So my efficiency seems to average between 65%-70%. Are there any easy ways to try to boost efficiency? Or should I just adjust recipes up, knowing that my efficiency is low.
sgraham602 said:i batch sparge, but i have fly sparged once. Maybe I'll give that a try again. Seems like I wouldn't leave as much water behind in my mash tun by fly sparging. I've noticed that on a few occasions my calculations for sparge water needed have been off and I've batch sparged with too much water.
crane said:The amount of water you leave behind is dependent on your equipment. Either method of sparging should leave the same amount of water in the mash tun.
sgraham602 said:i dont have a grain mill right now. my LHBS crushes my grain.
bottlebomber said:Fly sparging doesn't give you better efficiency, it just takes a heck of a lot longer.
earwig said:I disagree, but whatever works for you.
bottlebomber said:You disagree that it takes longer?
earwig said:No, I get better efficiency. I hate spending that extra 45min-1hr.
i batch sparge, but i have fly sparged once. Maybe I'll give that a try again. Seems like I wouldn't leave as much water behind in my mash tun by fly sparging. I've noticed that on a few occasions my calculations for sparge water needed have been off and I've batch sparged with too much water.
Batch sparging with too much water can only increase your efficiency, assuming you boil down to your intended volume. .
Do you mean decrease efficiency? I would have just assumed that batch sparging would make your efficiency worse.
Unless you're collecting all of that extra sparge water. in my case I have sparged with too much water and not been able to collect all of the second runnings due to my kettle size.
Denny is known to be the most pro-batch sparging person around. I never get as good efficiency as I do when I fly sparge. I am curious, is everyone who fly sparges just stupid? Are the people who make the fly sparge systems (commerically/pre-built) just out to rip everyone off?
Come on, you know neither statement is true. It's simply a choice of techniques and one works as well as the other if done correctly. My efficiency is usually in the 83-87% range. It takes me less equipment than when I fly sparged, it takes less time, and it minimizes the possibility of tannin extraction. But it's a choice I made, just like you made the choice to fly sparge. Now, I know if a lot of people who have switched from fly to batch sparging and never looked back. It's as much a personal choice as how you like to cook or what movies you want to watch.
earwig said:Buy why would anyone want to fly sparge if it is pointless? Why would the equipment still exist? I don't know anyone who just likes their brewing to take an extra hour. :fro:
Because some people feel that it is better, and so of course the market is going to respond to the needs of potential customers. If everyone suddenly decided that you needed 3 different peelers to properly peel a carrot, they would make those too. Basically it seems like Denny is taking to non-offensive road and saying that it is just a matter of preference. If you prefer to use the fly sparge method and spend an extra hour on your brew day then that it your right. Just know that there are people that have already cleaned up their gear by the time you're making your first hop addition and are getting the same efficiency doing it.
earwig said:Yes, and you're basically calling anyone who fly sparges dumb.
Not what I said though is it. They just haven't yet come to understand that you can get just as good results in much less time. Only when you know that you can do just as well but choose not to do you approach stupidity in my book, but that's still just a matter of preference.
Mobeers said:This is starting to get exciting! Please continue gentlemen.
bottlebomber said:Nah I'm done. If he wasn't going to take it from Denny Conn he sure isn't going to take it from me.
my next purchase will be a grain mill! I'll be paying closer attention to my sparge volumes. Thanks all.
i dont have a grain mill right now. my LHBS crushes my grain.
I think next time around I'm going to try splitting my sparge water into 2 additions.
To be honest I just DON'T GET why fly sparging takes longer. I do a double batch sparge (no mash out, 10 minutes rest after each sparge addition is added, vorlouf every time) and it takes a while. 15 mins total for vorlouf, 20 mins total for sparge rests and prolly 20 mins to collect runnings: over 1hr total. I dont fly sparge b/c I only have one kettle and my mash tun is rectangular. Why is fly sparging considered to be the longer process of the two? Does it just take a really long time to collect the runnings (ie do you throttle down the valves really slow)? TIA!
I double batch sparge. I personally think it makes more sense than a single larger rinse. I know there are some that will disagree but it's worked wonderfully for me.
Rev.
Can draining the mash tun slower when batch sparging increase efficiency?
And BTW, in batch sparging you're draining, not rinsing. That's why doing it twice shouldn't really increase your efficiency much.
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