Pre-mashing – Steel’s Masher Flashcards
(16 cards)
What is the primary design purpose of the next pre-mashing technology?
It was originally designed for isothermal mashing and mashes with a 2.2:1-2.7:1 water to grist ratio.
This technology can be used for mashes of all types.
How does the Steel’s masher undertake grist hydration?
In a horizontal tube with regulated flow of grist and water.
Older Steel’s mashers are more likely to be manually controlled.
What components are found inside the horizontal tube of the Steel’s masher?
A screw (auger) and a set of rods fixed to a shaft rotated by a motor.
The rods are also referred to as beaters.
What is the function of the rods in the Steel’s masher?
They mix the mash further and help break up balls of un-hydrated grist.
The tube is typically about half full during operation.
What is a significant drawback of Steel’s mashers during operation?
They introduce significant amounts of oxygen to the mash unless continuously flushed with CO2.
Oxygen control is crucial in mashing processes.
Who patented the Steel’s masher and when?
James Steel of Glasgow in the nineteenth century.
The original version did not have a screw, only stirring rods.
What is the primary function of a mash tun?
To mash isothermally and undertake wort separation.
Mash tuns are always fed from above and are never heated or agitated.
What term is used for the vessel used just for mashing?
MCV
MCV stands for mash conversion vessel.
What do European brewers generally refer to anything that isn’t decoction as?
Infusion.
In the UK, infusion generally refers to isothermal mashing.
True or False: Oxygen control is less critical in in-line pre-mashing technologies.
False.
They present a higher risk of oxygen pick-up.
What happens to oxygen solubility in wort as the mashing temperature increases?
It becomes less soluble.
At 60℃, the maximum concentration of oxygen in water is 4.74 mg/L.
What is the purpose of purging mashing vessels and grist cases with CO2 and N2?
To help reduce the risk of oxygen pick-up.
Proper purging uses a significant amount of process gas.
What is the design evolution of the Steel’s masher developed in Germany?
A system with a motor rotating a shaft with inclined discs in a horizontal tank.
This design minimizes shear and oxygen pick-up.
What is the Meura Mechamasher designed to do?
Supply hydrated grist to the base of the mashing vessel with minimal oxygen pick-up.
It is designed primarily to work with mash filters.
Fill in the blank: The Mechamasher can pre-mash very thick mashes down to a _______ water to grist ratio.
1.8:1
What is a significant characteristic of the Mechamasher compared to other pre-mashers?
It picks up virtually no oxygen and delivers grist with little damage.
It is the highest cost pre-masher.
