236 replies to this topic

[Mya]

I do an improvised fly sparge in that I do not have a sparge arm. I manually add the sparge water a bit at a time. I was batch sparging for years before, but I always felt like I had to re-vorlauf after I put the sparge water in and mixed everything up. I have not suffered any efficiency loss since switching and I save time.

not sure how you save time fly sparging?

[MtnBrewer]

not sure how you save time fly sparging?

Sounds like he was saying that the re-vorlauf step takes a long time for him. For me, it's a snap. I recirculate about a quart, sometimes two and then I'm gtg.

[BlKtRe]

Sounds like he was saying that the re-vorlauf step takes a long time for him. For me, it's a snap. I recirculate about a quart, sometimes two and then I'm gtg.

I can have a 17g preboil volume recirc, fly sparged, and boiling in about 1hr 10min. During that time all I do is monitor my input/output on occasion.I bet it takes most the same amount of time to batch sparge a smaller volume. Time isn't an issue with fly sparging and those that say it does stop on by.

Edited by BlKtRe, 19 April 2012 - 09:35 AM.

[Genesee Ted]

not sure how you save time fly sparging?

Sounds like he was saying that the re-vorlauf step takes a long time for him. For me, it's a snap. I recirculate about a quart, sometimes two and then I'm gtg.

Yup, this.Not that I have a lot of issues having large chunks of husk or grain coming out, but as I recirculate the wort definitely gets more clear. When I have batch sparged in the past, I would have to recirculate basically the whole new amount of wort to get the clarity I had previously. In any case, my whole runoff is pretty smooth with the way my brew day works. After 45 minutes of the mash, I pull out 2 gallons of the mash and heat it on the stove to a boil, then add it back to raise the bed up to around 170 for a mash out. If I had the space, I would just add hot water, but my mash tun is usually pretty maxed out. Then I vorlauf until it is clear and start running off. As the wort drains, I scoop my hot sparge water out of my hot liquor cooler thing and pour it gently on the top of the mash. I do this until it all runs off. Not only does this save me time for the second vorlauf, but I don't have to drain, fill, mix, vorlauf, drain. I just drain and top off.

[Mya]

different ways of coming to the same good results

[denny]

Yup, this.Not that I have a lot of issues having large chunks of husk or grain coming out, but as I recirculate the wort definitely gets more clear. When I have batch sparged in the past, I would have to recirculate basically the whole new amount of wort to get the clarity I had previously.

You're wasting time. There is no gain in beer quality by recirculating that much.

[Genesee Ted]

You're wasting time. There is no gain in beer quality by recirculating that much.

You are probably right. But in any case, even if I skip the batch sparge vorlauf step, I am still getting my wort in the kettle faster.

[Mya]

You are probably right. But in any case, even if I skip the batch sparge vorlauf step, I am still getting my wort in the kettle faster.

? not in my experience

[denny]

You are probably right. But in any case, even if I skip the batch sparge vorlauf step, I am still getting my wort in the kettle faster.

Well, if you say so. I used to do exactly what you describe...it drove me to batch sparging!

[BlKtRe]

I guess a pump and proper sized vessels for proper sized batches makes my days go by pretty decent.I can have a 15g batch put away in 7-8hrs depending on style so that's not to bad.

[al_bob]

If you always keep the liquid in your mash tun a couple of inches over the grain bed, isn't that the same as draining rather than rinsing? When I get close to my kettle volume, I just let the rest drain dry.I guess sometimes I just see it all as the same thing and not really all that different. As I've always said, I think I could describe my process as fly batching.... :PI would like to try batch to see what I'm missing.

[MtnBrewer]

If you always keep the liquid in your mash tun a couple of inches over the grain bed, isn't that the same as draining rather than rinsing? When I get close to my kettle volume, I just let the rest drain dry.

It's not the same because the "clean" water is flushing the sugars out as it seeps down through the grain bed. With batch sparging you're not rinsing, you're just diluting.

[al_bob]

It's not the same because the "clean" water is flushing the sugars out as it seeps down through the grain bed. With batch sparging you're not rinsing, you're just diluting.

I guess it still seems like the same thing only different, to me....So, when you batch sparge, do you still just add the ~ 1.25 qt/lb of water to the mash, then just drain it all once the mash is done, then fill up with enough to top off the kettle and drain all at once again?

[MtnBrewer]

I guess it still seems like the same thing only different, to me....So, when you batch sparge, do you still just add the ~ 1.25 qt/lb of water to the mash, then just drain it all once the mash is done, then fill up with enough to top off the kettle and drain all at once again?

Yes, that's what makes it different.

[HVB]

I guess a pump and proper sized vessels for proper sized batches makes my days go by pretty decent.I can have a 15g batch put away in 7-8hrs depending on style so that's not to bad.

I typically do 10g under 5 hours batch sparging.

[BlKtRe]

I typically do 10g under 5 hours batch sparging.

Even at my best I could barely do10g under 5 unless it was a small beer or my ground water is freezing cold. Or not counting clean up time.But I dont really brew anything under 1.060 ever. I typically do 70-90 min boils.

[djinkc]

I typically do 10g under 5 hours batch sparging.

About the same for 10g flying. Not that it matters......

[Mya]

it's pretty amazing that any discussion of a mas vessel ALWAYS turns into a Batch vs Fly discussion

[BlKtRe]

it's pretty amazing that any discussion of a mas vessel ALWAYS turns into a Batch vs Fly discussion

I know, and I've removed myself from them up until now.But in the end, I really could care less how someone brews as long as some key fundamentals are followed.

[HVB]

But in the end, I really could care less how someone brews as long as some key fundamentals are followed.

This .. Brew on and have fun!