Mashing Pumpkin - An Alternate Approach?

[g-star]

So I'm going to make my first AG pumpkin ale this weekend, and I've got 3.6lbs of canned Libby's pumpkin that's been sitting on my supply shelf for a year. I plan on carmelizing it in the oven before adding it to the mash.

I've read a lot of horror stories about stuck sparges and sticky messes when trying to mash pumpkin, so I'm thinking about one of two approaches:

1. Add pre-wetted rice hulls (0.5lbs) to the bottom of the tun, then the grains, and then the pumpkin on top of the mash. This should be OK for the initial run-off, but I batch sparge and am concerned about stirring up the pumpkin and getting stuck on the sparge.

2. Mash grains as normal, but add the pumpkin confined in a nylon bag into the tun. I can't think of any real downside to this, other than perhaps poor conversion and a mess to clean out of the bag.

What say you? Any experience, tips, or advice? I'm using a 10gal rubbermaid cooler with a SS braid.

Thanks.

 

[shafferpilot]

use pantyhose instead of a good hop bag.... that way ya just throw it out when your done.