 to 86%, consistent.
I've never used a false bottom, but I would tend to believe that it
could potentially beat my 84-86%.
As for empirical data, it may be wise to get the back issue of Zymurgy
called "The great grain issue" (or something like that). They did a
side-by-side of a Zapap (two buckets), a grain bag, a copper manifold,
a false bottom, a real Easy-Masher and another one (I think). The data
was quite interesting.
J.P.