Confession Time

[normonster]

Mash cycle was ending and somehow I totally forgot to set up the sparge water. I ended up using hot tap water from the spray-hose - directly into the tun

/lazyass

How'd it turn out?

 

[Zepth]

How'd it turn out?

Just fine. I almost exclusively use hot tap water rather than heating sparge water.

Since my HLT and kettle are the same thing, it's a bit of a pain to heat it, then transfer it in a different bucket / pot / something while I drain the tun before I can begin sparging. So I just don't most of the time.

 

[DrunkleJon]

I have heard that it is not really all that necessary to preheat your sparge water. All having it hot really does since extraction/conversion should be complete is to help speed the time it takes to bring the wort to a boil. Haven't done it myself, though I usually am not too worried with the exact temperature of my sparge water.

 

[MyCarHasAbs]

I confess that the vast majority of my bottling and sanitation practices occur merely 6 feet away from where my cat does her business. Haven't noticed any ill sight effects yet. But the concept does gross some people out.

 

[WilliamSlayer]

I have heard that it is not really all that necessary to preheat your sparge water. All having it hot really does since extraction/conversion should be complete is to help speed the time it takes to bring the wort to a boil. Haven't done it myself, though I usually am not too worried with the exact temperature of my sparge water.

I might try this next brew. ...

 

[WSB-MBC]

How'd it turn out?

Not bad actually. In fact, I liked the result better than some batches I'd done (same recipe) using Spring Water.
Granted, this was late winter so the local water wasn't bombed with chlorides and chemicals and such that is common down here in TX.

 

[WSB-MBC]

I have heard that it is not really all that necessary to preheat your sparge water. All having it hot really does since extraction/conversion should be complete is to help speed the time it takes to bring the wort to a boil. Haven't done it myself, though I usually am not too worried with the exact temperature of my sparge water.

this makes sense from a practicality standpoint. All you're really doing is rinsing the grains to pull out as much of the conversion as possible

 

[Firewalker11]

Same thing happened to me the last two brew cycles, I had completely forgotten to heat the "sparge" water (I BIAB and just pour the water over the bag while its in a bucket dripping) and used the water from the hose through a filter instead. The beer just went into the secondary (really a corny, I like to move my beer off the yeast after the gravity stabilizes and into a corny with a spunding valve to finish the fermentation) and it tasted very good.

 

[normonster]

this makes sense from a practicality standpoint. All you're really doing is rinsing the grains to pull out as much of the conversion as possible

One would think though that hot water would loosen up the sugars and make them more easily rinsable, no? Sure makes a difference when it's time to scrub off wort from stuff.

 

[doug293cz]

One would think though that hot water would loosen up the sugars and make them more easily rinsable, no? Sure makes a difference when it's time to scrub off wort from stuff.

When did this turn into a technical forum?

But to continue with the discussion: You don't really need to "loosen up" the sugars when sparging. The sugars are all in solution when they are created. Stirring is very important for a batch sparge to get the sparged wort to a uniform concentration. The wort remaining in the grain gets really diluted during the sparge, so the viscosity drops a lot, which makes draining easier.

Brew on

 

[DrunkleJon]

One would think though that hot water would loosen up the sugars and make them more easily rinsable, no? Sure makes a difference when it's time to scrub off wort from stuff.

Well, I will admit this only works with batch style sparging (including BIAB). But the sugars are already dissolved in hot/warm water. Sure it would allow it to mix in a little easier, but I really doubt it will affect extraction much.

 

[normonster]

Well, I will admit this only works with batch style sparging (including BIAB). But the sugars are already dissolved in hot/warm water. Sure it would allow it to mix in a little easier, but I really doubt it will affect extraction much.

Interesting notion. I fly Sparge and I'm tempted to try it. I use my HLT to hold water/ice for chilling so not heating it at any point n the process would save me some ice dollars.

Back on topic - my last IPA is so god damned overly bitter I've been mixing in 25% of flat Mild to each pour. The combo is not the best but I have to protect these last few tastebuds I have left.

 

[doug293cz]

There's a very nice "Batch Sparge Water Temp" thread going on over here: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=555259. Let's get back to confessions about things that really are questionable.

Brew on

 

[slym2none]

I have had only one hydrometer in my brewing career, got it on my 4th batch in, so... since the end of May or so. It's never tried to commit suicide.

Yet.

 

[DrunkleJon]

I have been brewing for more than five years and still have my original hydrometer. I feel like I have failed as a homebrewer because I haven't broken one yet. I have on the other hand broken 4 thermometers.

 

[MaddBaggins]

I have been brewing for more than five years and still have my original hydrometer. I feel like I have failed as a homebrewer because I haven't broken one yet. I have on the other hand broken 4 thermometers.

Don't sweat it. I had my original for 18yrs. Broke the sucker last month. I almost cried.

 

[odorf]

my confession, I stole a candy bar from my sister's girl scout candy box when i was 9 or 10.

but,,,she started it for being a pooh pooh head

 

[EtchyLives]

I have never used distilled water to calibrate my refractometer, just unfiltered tap water. This probably means that all my measurements are off by zillions of points. I'm going to hell, aren't I.

 

[hunter_le five]

I have never used distilled water to calibrate my refractometer, just unfiltered tap water. This probably means that all my measurements are off by zillions of points. I'm going to hell, aren't I.

Confession is good for the soul, but some things simply cannot be forgiven.

You will burn.

 

[Double_D]

I constantly forget to use clearing agents in my beers. I had to start leaving the bag of irish moss out all the time to remind myself. Now if only I could remember to put isinglass in the keg...

 

[GHBWNY]

my confession, I stole a candy bar from my sister's girl scout candy box when i was 9 or 10.

but,,,she started it for being a pooh pooh head

And as your punishment, you turned out to be a homebrewer.

 

[EtchyLives]

Confession is good for the soul, but some things simply cannot be forgiven.

You will burn.

Hopefully I'll burn right in the liver because my refractometer is under-shooting the amount of joy juice in my beer.

The Lord works in mysterious ways.

 

[DrunkleJon]

I constantly forget to use clearing agents in my beers. I had to start leaving the bag of irish moss out all the time to remind myself. Now if only I could remember to put isinglass in the keg...

I have never used clarifiers. Ever. No gelatin, no isenglass, no irish moss, no fish fins, bladders or any other part of a fish. No clay, etc. Its still beer. Plus I find if I get a good boil going at first, then cool the wort as quickly as possible (solid hot and cold breaks), then let it sit in primary 2-3 weeks, then set and forget keg carb for another week or two before pouring, out comes amazingly clear beer.

 

[Qhrumphf]

I don't actually brew beer. Or drink it. I mix mud from the side of the highway with toilet water, swirl it around in my mouth, spit it out, vomit, and then pass out.

 

[Zepth]

I have never used clarifiers. Ever. No gelatin, no isenglass, no irish moss, no fish fins, bladders or any other part of a fish. No clay, etc. Its still beer. Plus I find if I get a good boil going at first, then cool the wort as quickly as possible (solid hot and cold breaks), then let it sit in primary 2-3 weeks, then set and forget keg carb for another week or two before pouring, out comes amazingly clear beer.

My last batch I vorlaufed, used irish moss, quick chill as possible, 3 week primary, gelatin, 1 week at -2C (~28F) <below freezing point of water!>, and it still came out cloudy as all hell. Unimpressed over here. Perhaps I should try the less is more approach. Or be more patient.

 

[cyanmonkey]

Haven't cleaned my pint glass in about 2 weeks. Just rinse it with water and set it next to the sink and rinse again before I pour.

 

[Kirkwooder]

My last batch I vorlaufed, used irish moss, quick chill as possible, 3 week primary, gelatin, 1 week at -2C (~28F) <below freezing point of water!>, and it still came out cloudy as all hell. Unimpressed over here. Perhaps I should try the less is more approach. Or be more patient.

Close your eyes and it tastes pretty good.

 

[oogaboogachiefwalkingdeer]

Bottled yesterday drank the first one today.................

 

[slym2none]

Bottled yesterday drank the first one today.................

That's the fastest carbonation, ever!

 

[oogaboogachiefwalkingdeer]

Who said anything about it being carbed?