Looking for advice: flaked oats and rice hulls

[jeffsmith]

The beer I'm planning to brew tomorrow has 1.25lb. of Flaked (quick) Oats in it which works out to be 12.1% of the total grain bill. Being this is my first time mashing oats, I'm wondering if I should be using some rice hulls in my mash? I'd been thinking that since I'm under 15% I should be ok, but am a bit unsure. The last thing I want to deal with tomorrow night is a stuck sparge.

Planning on shooting for 1.33qts/lb for my mash and I mash in a 70qt Coleman cooler with a stainless braid if that's any help.

Thanks!

[BBrianBoogie]

With the same setup and same water/grain ratio, I've never had any problem whatsoever. I don't find oats get quite as gummy as rye or large amounts of wheat. If you're concerned about it you could always get some hulls and throw them in if there's a problem. It's no big deal to add them after the problem is encountered.

[jeffsmith]

Excellent. I figured I'd be alright, but just wanted to confirm.

[akr71]

I've used flaked oats lots & have never used rice hulls. My oatmeal stout had 12% oats.

[amartin]

I'd do a glucanase rest of around 113ºF for 20 minutes. If you have rice hulls already, you may as well use some, but I don't think I'd be too concerned.

[jeffsmith]

Thanks gents.

amartin, I'm shooting for a single infusion mash since I'm so close to 10% I didn't figure that any gumminess from the beta-glucans would be an issue.

[amartin]

It may not be, I don't know. I've always played it on the safe side with oats, wheat and rye, but I've never had a stuck sparge either (at least not mash related). Let us know how it went, not just sparge, but also the resulting body and head retention.

[jeffsmith]

So the mash went excellent, no issues at all. Ended up at 78% efficiency which is much higher than I expected (73%).