n00b question

Spencecore24 · Feb 10, 2012

i generally mash with 1 qt per pound of grain. sparge with as much as i am trying to produce. I work with 3 gallon batches so i sparge with 3 gallons. I always end up with about a half gallon or quart more than i need. Is this lowering my efficiency? is there a different rule i should follow?

NordeastBrewer77 · Feb 10, 2012

i mash ~1.25 qt per lb, sparge with the rest i need to hit my pre boil volume, this will put me on with my pre boil gravity. after the boil, the extra has boiled off and i should be on my OG for the batch. i generally get 70-80% efficiency, depending on several factors.

maffewl · Feb 10, 2012

Agree with NE... I use 1.25 qt/lb and mash-out and sparge to equal 6.5 gallons (typically) in the boil kettle (on average, I boil off 1 g/hr.), so that puts 5.5 in the fermenter.

BamaRooster · Feb 10, 2012

Yep same here...I agree with maffewl and nordeast

Spencecore24 · Feb 10, 2012

I typically do stove top and use a grain bag. Never sure how much water will be lost when i mash. So determining sparge quantity is difficult

NordeastBrewer77 · Feb 10, 2012

Spencecore24 said:
I typically do stove top and use a grain bag. Never sure how much water will be lost when i mash. So determining sparge quantity is difficult

i do too. if anything, i try to lowball the sparge water a tad. you can top up with water to reach your pre boil vol.

dcp27 · Feb 10, 2012

Spencecore24 said:
Is this lowering my efficiency?

no, if anything its probably higher from excess sparge. efficiency is based on volume and gravity, so if you got 1.05 @ 3gals, its the same efficiency as 1.043 @3.5gals

tre9er · Feb 10, 2012

NordeastBrewer77 said:
i do too. if anything, i try to lowball the sparge water a tad. you can top up with water to reach your pre boil vol.

This. I'll top off, usually based on my preboil SG. It cools before the boil is done and if I'm heavier than I want to be, I'll add water to the boil.

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