Fly vs. batch sparking

[coldwaterbrew]

Ok may sound dumb. I've made 2 or three all grain beers now. Got techniques from a YouTube video. Not sure if I'm fly sparking or batch sparking what is the difference?

 

[Homercidal]

Well, not to make you sound dumb, but I think you mean "sparge" not spark.

Batch sparging: drain tun and add sparge water in one shot, stir it up and drain again (Or add water to the tun before draining and drain the whole volume of water.)

Fly sparging: after mash start pouring sparge water gently on top of grain while simultaneously draining the wort from the tun. The trick is keeping an inch or so of water on the grain bed so it drains evenly. Drain too fast and the water "channels" through the grain and can't rinse all the sugars from the grain.

 

[coldwaterbrew]

Stupid auto correct

 

[kh54s10]

Ok may sound dumb. I've made 2 or three all grain beers now. Got techniques from a YouTube video. Not sure if I'm fly sparking or batch sparking what is the difference?

Homercidal gave a great description.

Since you found your procedure on YouTube. Do a search there for batch sparging and another for fly sparging.

I use the videos a lot. I look at several to make sure I am not seeing a video made by someone who has no clue though.

 

[stpug]

Here's a video that illustrates the two methods and a couple of their differences. This video is not gospel and sparging methods are flexible so take the information with a grain of salt.

[ame]https://vimeo.com/92204596[/ame]

 

[scottballz]

Just throwing it out there...
If you are batch sparging and you are brewing a bigger beer, lets say anything over 5% abv, I would consider double batch sparging. I have found I get much better efficiency splitting up the sparge water and doing 2 seperate batches for 15 min a piece. session beers you are good to go with one.

 

[Homercidal]

Just throwing it out there...
If you are batch sparging and you are brewing a bigger beer, lets say anything over 5% abv, I would consider double batch sparging. I have found I get much better efficiency splitting up the sparge water and doing 2 seperate batches for 15 min a piece. session beers you are good to go with one.

Good advice, although I find the difference in efficiency to be minimal until you get up closer to around 1.080 or so.

I generally do a single sparge to save time.

I want to try a no-sparge sometime. Uses more grain. Maybe use the sparge water for a smaller beer after collecting a half batch of big beer.

 

[Homercidal]

Here's a video that illustrates the two methods and a couple of their differences. This video is not gospel and sparging methods are flexible so take the information with a grain of salt.

https://vimeo.com/92204596

Nice video. I've been wanting to make a series of brewing animations like this for years. I don't have the animation skills, so it never got done.

 

[scottballz]

Good advice, although I find the difference in efficiency to be minimal until you get up closer to around 1.080 or so.

I generally do a single sparge to save time.

I want to try a no-sparge sometime. Uses more grain. Maybe use the sparge water for a smaller beer after collecting a half batch of big beer.

yeah I'm a big fan of the single sparge as well, especially when I have to be done within a certain time frame.