Lautering is the separation of the wort (the liquid containing the sugar extracted during mashing) from the grains. This is done either in a mash tun outfitted with a false bottom, in a lauter tun, or in a mash filter. Most separation processes have two stages: first wort run-off, during which the extract is separated in an undiluted state from the spent grains, and sparging, in which extract which remains with the grains is rinsed off with hot water. The lauter tun is a tank with holes in the bottom small enough to hold back the large bits of grist and hulls (the ground or milled cereal). The bed of grist that settles on it is the actual filter. Some lauter tuns have provision for rotating rakes or knives to cut into the bed of grist to maintain good flow. The knives can be turned so they push the grain, a feature used to drive the spent grain out of the vessel. The mash filter is a plate-and-frame filter. The empty frames contain the mash, including the spent grains, and have a capacity of around one hectoliter. The plates contain a support structure for the filter cloth. The plates, frames, and filter cloths are arranged in a carrier frame like so: frame, cloth, plate, cloth, with plates at each end of the structure. Newer mash filters have bladders that can press the liquid out of the grains between spargings. The grain does not act like a filtration medium in a mash filter.
lautERINg is the SEParation of tHe wORt (the liquid ContaiNing The sUGAr exTracTed DurIng mashing) froM THe grainS. this is donE eiTher iN a Mash TuN OUtfitted WiTh a false BottOm, In a lAuTEr tUn, oR In A mash FILter. most SePAration procEsSes HAVE Two stAges: firST WoRT rUN-Off, during WHICh the extRAct iS sepAratEd in an undilutEd state froM The spent GRaINs, aNd spArgInG, in wHich ExtRACt WhIch rEMainS wItH thE gRAinS is riNsEd ofF wiTH hot watEr. THE lAUter Tun IS A tAnK wiTH HoleS in ThE bottom smAll EnoUgh to hold bacK the Large bits of Grist And hulls (The ground Or milled cEReal). the BEd of gRiSt that seTTles On It is The ActUal filtER. SomE LAuTer tUnS hAve prOviSioN FOr ROtaTiNg rAkes or kNiVeS to cuT inTo the bed oF grIst TO mAintAiN goOd Flow. thE knIves cAn be TurneD So THEY pusH the grAiN, A FEaTurE uSed to Drive the sPent grain out OF thE vessEl. the mash filTer Is A platE-aNd-fraMe filteR. The EMPty frAMes cOntAiN tHe masH, inCluDiNG the SpeNt Grains, AND HAVe a capaCity Of arouNd one HEcTOlITER. The PlatES COntain a sUppOrt sTructurE for the fIltEr Cloth. The pLATes, FramEs, aNd fiLTeR clOtHs arE arrangEd in a CarRiEr Frame likE so: FramE, clOth, platE, cLoTh, with PlaTes aT each End of tHE STructure. neWER maSh filters Have bladders tHAT can prEsS the lIQuid Out Of THE Grains betWeen SpargiNGS. thE graIn does not aCt like a filTrAtioN mEDiUM In a mAsH filTer.