fly/batch sparging

Help me clear something up. I'm a seasoned extract brewer looking to leap to all-grain. I see the terms fly and batch sparging thrown around a lot, but never found any clear definitions. This is what I'm assuming, please correct if wrong.

Fly sparging: While draining your mash, you slowly rinse the spent grains with hot water until boil volume is achieved. Mash tun is continuously draining to boil kettle.

Batch sparging: Drain mash, close off valve to boil kettle, fill mash tun up with a volume of hot water. Let rest a bit or maybe immediately open valve and drain to boil kettle.

Is this the jist?

 

That's pretty much it.

 

But don't forget to stir the grains after you add the sparge water when batch sparging. A LOT of the efficiency comes from getting that sugar stirred into the sparge water.

 

Yeah, those are the broad strokes – there are, of course, details and caveats and ins and outs and what-have-yous involved in both processes, just about as far down the rabbit hole as you care to go, but that's the basic difference between the two.

I recommend you do a couple partial-mash brews – beers where you've got some base malt in with your specialty grains, are trying to hit specific volumes and temperatures, convert sugars, etc., but are still getting most of your fermentables from extract. This was a wonderful step on my journey to all-grain, because it allowed me to get a feel for mashing without stressing out about ruining my beer, since the worst-case scenario of totally bungling the mash and not extracting any fermentable sugars would still leave me with a decent extract beer where the grains only contribute flavor and body.

 

Also don't forget...

Once you pick your favorite method, argue on the internet for its vast superiority over the other "heathen" method.

 

Heathen! Your efficiency sucks!

Everyone who brews 5 gallons or less and wants decent efficiency in a reasonable amount of time uses the coveted BATCH SPARGE method!

 

What do you use? Because whatever it is, I do the opposite which is better. Unless you fly sparge, which is my method. Then we would be in agreement, which completely contradicts this post. So you can fly sparge, and must do the inferior batch sparge. But I enjoy both, since Ive done both. So now I am confused. I need some beer.

 

I batch sparge my second runnings using the fly sparge method. That, along with my special water chemistry is how I get 99% efficiency. It's all very obscure and I'm sure you've never heard about it.

 

Only 99%?!?! If you just stuck to fly, you'd easily be @ 100%, maybe 105%.

 

No method is a "heathen" method but one is objectively easier. The easier method does come at a "theoretical" cost to efficiency though. Both methods can produce world class or garbage beer.

 

What is this "sparge" thing you speak of? :cross:

 

Its a mythical unicorn.

 

Touche

 

Been batch sparging since I started all grain in..................... oh.............
let's see...................19...............19..........1990. Yep that's it. It's always
worked for me very well.

I'm a minimalist when it comes to brewing. I'm using a lot of the same gear,
except for hoses, I started with. Fly sparging just sounds like more
stuff to have and maintain.

All the Best,
D. White