Batch Sparge Clarification Question

[tflew]

I am preparing for a brew this weekend and wanted to clarify a couple things with batch sparging. If Beersmith says add 34 quarts at 157* for the mash in for 75 min...then Batch Sparge 2 steps (1.67gal, 7.22gal) @ 168*...do i completely drain the mash tun, add 1.67 gallons, stir, drain, add 7.22 gallons, stir, drain? Or am I interpreting that wrong?

Thanks,

-Tom

 

[duboman]

I am preparing for a brew this weekend and wanted to clarify a couple things with batch sparging. If Beersmith says add 34 quarts at 157* for the mash in for 75 min...then Batch Sparge 2 steps (1.67gal, 7.22gal) @ 168*...do i completely drain the mash tun, add 1.67 gallons, stir, drain, add 7.22 gallons, stir, drain? Or am I interpreting that wrong?

Thanks,

-Tom

What size batch are you doing, you have a total of 17.39 gallons for this batch and if it's a 5 gallon batch that's a lot of water!

Anyhow, you mash with the strike water you listed at 34 qts. Once the mash is complete you vorleuf and drain the tun. Then you can either add all sparge water at once, mix like hell for 5-10 minutes to knock those sugars loose, vorleuf and drain again. or do the two steps using the same method. I only do one sparge with no issues.

I would though go back and verify your volumes or let us know the grain bill and batch size

 

[erikpete18]

If you go back into your Beersmith mash profile, under the portion where you enter in the mash steps is a section titled "Batch Sparge Options". There you can check boxes corresponding to equal batch sizes and drain mash tun before sparging. I know some of the template mashes had those two unchecked, so when I entered them I was getting similar numbers. After checking both boxes, a lot of the time I only do a single sparge (although I'm doing 5 gal batches and it sounds like you're doing more than that). At that point, my batch sparge says 2 steps- Drain mashtun, sparge with 4gal of water.

Alternatively, you could skip the initial drain and add the 1.67 gallons, drain, then sparge with the rest. If you wind up with too much sparge water in the second sparge to accommodate within your mash tun, this might be a good way to go so that you don't have to do a third step.

 

[b-boy]

In my process I'd run 2 sparges of about 4.5 gals each, rather than the 1.67gal/7.22gal Beersmith recommends. I generally split the sparge volumes into equal parts. I stir for about 3-5 minutes and let them sit for 5-10 minutes before vorlaufing/draining.

I used to follow Beersmith, but just splitting the volume in 2 was easier and it didn't seem to make much difference either way.

I could be wrong here, but I got the impression that some of the sparge volumes Beersmith is producing are more to accomodate your mash tun volume. For example, when I use my 5-gallon tun it will sometimes give me three sparge volumes as opposed to two.

 

[tflew]

Thanks for the input so far. Heres the rest of the info...
10 gallon batch size, pre boil volume 13.44 gallons
grain bill totals out at 24#

 

[duboman]

Thanks for the input so far. Heres the rest of the info...
10 gallon batch size, pre boil volume 13.44 gallons
grain bill totals out at 24#

Cool, now your volumes seem to be in line with what you are doing

 

[SpeedYellow]

You would never drain the tun, then do a 1.67 gal sparge followed by a 7.22 gal sparge. Remember, you want equal runnings, so if you selected "Drain Mash Tun Before Sparging" then you would do two equal sparges each about 4.4 gal. Beersmith knows this.

I'm guessing Beersmith wants you to add 1.67 to get the mash up to 167F, then drain the tun, then do a single batch sparge of 7.22 gal.

 

[Primevci]

What size batch are you doing, you have a total of 17.39 gallons for this batch and if it's a 5 gallon batch that's a lot of water!

Anyhow, you mash with the strike water you listed at 34 qts. Once the mash is complete you vorleuf and drain the tun. Then you can either add all sparge water at once, mix like hell for 5-10 minutes to knock those sugars loose, vorleuf and drain again. or do the two steps using the same method. I only do one sparge with no issues.

I would though go back and verify your volumes or let us know the grain bill and batch size

Why stir it so much?... I hit 85% eff buy dumping it all in give a quick stir and let it sit for 15min on the sparge.....

 

[duboman]

Why stir it so much?... I hit 85% eff buy dumping it all in give a quick stir and let it sit for 15min on the sparge.....

It's just how I do it based upon recommendations from Yooper and Denny, stir crazy and then drain. On my system I get a consistent 80% mash efficiency and 80% Brewhouse efficiency.

It's really no different I guess from you adding and letting sit for 15 minutes before draining It's what works for me.

 

[tochsner]

I am preparing for a brew this weekend and wanted to clarify a couple things with batch sparging. If Beersmith says add 34 quarts at 157* for the mash in for 75 min...then Batch Sparge 2 steps (1.67gal, 7.22gal) @ 168*...do i completely drain the mash tun, add 1.67 gallons, stir, drain, add 7.22 gallons, stir, drain? Or am I interpreting that wrong?

You have it set for equal sparges. You adding the 1.67 gallons will raise the temperature and make the mash more fluid for draining but the main reason is after grain absorption you should get approximately 7 gallons in the kettle before you do the 7.22 gallon sparge giving you two equal volume runoffs.

 

[Denny]

Beersmith is a tool, not brewing instructions. Use it to decide how you want to brew, and don't let it tell you what to do! I think doing 2 batch sparges is almost always a waste of time and energy for little to no gain. Take a look at www.dennybrew.com for info on batch sparging.