Batch Sparge: Stir before Drain?

[smyrnaquince]

I'm coming from the BIAB world and have a few questions. The following questions refer to batch sparging in an Igloo cooler, using a bazooka/torpedo tube.

Should I stir the mash before the first drain? Or are the sugars dissolved throughout the mash, so I can just vorlauf and drain?

For the sparge(s), I know that I need to stir before draining, but should I let the sparge water sit on the grains a while before stirring?

After stirring, but before any draining (mash or sparge), should I let the water/grain mixture settle to form the grain filter bed?

Process:

1. Add strike water (at elevated temperature to pre-heat the tun)
2. Add grain to tun and stir
3. Cover and let sit for 60 minutes (or whatever mash time)
4. Stir the water grain mixture?
5. If stirred, let mash sit for 5 minutes to settle?
6. Vorlauf and Drain
7. Add sparge water
8. Let mash sit for 5 minutes?
9. Stir like mad
10. Let mash sit for 5 minutes to settle?
11. Vorlauf and drain
12. Repeat

My guess is yes to 4, 5, and 10, but no to 8.

Thanks!

 

[Yooper]

You don't have to stir the mash before draining, but some do I think.

When you batch sparge, there is no reason to let the sparge water sit or settle in the MLT. Add the sparge water, stir it like you mean it, and then vorlauf and drain quickly.

You can leave out 3,4,8, and 10!

 

[broadbill]

no need to stir at #4; but you will still have to vorlauf, hnence no #5. No need to let mash sit after adding sparge (hence no #8), and no need to let it sit after you stir (hence no #10).

In other words, stir at dough in, stir after each sparge.

 

[Hello]

I follow exactly what Yooper described. No sitting, no stirring before draining either because I thought that disturbed the grain bed.

 

[govner1]

After I mash in on a 60 min. mash I usually stir the mash at 30 min.
Then I Vorlauf and drain my first runnings into my BK. I light the burner under the BK & adjust to very low heat.
Now I had my batch sparge water and vigorously stir. Put the lid on and wait 10 minutes. I Vorlauf again and drain the sparge water into the BK & turn up the heat.


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[smyrnaquince]

Thanks, all. I thought that I'd need to allow settle time to form the grain bed. It sounds like the vorauf step sets the grain bed on its own.

Also, sounds like I don't need to stir after the mash (before draining).

 

[Denny]

Thanks, all. I thought that I'd need to allow settle time to form the grain bed. It sounds like the vorauf step sets the grain bed on its own.

Also, sounds like I don't need to stir after the mash (before draining).

For batch sparging info, check out www.dennybrew.com

 

[Remmy]

I stir every time and let sit for 20 minutes before draining.

 

[Denny]

I stir every time and let sit for 20 minutes before draining.

Save yourself some time. Unless you have a special situation, you're not gaining anything.

 

[Remmy]

Save yourself some time. Unless you have a special situation, you're not gaining anything.

It's called being able to drink more during the home brew process. I've let sparge water sit for over an hour sometimes. Gives me an excuse to further enjoy myself and hammer more beers during the entire process.

Or, you could mash-in and find other things to do like clean-up and prep your primary, set your burner up, etc. and never touch a beer on brew day. :rockin:

 

[Denny]

It's called being able to drink more during the home brew process. I've let sparge water sit for over an hour sometimes. Gives me an excuse to further enjoy myself and hammer more beers during the entire process.

Or, you could mash-in and find other things to do like clean-up and prep your primary, set your burner up, etc. and never touch a beer on brew day. :rockin:

I don't drink while I'm brewing. I clean the house, do the laundry, etc. I have plenty of time to do all that other stuff without letting the sparge water sit. But as long as your method works for you, it's the right thing to do. My only point was that you don't gain anything in terms of beer quality by letting it sit.

 

[smyrnaquince]

OK, I'm the OP and I brewed this weekend. For vorlauf until clear, how clear is clear? Absolutely no bits coming through, or are some acceptable?

How do you pour back in the vorlauf to not mix up the grains and need to start the whole process again?

As for what to do during the mash, I bottled my last brew during that time.

 

[johngaltsmotor]

For pouring back in, I have essentially another false bottom (SS screen plate) that I place on top of the grain bed. Then I took a large yogurt container and poked some holes in the sides near the bottom. When you pour into this the liquid goes sideways so the impact is distributed over the top surface. It helps to minimize disturbance of the grain bed.

 

[Denny]

OK, I'm the OP and I brewed this weekend. For vorlauf until clear, how clear is clear? Absolutely no bits coming through, or are some acceptable?

How do you pour back in the vorlauf to not mix up the grains and need to start the whole process again?

As for what to do during the mash, I bottled my last brew during that time.

Clear means free of chunks, not that you can read a newspaper through it.

Pour it back like this...you won't disturb the ghrainbed enough to notice. Even if you do, it will clear within a few seconds. Keep the return low and close to the grain, but there's no n eed to get fancy about it.

 

[bnairuni87]

Hey Yopper,

I read your post and had a question, you don't let your mash sit?

 

[finsfan]

Hey Yopper,

I read your post and had a question, you don't let your mash sit?

I think she meant 4 and 5, not 3 and 4. You obviously have to let your mash sit for conversion, otherwise it wont.

 

[Octavius]

Well, this is interesting.
I would love not waiting 30 min (for the grain bed to settle).
But, even if you vorlauf to "clear", aren't you missing out on the extra clarification from a compact grain bed?

Just wondering, Cheers!

 

[Yooper]

Well, this is interesting.
I would love not waiting 30 min (for the grain bed to settle).
But, even if you vorlauf to "clear", aren't you missing out on the extra clarification from a compact grain bed?

Just wondering, Cheers!

I can't imagine what sort of "extra clarification from a compact grainbed" anyone would get.

A compact grainbed isn't wanted- you want it to be "fluid" so that the water can move through it during the mash and sparge.

 

[Yooper]

I think she meant 4 and 5, not 3 and 4. You obviously have to let your mash sit for conversion, otherwise it wont.

Right- sorry about that!

 

[Denny]

Well, this is interesting.
I would love not waiting 30 min (for the grain bed to settle).
But, even if you vorlauf to "clear", aren't you missing out on the extra clarification from a compact grain bed?

Just wondering, Cheers!

Nope, you're not missing anything. For one thig, it will clear very quickly during the vorlauf. For another, there's no advantage to the finished beer to having crystal clear runoff. Try it and find out for yourself. It if it didn't work, I would have changed my technique hundreds of batches ago.

 

[Denny]

Well, this is interesting.
I would love not waiting 30 min (for the grain bed to settle).
But, even if you vorlauf to "clear", aren't you missing out on the extra clarification from a compact grain bed?

Just wondering, Cheers!

Nope, you're not missing anything. For one thing, it will clear very quickly during the vorlauf. For another, there's no advantage to the finished beer to having crystal clear runoff. Try it and find out for yourself. It if it didn't work, I would have changed my technique hundreds of batches ago.

 

[Octavius]

Thanks for the replies.
Wow, I'm going to try this new sparge technique- I have a brew day tomorrow.
When you mash, do you allow the brain bed to settle?

Cheers!

 

[Denny]

Thanks for the replies.
Wow, I'm going to try this new sparge technique- I have a brew day tomorrow.
When you mash, do you allow the brain bed to settle?

Cheers!

I'm not sure I understand your question. Yes, it settles because the mash sits for 60 min.

see www.dennybrew.com for details

 

[Octavius]

Sorry, man.
Do you give the mash a good stir after 60 min and then vorlauf or just leave the bed compact?
Cheers!

 

[johngaltsmotor]

I stir every 15 minutes, so after the 45min stir you let it sit for 15min to make your 60min mash, and the grain has also settled nicely.
If you mashout you may want to give it 5-10 minutes to settle again before vorlauf.

 

[finsfan]

I always stir right before I vorlauf, drain, mashout, stir and then immediately drain again. Never had any problems.

 

[Octavius]

Fair enough. I'll give it a whirl, say as to speak.

Cheers!

 

[Denny]

Sorry, man.
Do you give the mash a good stir after 60 min and then vorlauf or just leave the bed compact?
Cheers!

I let it sit for 60, vorlauf anywhere from a couple cups to a couple qt., and runoff.

 

[Denny]

I stir every 15 minutes, so after the 45min stir you let it sit for 15min to make your 60min mash, and the grain has also settled nicely.
If you mashout you may want to give it 5-10 minutes to settle again before vorlauf.

stirring every 15 min, is generally unnecessary unless there's something unusual about your system. Waiting for the grain to settle is absolutely unnecessary, at least on my system.

 

[stpug]

Just as another data point for how flexible the batch sparging system is...
I dough in to reach mash temp
Refresh my 1-2 degrees of lost temp at the midpoint with 1-2 quarts of nearboiling water (stirring)
Stir at the end of mash, wait no time, vorlauf, collect runnings
Add my sparge water, stir, wait no time, vorlauf, collect runnings

It works for me and finsfan