Trying to figure all this out...

[CoastalEmpireBrewery]

So, I have my recipe that plan to use.

7 lbs Pilsner (2 Row) Ger (2.0 SRM) Grain 1 65.1 %
2 lbs Munich Malt - 10L (10.0 SRM) Grain 2 18.6 %
1 lbs 4.0 oz Caramunich I (Weyermann) (51.0 SRM) Grain 3 11.6 %
8.0 oz Carapils (Briess) (1.5 SRM) Grain 4 4.7 %
0.50 oz Hallertau Magnum [14.00 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 5 22.9 IBUs
1.00 oz Tettnang [4.50 %] - Boil 2.0 min Hop 6 1.2 IBUs
1.0 pkg Octoberfest/Marzen Lager (White Labs #WLP820) [35.49 ml] Yeast 7 -
Est Original Gravity: 1.057 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.018 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 5.1 %
Bitterness: 24.1 IBUs
Est Color: 10.2 SRM

Measured Original Gravity: 1.057 SG
Measured Final Gravity: 1.016 SG
Actual Alcohol by Vol: 5.4 %
Calories: 192.1 kcal/12oz

Mash Name: Single Infusion, Light Body, Batch Sparge
Sparge Water: 5.70 gal
Sparge Temperature: 170.0 F
Adjust Temp for Equipment: FALSE


Total Grain Weight: 10 lbs 12.0 oz
Grain Temperature: 72.0 F
Tun Temperature: 72.0 F
Mash PH: 5.20

Mash In Add 13.83 qt of water at 165.6 F 154.0 F 90 min

Batch sparge with 2 steps (1.77gal, 3.93gal) of 170.0 F water

So this is straight off beersmith 2.2

It says my boil size should be 7.34 gallons... So I do the initial 13.83 qt of 165 degree water, let soak for 90 minutes, then add 1.77 and 3.93 gallons of water at 170 degrees.... wont that put me over my pre boil amount? Should I go until i have used all my sparge water or stop when I hit my pre boil amount? Thats really my main question...

I ve heard of people preparing 1/2 gall per pound of grain... well if im using 12 pounds of grain that would give me 6 gallons of water... and if I am already starting off with 3.83 gallons in there I would have to boil off over 4 gallons... Am I reading too indepth to this or do I just stop using my sparge water once i hit my target pre volume amount?

 

[Yooper]

Are you batch sparging or fly sparging?

If you're fly sparging, you just sparge up to your boil volume.

If you're batch sparging, you drain the liquid out of the mash and measure it. Then use the amount of sparge water you need to get to your boil volume. You can add it all at once- no need to do two such small additions. I don't think you'd be able to stir such little sparge water in thoroughly if you do two additions.

Grains tend to absorb about 1.25 gallons of liquid per 10 pounds of grain, so if you put 4 gallons of liquid into the mash, you should get 2.75 gallons of wort out.

Your mash times and temps are wonky, though. You've got too much crystal malt (with the crystal and carapils) and a too-high mash temperature to have a nice quaffable beer. That grainbill and mash schedule would generally mean a thicker and heavier beer. I'd change the mash temp to 152, and cut out the carapils.

 

[wtfDean]

i always found the instructions for batch sparging on beersmith kind of confusing.

do this: go into beersmith, open your mash profile that you're using (let's assume you're using Medium Body, Batch Sparge) and check the box that says "drain mash tun before sparging"

voila, the instuctions should be less strange. it should tell you to fill with 13.xx qt water, drain, fill with 5.x gallons water, drain. that's probably more like what you were expecting to see

edit: you said you were using beersmith... oops

 

[CoastalEmpireBrewery]

I removed the carapils and brought the temp down to 152 for 60 minutes

 

[CoastalEmpireBrewery]

Thank you for that it does make much more since I'm probably making it harder than what it really is. The only reason I wanted I higher temp long was to ensure I got all of the sugars

 

[CoastalEmpireBrewery]

7 lbs Pilsner (2 Row) Ger (2.0 SRM) Grain 1 68.3 %
2 lbs Munich Malt - 10L (10.0 SRM) Grain 2 19.5 %
1 lbs 4.0 oz Caramunich I (Weyermann) (51.0 SRM) Grain 3 12.2 %
0.50 oz Hallertau Magnum [14.00 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 4 23.3 IBUs
1.00 oz Tettnang [4.50 %] - Boil 2.0 min Hop 5 1.3 IBUs
1.0 pkg Octoberfest/Marzen Lager (White Labs #WLP820) [35.49 ml] Yeast 6 -

Est Original Gravity: 1.054 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.016 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 5.0 %
Bitterness: 24.6 IBUs
Est Color: 10.1 SRM

Measured Original Gravity: 1.057 SG
Measured Final Gravity: 1.016 SG
Actual Alcohol by Vol: 5.4 %
Calories: 192.1 kcal/12oz

Mash Name: Single Infusion, Medium Body, Batch Sparge
Sparge Water: 5.40 gal
Sparge Temperature: 170.0 F
Adjust Temp for Equipment: TRUE


Total Grain Weight: 10 lbs 4.0 oz
Grain Temperature: 72.0 F
Tun Temperature: 72.0 F
Mash PH: 5.20

Mash In Add 3.70 gal of water at 166.0 F 152.0 F 60 min

Batch sparge with 2 steps (Drain mash tun , 5.40gal) of 170.0 F water

Yooper, does that look a lot better?

 

[wtfDean]

experimentation is why we brew! but seriously, don't underestimate how much water you need for the sparge. for a 7.25gal pre boil volume i use ~9 gallons of water (my mash tun is a single bazooka screen style too, so i think i lose more water than a false bottom setup).

you never want to underestimate how much sparge water you will be needing for your target pre boil volume. nothing gets me frustrated like coming up short at the end of brew day