Strike water
Strike water temperature with grain at 85F
With grain at 85F and a target of 152F at 1.25 quarts per pound, heat strike water to 162.7F.
Grain temperature matters more than brewers expect: malt stored in a cold garage needs noticeably hotter strike water than malt stored indoors.
Grain at 85F, 1.25 qt/lb
| Target mash | Strike water | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 148F | 158.1F | Standard |
| 150F | 160.4F | Standard |
| 152F | 162.7F | Standard |
| 154F | 165F | Standard |
| 156F | 167.4F | Standard |
Rows marked Standard come from a published equation, constant or manufacturer specification. Rows marked Convention are widely repeated brewing practice with no governing document behind them. The difference matters, so this site labels it rather than blurring the two together.
Thermometers and mash vessels
Prices are those returned when this page was last built and change often.
CDN Waterproof Digital Thermometer (4.75 inch stem)
NSF certified waterproof thermometer with a long stem, which reaches into a mash without soaking the housing.
OXO Good Grips Digital Instant Read Thermometer
Fast reading digital thermometer for checking strike and mash temperature.
Learn To Brew 10 Gallon Igloo Mash Tun
Insulated cooler mash tun with a stainless false bottom and valve, which holds mash temperature without any power.
Quick Fit 10 Gallon Igloo Mash Tun with Dial Thermometer
Cooler mash tun with stainless false bottom, stainless valve and a three inch dial probe thermometer.
TAPCRAFT Cooler Mash Tun Conversion Kit
False bottom, full port ball valve and gaskets to convert a drinks cooler you already own into a mash tun.
BrewZilla Gen 4 (35L, 110V, with pump)
Wifi and RAPT integrated 35 litre all-in-one with a recirculation pump and automatic step mashing, on standard US household power.
BrewZilla Gen 4 35L (110V)
The 110V Gen 4 BrewZilla: stainless construction, automatic step mashing, nine gallon capacity.
BrewZilla Gen 3.1.1 (35L)
The previous generation BrewZilla at a lower price, with the same 35 litre stainless body and step mashing.
Brewer's Edge Mash & Boil Series 2 with Pump
Programmable electric all-in-one kettle with a recirculation pump, sized for five gallon batches.
Related on BrewGearCalc
- Strike water calculator
- Best brewing thermometers
- Strike water temperature for a 148F mash at 1.25 qt/lb
- Strike water temperature with grain at 80F
- Strike water temperature for a 148F mash at 1.5 qt/lb
- Strike water temperature with grain at 75F
- Strike water temperature for a 152F mash at 1.5 qt/lb
- Strike water temperature for a 158F mash at 1.25 qt/lb
Frequently asked questions
- Does grain temperature really change the strike water that much?
- Yes. At 1.25 quarts per pound the strike equation gives 162.7F for grain at 85F targeting 152F. Grain stored somewhere cold can shift the required strike temperature by several degrees, which is enough to move a mash from a dry, fermentable wort to a sweeter, fuller one.
- Should I measure grain temperature or assume room temperature?
- Measure it if the grain has been stored anywhere other than the room you brew in. A thermometer pushed into the middle of the sack takes a few seconds and removes the largest single source of missed mash temperatures.
Researched from published brewing formulas, manufacturer specifications and verified owner reviews. This is general guidance, not professional advice.